Tires (gs jack, where are you??)

[dropitlow88]

currently running a 110 30 17 and a 140 80 17. getting used to the bike and it just feels kinda sluggish. I ran it hard through a corner after gaining some courage (I'm a little new to a bike that actually handles) and upon exit of the corner it seemed like the front pushed instead of sticking solid under heavy throttle. I'm sure the bike had more, i wasn't pushing hard. Opinions from you guys would be appreciated. Thanks

[shonole]

Not to steal your thread, but I hate to start a new one, and maybe while Jack is on here he can help me.

I know there a tons of options, but if you were going to buy new tires now, what would you go out and put your money on?  I will mostly be around town, with a few straight commutes, and the occasional run through the twisties (really, anytime I want to, if I take the back way home).  Avon Roadriders?  120/70 and 140/70 (or 80) sound good?  Or should I stick with stock sizes?  I'd really like to move up to a 150, but don't have the tools to facilitate the mod.

[dropitlow88]

i read a review on shinko 006 podiums, the guy new what he was talking about, great tire according to him with good pricing, i was just curious of tire sizing on the gs and it's effect on handling.

[shonole]

i read a review on shinko 006 podiums, the guy new what he was talking about, great tire according to him with good pricing, i was just curious of tire sizing on the gs and it's effect on handling.

Then my question should be right in line with yours, since I'm interested in going up a size front and rear.

Oh, and thanks!  I'll be sure to check those out as well.   

[xunedeinx]

i read a review on shinko 006 podiums, the guy new what he was talking about, great tire according to him with good pricing, i was just curious of tire sizing on the gs and it's effect on handling.

I have them, their great tires.

7k+ miles on them, almost no strips, and still sticking strong.

Shinko bought the molds off of yokohama after they stopped making tires. May not be the newest and greatest tires and compound, but they are far from "shitcos" like people think...

[shonole]

i read a review on shinko 006 podiums, the guy new what he was talking about, great tire according to him with good pricing, i was just curious of tire sizing on the gs and it's effect on handling.

I have them, their great tires.

7k+ miles on them, almost no strips, and still sticking strong.

Shinko bought the molds off of yokohama after they stopped making tires. May not be the newest and greatest tires and compound, but they are far from "shitcos" like people think...

Awesome!  Did you go with stock sizing?

[dropitlow88]

what he said

[dropitlow88]

i read a review on shinko 006 podiums, the guy new what he was talking about, great tire according to him with good pricing, i was just curious of tire sizing on the gs and it's effect on handling.

i meant knew,  :icon_mrgreen:im drunk, sorry..

[Kijona]

My 07 GSF came with Shinko tires on it. They were a different model than yours (more racing slick-esque), and I have to say..

Those were the worst tires I've EVER owned on ANY vehicle. Going 'round a corner on the bike scared the shaZam! out of me because of how easily it dropped traction in the rear, and the front always felt really wobbly. Oh, and they were apparently a real female dog to balance too because there was an absurd amount of weight on the rims. The rim was balanced. The tire was not.

Replaced with Michelin Pilot Activs and it was a new bike.

My 97 came with Bridgestone Battlax tires (stock sizing). Honestly, out of all the tires I've ever had, these are the best. Even though they're 11 years old, they show no signs of cracking. They're also very reassuring when the pavement gets wet - they resist slipping extremely well. I'm always surprised by just how much rear brake it takes to lock the wheel when it's wet - it's probably - in terms of percentages - about 80-85% braking allowed versus dry and hot pavement. I've also put close to 3k miles on them and I honestly cannot tell they've been used at all. I don't know how many miles the p/o had on them but they did still have big 'ol fat chicken strips when I bought the bike. They were made in Japan, too. Don't know where newer Bridgestones are made. The only downside to these tires I'd say is they hate being cold, and when they are cold...they really feel funny.

I cannot speak from personal experience on the tire I'm also going to recommend, but I did own a set of Kendas. I've heard nothing but good things about the Kenda K671's. BaltimoreGS (Jessie) has them on his bikes. He loves them. I owned a pair of Kenda K761's. I bought them to replace the tires on my KLR - they were very decent tires for the money. $130 shipped. Dual-sport tires are a completely different story though.

The bottom line is...buy a tire you'd trust with your life...because that's what it boils down to.

[xunedeinx]

Tire is the 006, and it has a better track record than the race tires. Their known for being slicker than snot.

Size is 120/70/17 and 140/70/17

[shonole]

Tire is the 006, and it has a better track record than the race tires. Their known for being slicker than snot.

Size is 120/70/17 and 140/70/17

Awesome.  Time to get hunting for the best price.   

It's either those or replacement stock wheels and tires from pinwall cycle like Adi suggested if I can't find those at a good price.  I'd really love to get new wheels and some better than stock tires, but I don't want to spend crazy $$$$$$$$.

