new new tires. please read

[rangerbrown]

ok i want (price doesnt matter) the longest lasting tires i can get. and on the search i came to this tires

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DUNLOP-491-ELITE-II-TIRE-K491-2-MU90HB16-RWL-REAR_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35578QQitemZ4588057744QQrdZ1

now what i want to know is, what sixe is the tire really, MT90HB-17
dotn worry no hanging off planed for these tires. just touring, and many many rides to work.

the stock BT-45 now has 15,000 miles and still has pleanty of center tread but the sides are gone (deals gap)
and the rear was shot at 10,500 with Two burn out on it. the rear thats on there now is a maxis and it sucks in the milege area (less than 4k) and i am pushing my luck on it. (bald side to side, and two plugs).


who has run these tires? stick with stock size of go up a little to help with bumps and lower rpms a little?

[runsilent]

That's the longest wearing tire you can put on a GS500 as far as I know,  had about 17-18k miles on one on the 97 GS when it got a non repairable puncture.  Was about half worn when removed.

I used Dunlop touring tires for years on my old 400-750cc Hondas, averaged about 30k on the rears.  Just didn't like it on the GS500, not enough grip.  Davipu is still running one as far as I know.

The MT90-17 is equivelant to a 130/90-17 rear and is the only one that will fit the GS, have to use something else on the front.

The Metz ME88 was much better for me, got about 17-18k miles and thought it handled as well as the BT45 I had on just before it.  I'd run the 130/90 Metz ME88 or the newer ME880 in the 140/80 size if you want long lasting tires for a GS.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GS500tirelog.jpg

If you want a tire that will outlast the BT45 and cost less, try the Bridgestone S-11, a dual compound tire that will handle decent and last longer than OE type bias tires and a 130/90 rear is only anout $65.  You can get the K491 or ME88 or ME880 for $110-115 plus shipping.

http://www.americanmototire.com/

[rangerbrown]

that link is were i got the info on the tire.

i work at cycle gear, so if i get a tire there i get a new (depending on the tread life left) for free or pro rated after a amount i cant think ofright now.

i would like to have both great grip and life but that is out of the question, there a few that provide that but 98% of my rideing is on the interstate. 90 miles a day or more. if and when i go to the twistys i will have my M3s or the M1's depending on what i can get cheaper (both great tires, M1 last about 3.5-4k on the gs)

but right now, mileage is all i care about.

[runsilent]

the stock BT-45 now has 15,000 miles and still has pleanty of center tread but the sides are gone (deals gap)

90%+ of your riding may be highway right now but there are always times when a little better grip is nice.  I was satisfied with the K491 Dunlop on the 97 GS till we went to Knoxville for the Hoot in 01 and came back thru the gap and up the Blue Ridge Parkway to I77.  Following my son on his 82 GS1100E convinced me the K491 was not for me on the GS500.   

Think the ME880 would be an excellent choice for mostly highway use with occasional twisty fun thrown in.  Really should give 20k+ miles life on the road.   An ME880 rear with a Lasertec front, may try that yet myself.  Got almost 41k miles on the 02 GS now and the Lasertecs are holding up surprisingly well.

[runsilent]

PS:  The sport touring radials like the AV45/46 still give the best of both worlds on the GS, a nice combination of longer life with good handling.  Radials are hard to beat when it gets wet and you want to keep going.

[FearedGS500]

you have plugs in your tire ! you must have done it your self. i know none of the dealers here in texas will bother with it . they tell you you have to buy a new tire .. they have flyers posted in just about every shop saying they wont plug or patch a tire for a motorcycle . but none  the less put you some slickstones back on there (bridgstone bt-45's) i got about 8k out of my last ones. and they stick pretty good .. i have not had a problem with them i like them ......

[rangerbrown]

no the plus that are in it were done by wheelers (near deals gap).

i saw him to the work, and i couldn't have done it better. IMO you cant plug a tire on the GS500, but on larger bikes were speed is a big factor then no.

i also found out to day that i have a

biys ply up front, and a radial on the back this is to be bad but i dont know why. seems to be just fine.



but in any case. i went with the BT45's 70 a tire and free mount balanced, and then road hazard plan i cant beat it.

[rangerbrown]

ok looking good, got the tires mounted and balanced.

there about a inch and 1/2 taller than the last tire, (wear and all)

so 130/70 to 130/80 with pleanty of room to go, i should have gone with a 140/80 but hey next time right.


also 15,000 miles on stock chain, just how much longer can i go? the indcator (which is crappy)

but with it in the postion that shows the less amount of ajustment it is on the second to last mark. so i my get 20k out it but i don't know.



i also got tired of have to fight the finder on the rear so get the tire in sooo, i cut it down to nothing. and i said i would never do it. but it does look good. i also destroyed the chain gaurd (how inportant is it?). and removed the reflectors as well, so its looking good tonight, cant wait to raide int he morning to get the new tires broken in.

[MarkusN]

Concerning chain wear: Check length over as many links as you can (at least 10) and compare to nominal. Elongation of 1% is entering the critical zone, 2% is definitely time to change. The indicators on the swingarm are not much use, as their position depends also on number of sprocket teeth and fabrication tolerances. Once you have established a "worn out" position for your setup you can use that, but don't rely on those marks for your first chain swap.

[rangerbrown]

good idea, i plenty of 520 chains at work i can get a base line off of. thanks