New bike. New Tires.

[StevenDavisPhoto]

So, I need at least a new rear tire for my newly bought bike. Probably will just get a fresh pair. I'm looking at the Avon AV45/46's...

The wiki says "110/80 front, 140/80 rear" in one place, then later says "I'd choose the 110/80 front and 140/70 rear". so which is it?

[Iroquois]

I'm pretty sure both will do. Have you checked out the Avon Road Riders?

[pandymai]

personal preference. that's why there's such variation.

it depends on how you like to ride, but i do believe youre new to riding. how tall are you? how do you like the height of the bike currently? 140/80 is a taller tire, so if you dont mind the minimal ride height change (assuming you have a 140/70 on there now) than you can try either one. it comes down to what you want your bike to do and how you want it done.

[StevenDavisPhoto]

personal preference. that's why there's such variation.

it depends on how you like to ride, but i do believe youre new to riding. how tall are you? how do you like the height of the bike currently? 140/80 is a taller tire, so if you dont mind the minimal ride height change (assuming you have a 140/70 on there now) than you can try either one. it comes down to what you want your bike to do and how you want it done.

i'm 5'8. i like the height. i can still flat foot it at a stop. nice to know i can use either. thanks!

[scratch]

Stock is 110/70 front and 130/70 rear.  I have the RoadRiders on right now and they feel superior to the AV45/46.  Stock sizes.

[ke7syv]

I have the Avon Azaros and love them. Good grip in wet conditions. Lot's of places on the net to pick them up, at least there was, so might be worth looking into. 

[StevenDavisPhoto]

so, something like this for my rear?

http://www.swmototires.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=507&category_id=133&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=53

[romulux]

so, something like this for my rear?

http://www.swmototires.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=507&category_id=133&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=53

My $.02 is to stick with stock sizes unless you know what you're doing.

Stock size is 110/70 17 front, 130/70 17 rear.

[Twism86]

How are the Pirelli Sport Demons?

[Anaconda]

i like the sport demons.  i just put 50 miles on it the past few days.  Havent really dared to give it the beans yet as I'm still in the process of scrubbing those shiny tires

[mister]

I've got a Sport Demon on the rear. Much better over stock. Bike feels like it corners better.

Michael

[pandy]

It's amazing what confidence a good set of tires can inspire. My personal faves are Pilot Powers (I got 16k miles out of my last set, including a few track days, but don't try that at home ). I decided to try the BT045's this time, just for kicks...they're a fine tire, but I'll probably go back to the Pilot Powers when I start doing track days again. 

Have we had an update recently from our beloved Grouchy Old Moderator and Expert of Tires & Tyers? Calling Jack to the white courtesy phone. 

And it's nice to see scratch posting again!!!!!!!!    ...must get to Doc Wong ride soon.... 

[gsJack]

My first radial tires on a GS500 were the Z4/Z2 combo I tried back in 02 and I thought they were a hugh improvement over the bias tires of the time particularly in wet performance.  Since then new bias tires that have come out that are much improved in both compounds and profiles and the difference has been greatly reduced.  To me now it's hardly worth the  $30-50 per tire price premium of radials on a bike like the GS, could be the fact I turned 78 last Sunday has some influence on my tire opinions now.    

I agree with romulux above, the 110/70 and 130/70 oem size or possibly a 140/70 rear are the best choices for a new rider until you get some riding experience.  Both the Roadriders and Demons are sized for a 3.75" rim and are an equally good fit on our 3.5" rims as they are on a 4.0" preferred rim width specified for most 140/70 tires.

Good to see you here pandy and although I've never personally tried a 150/60 supersport tire on the GS rim many have had the good experiences you've had with the Pilot Powers on the GS500 and Ninja 500 bikes.  But I do remember Pablo's experience with them feeling like they were falling out from under him on the track after they had became worn.  They have never been approved for fitment on a 3.5" rim by the tire makers like the 150/70 sport touring radials have been.  The bias 110/80 Lasertec front and the radial 150/70 RoadAttack rear combo remain my all time favorite handling tires on the GS, so far.

StevenDavisPhoto, I think that 140/70 Roadrider you linked above would be a good choice for you but if you're changing the rear only make sure you don't currently have a radial front.  A radial front and bias rear is a bad mix but a bias front and radial rear can be OK.

[StevenDavisPhoto]

StevenDavisPhoto, I think that 140/70 Roadrider you linked above would be a good choice for you but if you're changing the rear only make sure you don't currently have a radial front.  A radial front and bias rear is a bad mix but a bias front and radial rear can be OK.

thanks. how can i tell the different? is a radial the kind where direction doesnt matter?

[gsJack]

StevenDavisPhoto, I think that 140/70 Roadrider you linked above would be a good choice for you but if you're changing the rear only make sure you don't currently have a radial front.  A radial front and bias rear is a bad mix but a bias front and radial rear can be OK.

thanks. how can i tell the different? is a radial the kind where direction doesnt matter?

Rotational direction has nothing to do with it, bias and radial tires are of different construction.  A matter of the direction of the cords in the tire plies.  A radial front with a bias rear can cause serious oversteer when pushed to the limit.  Was the same thing back in the 70's when they started putting radials on cars, if you had a car with bias tires and were buying a pair of radials they told you to put the radials on the back for the same handling reasons.

Quickest way to tell is to look at the tire size designation and see if there is a R there.  A radial could be a 150/70ZR-17 or 130/80HR-17 depending on the speed rating but a bias would be a 150/70V-17 or 130/80 H-17 without the R for example.  Besides that it will almost always say in the small print somewhere on the tire whether it's of bias, bias belted, or radial construction.

[StevenDavisPhoto]

ok, so i checked the rear tire. it's a 130/70 bridgestone BT45R. so im assuming i need a radial in that size. should i stick with the bridgestone or go for the avon roadrider? the front is also a bridgestone.

[tt_four]

My new tires came in today! Think I'm gonna put them on on Wednesday. I went out to try and burn up the rear, but I barely even made a dent in it. I was kinda paranoid I'd get stranded since I can't do it right at my house, but I think I've got a ways to go before I can feel satisfied.

[StevenDavisPhoto]

so should i get these then?

http://www.swmototires.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=504&category_id=133&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=53

[Toogoofy317]

I'm on my second set of BT45s and think they are a fine tire. Although, I'm running a 150 on the back not necissarily because I had to have it but because I got an amazing deal thanks OCD

But, now that I've got it I don't think I'd go back down to stock size!

Mary

[007brendan]

I've put about 1500 miles on the sport demons, a good portion of that through twisties.  I'm a fan, though, I haven't used any other tire on the GS, so I don't really have much for comparison.