[Kijona]

Tire is the 006, and it has a better track record than the race tires. Their known for being slicker than snot.

Size is 120/70/17 and 140/70/17

Well that's good to know. All I know is that the ones that came on my GSF were...as I said, horrible.

[SAFE-T]

@Kijona: the tires you describe sound like the Shinko 003's...

[Kijona]

@Kijona: the tires you describe sound like the Shinko 003's...

No, looking at the different ones...

They were Shinko 005's...

[gsJack]

I've now tried all tire sizes I consider suitable for the stock 3.0 and 3.5" rims on our GS500s and all of the tires I've run on my GSs have been fitments approved by the tires maker for our rim sizes; 110/70, 110/80, 120/70 fronts and 130/70, 130/80, 130/90, 140/70, 140/80, 150/70 rears.

Almost all 150/70 bias rears are approved and about half of the 150/70 sport touring radials are approved by tire makers for this fitment on the rim to tire fitment charts of the tire makers.  Some don't approve it in their general charts but do approve it for specific fitments like Avon for example who has never generally approved a 150/70 radial on a 3.5" wheel but does reccommend their Storm 150/70 rear sport touring radial for the early 750 Katanas that have the same rear wheel as our GSs have.

As far as I know no tire makers have ever reccommended fitment of the 150/60 sport/supersport radials on 3.5" rims in this country although many are using them on the GS and EX500 twins.  I have not yet used this size on the GS.

Besides looking better to many GS users the bigger rear tires will last longer due to their greater load ratings.  My 140/70 Roadrider lasted about 15k miles and my 150/70 Roadrider lasted about 18k miles, same tire, same rider, same usage.

I still think the Lasertec bias front with a radial RoadAttack rear were the best handling tires I've had on my GSs for the 190k miles I've put on them. I've not liked the radial fronts I've used on the GSs as much as the radial rears.  I'm not pushing it as fast anymore so I find the Roadriders more than meet my current needs.

I've always felt that the type of tire, ie bias, radial, supersport, sport touring, touring, etc has more effect on handling than the size does within the relatively narrow range of sizes I've used.  A different tire compound means more than a small difference in width.

[dropitlow88]

Thank you sir.

[SAFE-T]

Haven't seen a lot of people who have actually used the Shinko 005's ~ most of the tires I've heard people actually use were the 006 Podium and 009 Raven.

What Jack says is something that so many GS500 riders with rear tire envy always seem to miss ~ compound and construction really does count for more than tire size. Personally I think that of all the tires I have had on the different bikes I've owned and ridden over the past 25yrs that the 160mm rear tire has been the best combination of performance for the price.

Having said that, and although it's supposed to be fairly straightforward I don't see a lot of benefit in fiddling to fit a wider Katana rear wheel for a 160 on a GS500 when the stock rim will take a 150 unless you want to use race take-offs from SV650's and Super Motards...

[xunedeinx]

Haven't seen a lot of people who have actually used the Shinko 005's ~ most of the tires I've heard people actually use were the 006 Podium and 009 Raven.

What Jack says is something that so many GS500 riders with rear tire envy always seem to miss ~ compound and construction really does count for more than tire size. Personally I think that of all the tires I have had on the different bikes I've owned and ridden over the past 25yrs that the 160mm rear tire has been the best combination of performance for the price.

Having said that, and although it's supposed to be fairly straightforward I don't see a lot of benefit in fiddling to fit a wider Katana rear wheel for a 160 on a GS500 when the stock rim will take a 150 unless you want to use race take-offs from SV650's and Super Motards...

The reason I went to a 140 over a 130, was tire selection. There were no decent radial tires in 130. 140 opened the door a little, and 150-160 have a lot of options.

I would do a bandit rear wheel JUST so I can get better rubber on her.

At the time, the 006's had good reviews, the 003's were known for having a short life, with the last half of its life being slick, and the 009's were known for being too hard, and very slick in weather below 70 degrees. Compound this with the gs's light weight (the 009 is a sport touring tire, most sport tourers have over 100 lbs on our gs), and your asking to feel like your taking corners on a tire made out of PVC.

[SAFE-T]

One of the rarely mentioned benefits of owning a sub-400lb bike that only makes 44hp is the ability to use a softer tire and still get excellent mileage out of it

[shonole]

Tire is the 006, and it has a better track record than the race tires. Their known for being slicker than snot.

Size is 120/70/17 and 140/70/17

How much clearance did you have with the 140/70s?  I'm having a hell of a time finding that size.  140/60s yes, 140/70s no.  I'm interested in going up to a 150/60, but I don't know that I have anyway to bend the brake torque rod, so I'm hoping that maybe they'll clear it with very little modification..