having a problem finding tires

[william.betts]

hey guys im having a serouis problem finding tires i need a front and back tire can you guys point me in the right direction of where i might find a set of tires

[shik]

Hmm, another thing (which i would like to know now that the starter of this thread is at the subject).
Which tires are good? Because previous owner of my bike bought some "Kings tire" crap.
And after just 10 drops of rain all traction is gone. They really suck.   

[ajgs500]

Motorcycle Accessory Warehouse....  mawonline.com i think.  And get Pirelli Sport Demons they kick ass.


Or your local dealer or bike shop should be able to order any tire you want.

[aworkmon]

If my insurance company won't give me enough for my bike I will be parting it out.  I have 2 Pirelli Sport Demons with less than 500 miles on them that I will sell.

[william.betts]

not looking to spend a but load of money on tires

[Alphamazing]

Also try Motorcycle-superstore.com for Sport Demons. If they are on sale, you can get a set for around $160 shipped or so for a full set.

Pirelli Sport Demons: Best tires in stock sizes availible.

[william.betts]

i found a set of maxxis for 110

[werase643]

remember.... cheap ass tires are cheap for a reason
good tires...same goes

its a bike, ya only got 2 tires, better hope you never have to ride through a blow out

[william.betts]

well i dont have a lot of money to spend on tires so im looking for cheap tires for a reason

[ajgs500]

The Chin-Shen (sp?) are pretty cheap but IMO tires are NOT something you should go ultra- cheapy on.

[shik]

remember.... cheap ass tires are cheap for a reason
good tires...same goes

its a bike, ya only got 2 tires, better hope you never have to ride through a blow out

I can only agree, cheap tires are BAD, the first thing im getting when i get my next paycheck is a decent reartire, lifes to precious to save money on stuff like that.

And william.betts... Try driving with cheap tires in the rain, I promise you, it's like driving on ice or soap or something like that. Really not worth it. Save a little extra / spend a little extra, and get some decent stuff.

[corndog67]

The best prices are the mail order guys like chaparall, or MAW or a bunch of others.  But some dealers will gouge you to put them on if they didn't get them for you.  I do my own with a pair of tire irons.   

[skoebl]

I just got my Metzelers from MAW http://www.mawonline.com

Lazertecs
Front: 110/80/17  About 90 bucks
Rear: 150/70/17  About 110 bucks

So really not too bad (they also had a deal going where if you bought metzeler tires you only had to pay 10 bucks shipping)

[Queso]

I don't know what kind of tire I got, but I got a 110/80/17 from the dealership today for 95 installed. The tire itself was 60. Is that a cheap tire?

[kurtr]

The decal on the frame of my '01 says to use Bridgestone tires.  (No doubt some deal Suzuki & Bridgestone worked out in their OEM pricing).

I plan to get mine from mawonline.com.  Search this webpage...

http://www.mawonline.com/bridgest.htm#Tires%20street

... for "G547"    (Front tire, $71.95)
... for "G550"    (Rear tire, $82.95)

[Kerry]

kurtr, the G457 and G550 tires are the Exedras that came stock on my '99 (and all earlier models).  I think the best thing I ever did was slap on a pair of Bridgestone Battlax BT45H tires in the stock sizes (after the Exedras wore out).  They cost the same (or less!) but they perform a lot better.

I have tried a set of Metzeler bias tires, but I liked the feel of the BT45s a little better.  (I haven't tried Sport Demons or other "sport" tires" or radials -- yet -- so I can't comment on them.)

From MAW's Bridgestone Street page:

Bridgestone G547 Front Tire 
  Order # Price........ Description......
  (29895)     $71.95 Bridgestone Exedra 110/70H17 G547 Tubeless Front Tire Mfg.#: 036080

Bridgestone G550 Rear Tire 
  Order # Price........ Description......
  (18129)     $82.95 Bridgestone Exedra 130/70H17 G550 Tubeless Rear Tire Mfg.#: 021601 

==============================================

Bridgestone BT45H Front Tire
  Order # Price........ Description......
  (68391)     $71.95 Bridgestone BT45H 110/70H17 Front Tire Mfg.#: 066095 
  (68392)     $71.95 Bridgestone BT45H 110/80H17 Front Tire Mfg.#: 066036 

Bridgestone BT45H Rear Tire 
  Order # Price........ Description......
  (68401)     $77.95 Bridgestone BT45H 130/70H17 Rear Tire Mfg.#: 066192 
  (68400)     $65.95 Bridgestone BT45H 130/80H17 Rear Tire Mfg.#: 066184 [/list]

No way would I spend the same (or more!) for Exedras when I could have BT45Hs.    For what it's worth, I just mounted my 3rd BT45H on the rear rim a month ago. 


