Your experiences with tyres?

[Torpedo]

Im looking to replace my gs500's tyres, and ive got a few needs. I want distance... we all do! but i want a tyre thats going to give me as much grip as possible, and there isnt a lot that fits the gs500 anymore. im not hugely keen on the oversize, as thats messing with the handling and of course wider tyre, slower turn in. Which i dont really want happening. Though distance would be nice its not as important as the grip, im looking for as much as possible in all conditions. I ride with a lot of large bikes, 1000's, 600's, and i keep up with them by outbraking and outcornering them - so i need the very best tyres i can fit on my gs500 to keep up with the buggers. and they arent bad riders, trust me on that one!

ill give you a little review on what experience ive had with my current tyres, the BT45, and the extreda OEM tyre though i only had an extreda OEM FRONT. (before the jokers jump on me here, yes i did have a rear tyre fitted, was a BT45  )

BT45 -

I definately cannot complain about longativity. Im not sure exactly how far they last - because im damned well sure its a long time! I also cant complain about grip in very good conditions. in the dry, on a hot day, they will happily take my gs to the point where i can both peg down and kneedown the bike at the same time. they also have a tendancy to regrab grip well if the back end skips out a little, ive done it so often im pretty much used to it by now. Front end confidence is excellent, never really been worried about the front washing out, not even in the wet. very impressive front tyre, lasts a long time, grips well. Rear tyre is pretty good as well, as said with the regrabbing grip in the dry well if it skips out. in the WET however, im not as happy. Ive had the rear very very suddenly wash out before in the past, which was a bit strange. the rear does inspire good confidence in the wet but does lack feel. in the dry, both tyres were very good for feel in my opinion, even on very dusty conditions... could feel either tyre starting to let go and work around it.

The extreda i have to say i wasnt inspired at first by it, but its actually as good as the 45 in my opinion - its got as much grip in dry conditions and feeds back just as well, if not better than the 45. I'll be able to update my post if i choose to replace the tyre with a 45 front, as i have to admit ive got in a lot more experience lately with feeling the front end and rear brakes.

great tyres and good enough for anyone having a gentle ride with a few crazy moments    compared to a lot of supersport tyres though even older ones, it does lack grip, and can find yourself going quite sideways keeping up with them.



no idea if thats a good review or not, first time ive wrote a tyre review without ever using any other tyre on the GS500, but thats what ive got, thats how it feels. Hope to hear more, ESPECAILLY about the MICHELIN PILOT ACTIV and pirelli sport demon, especailly if you push it hard - because thats what im gonna do when i get my tyres replaced 

[ben2go]

I had Kenda Kruziers K671's They lasted about 8000 miles,but i beat them to death.I slid around on them and generally tried to abuse them like sport tires.Their cheap too,$130 for the set I had.They were stock size.I am trying out the Shinko 005's 120-60-17 front and 160-60-17 rear.I went up in size to use radial tires and the shinko's are cheap.$150 a set delivered.



http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Upgrades/Tires

[gsJack]

Tires I've used and miles used:

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

Of the latest bias ply sport touring tires, the Lasertecs, Sport Demons, and Pilot Activs, I've only tried the Lasertecs personally and they were almost as good as the sport touring radials I had previously used.  The Lasertec remains my favorite front tire for the GS's since it's the only one that doesn't cup and bevel badly for me.

Severeal GS users have made very positive posts on the Pilot Activs recently and maybe they'll respond here.  I'm trying out the Avon Roadriders right now and will have more to say about them after the weather breaks and I get some good miles on them.  They are $40 a tire less expensive than the Lasertecs around here and look promising.

When I went from the BT45 to the Z4/Z2 radials some years ago I noticed a big improvement in wet grip with the radials.  Since the Lasretecs, Demons, and Activs have come out the BT45 have been updated in compounds and profiles and I haven't tried the updated ones.

[Villager]

I asked my garage what my tyre options were and the BT45s were all they could find.

Why are things so much more expensive over here? I just paid £135 for two new BT45s (that's around $270).

[georgel]

You can go with demons I belive a 140 is what most people use. They say they grip better than the bt45's. I agree with you on the bt45's though they are a good tyre. If you want more grip aka softer tire you can go with the pilot powers wnat last as long as demons though being a sport touring tyre. The pilot power is a 150 though and you said your not sure about the fittment and handling which is understandable. FYI racers have been using 150 rear on the 3.5" rim with no problems ( no bead failure) Most racers go with the 150 to get the softer rubber. Some use 140's but I've had  no luck at getting them in a 140 so I went to the powers myself and I didn't have to bend the brake torque rod to fit. Anyway it just depends on whats most important to you sounds like the demons is what you would like from your post but could be wrong.

[Unknown]

I have the Sport Demons and its like riding a new bike.. I swear sometimes that I can actually push the bike on the ground or scrape the pegs before I lose traction...Dont get in a habit of that, though