Tire advice needed

[Bridger]

I'm going to be replacing my back tire because it has a slow leak and i want a wider tire anyway.  I was thinkin' a 150/70/17.  I still have my stock front tire (BRIDGESTONE BATTLAX BT45) and it has less than 2000 miles on it so I don't wanna replace it..... And, it's a bias ply right?  So that means I have to get a bias for the rear opposed to a radial...right?  Pros and cons of the two?  I'm not super opposed to replacing front and rear with radials if it's worthwhile performance wise.  Any recommendations on a specific rear tire to buy?  I would prefer performance characteristics over long life characteristics.......

[jeremy_nash]

you can run a radial rear with a bias front, with no negative affects, I'm doing it, with fantastic results.  if you decide to go ith the 150-70, make sure you get a tire approved for a 3.5 inch rear wheel.  if the site you purchase from has a tire list based on motorcycle, try choosing a 96 katana 600, as they had the same rear wheel as ours, but the stock size tire is a 150-70.

[jeremy_nash]

you may need to bend the brake torque bar to clear, it may be close

[ohgood]

gsjack is the tar god here. search for 'tire' with 'gsjack' for the user. you'll be happy.

wiki has answers about sizes/wheels/etc too.

[Alphamazing]

Look, if you want a wider tire for looks alone, don't do it. Modern sportbikes use a 180, and even a 150 next to those will look pathetic. Don't waste the money on a wider tire just for appearance sake. And generally, you can't fit a 150 on a 3.5" rim, which is the GS's rear rim size. When you do, you are distorting the tire in such a way that it doesn't handle the way it is supposed to.

Just get a set of Pirelli Sport Demons in stock sizes if you plan on keeping your stock rims. They are sticky as can be, relative to the BT45 at least, and won't set you back a whole lot.

If you do want a bigger tire for whatever reasons, you're basically going to have to do a rear wheel swap. Remember, despite the wider tire, it is still skinny as hell when sitting next to a real sportbike!

[gsJack]

you can run a radial rear with a bias front, with no negative affects, I'm doing it, with fantastic results.  if you decide to go ith the 150-70, make sure you get a tire approved for a 3.5 inch rear wheel.  if the site you purchase from has a tire list based on motorcycle, try choosing a 96 katana 600, as they had the same rear wheel as ours, but the stock size tire is a 150-70.

Actually the 88-97 Kat 600 came with a 140/80 bias rear tire and the 89-97 Kat 750 came with a 150/70 radial rear tire and both were on the same 3.5" rear wheels our GSs have.

For current replacement Bridgestone suggests the BT45 bias tires for both the 600 and 750 Kats and Avon suggests a 140/80 Azzaro ST radial rear for the 600 Kat and a 150/70 Azzaro ST radial rear for the 750 Kat.  Both on the 3.5" rear rims.  Interesting isn't it?     The 140/80 Azzaro is still available but the 150/70 Azarro has been replaced by the Storm.

[gsJack]

..................Just get a set of Pirelli Sport Demons in stock sizes if you plan on keeping your stock rims. They are sticky as can be, relative to the BT45 at least, and won't set you back a whole lot.

If you do want a bigger tire for whatever reasons, you're basically going to have to do a rear wheel swap. Remember, despite the wider tire, it is still skinny as hell when sitting next to a real sportbike!

Both the 140/70 Demon and 140/70 Roadrider rear tires are currently sized for a 3.75" rim width making them an equally good fit on both 3.5 and 4.0" rims.  A concession to the GS500 and Ninja 500 bikes I guess, the 140/70 have traditionally been sized for 4.0" rims.  And the Michelin Activ 140/70 is actually sized for a 3.5" rim width.

I agree the 150/70 on a 3.5" rear rim looks skinny next to sportbikes with 180 and 190 rear tires but it sure looks good next to a GS500 with a 130/70 rear.     Not a good reason for a larger tire I guess but for the $10 difference many will find them worthwhile. Three of my last four rear tires have been the 150/70 size on the oem rim for various reasons.

[gsJack]

The UK Bike Magazine did a crossply tire test on a 2.2 mile track.  Tires were tested on a GS500 at speeds up to 110 mph. 