PS - With the rear BT45H series, you may have noticed that the 130/80-17 is a little cheaper than the 130/70-17.  I "took advantage" of that once, thinking that I would get more miles for the same number of wheel revolutions (since the tire should be a little taller).

Well, my thinking turned out to be backwards.  The 130/80-17 also has a rounder cross section, which meant that the centerline "stuck out" more ... and the tread wore down in fewer miles. 

[runsilent]

I wouldn't think of buying a replacement Excedra for a GS500, there are much better choices.  The Excedra has been replaced by the BT45 as OE tire for 2003 and later GS500s.  As Kerry points out, a much better choice than the Excedra.

I've found that MAW shipping and handling on tires in the past has been $30-35 for a pair although that might be different now.  Check out this charge if you are going to buy from them and compare with AMT and Southwest including the shipping charges.

http://www.americanmototire.com/

http://swmototires.com/
 
The BT45 was a good choice in the past but is getting a bit dated now.  The newer up to date tires from the other tire mfgs are better tires now.  Latest in construction and tread compounds.  Compare the prices of the Demons, Lasertecs, and Pilot Actives before buying.  I've got about 6k miles on a pair of Lasertecs now and a lot of miles to go yet.  They are every bit as good all around as the Metz and Avon sport touring radials  I've used up.  Just won't last as long.

One thing that always bothers me concerning tire choices is how many get on the bandwagon and recommend the latest and greatest as the only safe choice.  Certainly is a valid consideration for blasting thru the twisties chasing liter bikes, but many come here looking for more econimical choices for 99% commuter use.  Commuting to school or work on a budget.

I put a Kenda 671 on the back of an old CM400 to use it for another winter and my slightly used 02 GS500 came with a Kenda 657 rear that I ran for 5k miles before replacing the next spring and it was only about half worn when replaced by the Avon ST radials.  I found these Kendas to be better than Excedras and closer to the BT45s in dry handling.  Also the Avon AM51/52 tires should give about 10k miles of commuter duty.  These Kenda and Avon AM tires can be bought for $90-115 plus shipping for a pair.  Found best prices for the Kendas at Chaparral lately.

http://www.chaparral-racing.com

[onefastgs500]

go michelin or go home i always say(pilot powers are the beesknees)

[william.betts]

i order a front a rear maxxis

http://www.maxxistires.com/products/motorcycle/product_detail.asp?id=161

http://www.maxxistires.com/products/motorcycle/product_detail.asp?id=162

[corndog67]

I wouldn't think of buying a replacement Excedra for a GS500, there are much better choices.  The Excedra has been replaced by the BT45 as OE tire for 2003 and later GS500s.  As Kerry points out, a much better choice than the Excedra.

I've found that MAW shipping and handling on tires in the past has been $30-35 for a pair although that might be different now.  Check out this charge if you are going to buy from them and compare with AMT and Southwest including the shipping charges.

http://www.americanmototire.com/

http://swmototires.com/
 
The BT45 was a good choice in the past but is getting a bit dated now.  The newer up to date tires from the other tire mfgs are better tires now.  Latest in construction and tread compounds.  Compare the prices of the Demons, Lasertecs, and Pilot Actives before buying.  I've got about 6k miles on a pair of Lasertecs now and a lot of miles to go yet.  They are every bit as good all around as the Metz and Avon sport touring radials  I've used up.  Just won't last as long.

One thing that always bothers me concerning tire choices is how many get on the bandwagon and recommend the latest and greatest as the only safe choice.  Certainly is a valid consideration for blasting thru the twisties chasing liter bikes, but many come here looking for more econimical choices for 99% commuter use.  Commuting to school or work on a budget.

I put a Kenda 671 on the back of an old CM400 to use it for another winter and my slightly used 02 GS500 came with a Kenda 657 rear that I ran for 5k miles before replacing the next spring and it was only about half worn when replaced by the Avon ST radials.  I found these Kendas to be better than Excedras and closer to the BT45s in dry handling.  Also the Avon AM51/52 tires should give about 10k miles of commuter duty.  These Kenda and Avon AM tires can be bought for $90-115 plus shipping for a pair.  Found best prices for the Kendas at Chaparral lately.

http://www.chaparral-racing.com

I put a Kenda on a BMW K100 I used to have.  In the rain the Beemer would spin that tire in 5 th gear just rolling on the throttle.  It was, in my opinion, very dangerous.  I wouldn't buy another one.