BT020 Tyres

[conradvr]

Hi,

I am looking for some new tyres for the GS as the current tyres are starting to show their age.  I have seen some posts about using a larger rear tyre and would like any feedback if somebody has looked at this combo (I use the BT020s on my VFR and really love them):

Front BT020 11/10-Zr17
Rear BT020 150/70-ZR17 - any chance this will fit the standard rim?  Any mods needed?

Thanks
Conrad

[Briliu]

i dont know if what size tire fits what size rims varies by manufacture, but currently i have 150/70 rear on my gs, and well it "fits."

My neighbors son is a motorcycle guy and he looked at my rear and said it looked a bit pinched, which is why it was QUTIE bald in the center. That being said, it also rubs against the rear break stay bar. I will post a pic in a few min.

[Briliu]

I dont know if you can see it, but the bar has rubbed the corner of the tire off.

And here is the bald spot, the tire is about 5 years old, so that adds to it, but you can tell the roundness of it is messed up, its very flat.

[Michael]

Try this site for info on tyre and rim compatibility.
//www.dropbears.com/u/utilities/tyrerim.htm

[rcepluch]

I recommend that you go with the Bridgestone BT45H tires.  They are a perfect OEM match 110/70 H 17 and 130/70 H 17.  

There has been several posts exclaiming how nice these tires are.  The rear tire has a dual compound thread to allow for increased wear in the center of the tire and improved traction on its  edges.

I have a pair of these tires sitting on the floor of my living room so I can admire them until they get mounted.

You can purchase these tires from Motorcycle Accessory Wharehouse for $73/front $80/rear plus S&H.

Lets not forget we are riding a small GS500 and not some hot litre sportbike with room for a nice fat tire.

[Michael]

Here in Australia we have the option of the Michelin Macadam radials which don't seem as readily available in the US.  I have been running the Mac 100 front and Mac 90 rear in the stock sizes on my bike for a couple of years now and have been very happy with them.  The front has 20,000km on it and is just coming up for replacement.  It has never felt even close to letting go, even in snow!  (The heavy frosts we get here in Tassie are a different matter, though   ).  The rears are getting me about 10,000km and have always held on even though as the wear they wear oddly on the edges.  In this state at least, they are not that much dearer than the bias tyres and I believe they are safer.

[TR]

I recommend that you go with the Bridgestone BT45H tires. They are a perfect OEM match 110/70 H 17 and 130/70 H 17.
...
I have a pair of these tires sitting on the floor of my living room so I can admire them until they get mounted.  

The ones I am admiring in my living room is a combo of Metzeler Z4/Z2 radials, but the rear must be 130/80 since there is no 130/70... I got them for $192 (S&H included). I wish they perform better than I can Imagine...  

[gsJack]

Hi,

I am looking for some new tyres for the GS as the current tyres are starting to show their age.  I have seen some posts about using a larger rear tyre and would like any feedback if somebody has looked at this combo (I use the BT020s on my VFR and really love them):

Front BT020 11/10-Zr17
Rear BT020 150/70-ZR17 - any chance this will fit the standard rim?  Any mods needed?

Thanks
Conrad

Everthing in life is a tradeoff.  You will probably get the best handling with the OE size tires on the GS.  The wider and wider tires being put on bikes is to handle the ever increasing HP of the newer bikes.  Not a problem with the GS.   :lol:  However, the best of the newer sport and sport touring tires don't come in our sizes.  Wider and/or taller tires must be used to take advantage of only a few of these tires that will fit the GS.

The BT020's are very good sport touring tires, a nice mixture of handling vs tire life.  The BT020 doesn't come in a 110/70 front size, a 120/70 would have to be used.  Many like the BT010F/BT020R combo in the Stones.  The stickier  BT010 in the 110/70 size with the 150/70 BT020 rear would be my choice if I wanted to try the Stones.  Better handling and should even up tire life too.

General tire specs approve the use of the 150/70 size on our 3.5" rear rims.  Of the tire manufactures only Metzeler and Conti approve of this fitment for their tires, Avon and Bridgestone don't.  It's a very close fit on the GS and some 150/70's rub on the brake torque rod and some just clear it.  You can grind a little off the brake rod to make clearance for the tire as Briliu above should have done.  It's been done here in the past and someone posted a pic of their ground off brake rod here once.

The standard reccommended rim width for the 140/80 tire is our 3.5" size.  A perfect fit, and there are some very good sport touring radials in this size; the D205 Dunlops and the AV45/46 Avons to mention a couple.

I used the 110/70 Z4 front and 130/80 Z2 rear Metzeler combo on my 97 GS last year and got much better grip, handling, and tire life from that Z2 rear than from the BT45's I had used.  BT45 tire life seemed to go way down when pushed hard.  My tire log for the 97 GS:

http://members.aol.com:/jcprrp/GS500tirelog.txt

This year, I put new Z4/Z2's on again and got a non-repairable puncture in the Z2 rear after a few thousand miles.  I replaced it with a Avon 140/80 AV36 that was available quickly locally.  Every bit as good as the Metz in wet and dry handling, but not as good as Metz tire life. The new AV45/46 Avon sport touring tires should give better life and I think I'll try them on the 02 GS next year.  The 140/80 AV36 looks to me to be about as much tire as will comfortably fit on the GS.  It measures 5.7" wide according to specs and most of the 150/70 tires are about 6.1 inches wide mounted on a reccommended 4.0" rim.  Would be maybe about .2" narower on a 3.5" rim.  Here is some pics showing the 140/80 on my 97 GS and if you can make it out the tire is real close to the brake rod:

http://members.aol.com:/jcprrp/140.80av36.jpg

[gs2sv]

just wanted to add some info for anyone interested. i just switched from the stock tires to the new pirelli sport demons. I am running a 140/70/17 rear and 110/70/17 front. So far I can't say enough good things about them. They aren't radials, but they handle like they are. The stock tires always made the bike feel like it wanted to flop over on me, especially during slow speed turns. Not anymore. just thought I would mention it.
P.S. pirelli website only lists a 140/80/17, but they do indeed make a 140/70/17