Best lap time:

Pirelli Demon  1:30.01
Avon Roadrider   1:30.08
Dunlop GT501  1:31.17
B'stone BT45   1:31.27
Michelin Pilot Activ   1:33.06 
Conti Go   1:33.45
Metzeler Lasertec  1:34.6

Biggest surprise to me was the Avon Roadriders commonly referred to by many on the EX500 forum as touring tires. I've got the Roadriders and they are wearing very well but I never realized they were that sticky.  Guess I'll have to pick up the pace a bit and see.   

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/421778173_r5kSp-X3.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/421778222_97mdg-X3.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/421778267_oz9pS-X3.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/421778306_bGmAr-X3.jpg

The winners in their opinion are the GT501 and Roadriders.  Their Demons didn't hold up too well.  Got to wonder if they don't use different tire compound mixes for different markets, could be the UK Roadriders are a bit stickier than the US Roadriders.   

[platinum_black]

The UK Bike Magazine did a crossply tire test on a 2.2 mile track.  Tires were tested on a GS500 at speeds up to 110 mph. 

Best lap time:

Pirelli Demon  1:30.01
Avon Roadrider   1:30.08
Dunlop GT501  1:31.17
B'stone BT45   1:31.27
Michelin Pilot Activ   1:33.06 
Conti Go   1:33.45
Metzeler Lasertec  1:34.6

Biggest surprise to me was the Avon Roadriders commonly referred to by many on the EX500 forum as touring tires. I've got the Roadriders and they are wearing very well but I never realized they were that sticky.  Guess I'll have to pick up the pace a bit and see.   

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/421778173_r5kSp-X3.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/421778222_97mdg-X3.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/421778267_oz9pS-X3.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/421778306_bGmAr-X3.jpg

The winners in their opinion are the GT501 and Roadriders.  Their Demons didn't hold up too well.  Got to wonder if they don't use different tire compound mixes for different markets, could be the UK Roadriders are a bit stickier than the US Roadriders.   

this is gutting as i have just ordered sport demons but at the same time thanks fort his as it is a very useful piece of info to have available to us.

[Alphamazing]

this is gutting as i have just ordered sport demons but at the same time thanks fort his as it is a very useful piece of info to have available to us.

Sport Demons are good tires. Mine lasted about 4000 miles a set.

[Bridger]

Ok, so everyone agrees?  Bias front and radial rear will not present any problems.  Ur not talkin' me outta the 150 rear.  Yes it's pathetic next to a 180, but a 130 is pathetic next to a 150 for sure.

[Bridger]

Any thoughts on a B-STONE BATTLAX BT 021?

[gsJack]

jeremy_nash who posted above has a BT021 rear with a BT45 front.  Looks like a good mix to me.

[ohgood]

Ok, so everyone agrees?  Bias front and radial rear will not present any problems.  Ur not talkin' me outta the 150 rear.  Yes it's pathetic next to a 180, but a 130 is pathetic next to a 150 for sure.

just sos ya knows, none of em LOOK worth a damn when you're actually riding. sure, if you just want to pose, go put a 300 on it.


not to mention the wider the tire the worse.... oh nevermind. just go get whatever. you'll like it, because new skins always feel great. enjoy !

[Bridger]

Ok cool, goin' with the 021 for sure then.  What's so wrong with liking the look of a wider tire? Sheesshh....  When I buy a truck i lift it, when I buy a car i lower it, never been a fan of the look of stock rubber on anything......

[gsJack]

Tire threads are getting like oil threads.   

[Bridger]

Ya, no kidding.  There are getting to be a lot of argumentative, negative asses that have nothing but opposing remarks no matter what somebody posts; Alphamazing for example.  lighten up dude...

[Bridger]

Gsjack, thank you for the great tire advice, as always!

[platinum_black]

this is gutting as i have just ordered sport demons but at the same time thanks fort his as it is a very useful piece of info to have available to us.

Sport Demons are good tires. Mine lasted about 4000 miles a set.

lol thats not really that much considering im doing near 2000-3000 a month

[Pigeonroost]

You are well answered regarding the new tires.  But diagnose that slow leak even if you are NOT going to finish off the tire.  The leak may be as simple as a cracked tire valve stem or some crud or nick between the rim and tire bead seat..  If its perforated, I would consider a patch and wear its ars out to the wear bars, but that's just me..

prs