tire brand

[bigdaub]

i need to get some tires and was wondering if anyone would recommend certain brands over the others... michelin, continental, dunlop, avon... radial or no...  any info would be appreciated.

btw, planning on keeping stock sizes...

[JohNLA]

What kind of riding do you do ?
Do you need sticky tires for track or canyon carving. Or higher milage touring tires ? Or somwhere in between ?

[bigdaub]

mostly cruising on the 405, so commuting and freeway.

[JohNLA]

Then you probably want a tire that will get milage.
I would recomend the Metzeler 550, 330 combo. I have 7k miles on mine and they still look new and once broken in they give pretty good grip.

[luke1645]

or if your feeling adventerous you could act as resident guinea pig and try the new z6 sportech by metzler., they're supposed to be the shizzzz nit......no stock rear size though :dunno:

[Frost]

how about the Metz Z2/Z4 combo?
I think they provide more grip than the 550/330 combo

[jag69]

I have been very pleased with the Bridgstone BT45's.

[TR]

I recomend my new Z4/Z2 combo over the stockers, they are way better, but certanly don't know how long they will last, and can't tell against BT45's, but Z4/Z2 combo are radials and look cooler. :mrgreen:

[glenn9171]

I had BT45's in stock sizes and loved them.  Excellent grip for the riding I did.  Pretty damned good mileage on the highway, too.  Not too expensive.

[Rollin668]

Why not try the Avon AM51/52s?
They come in stock sizes or you can get the 110/ and 130/80-17 tires...
Inexpensive - just as tires should be!!!!  A little over $100 for the set.

Or you could ry the Maxxis Promaxx tires... another inexpensive one... I've not heard a THING about the Promaxx tires.


Rolly

[Frost]

which one is better???...i want radial...so i'll rule the bt45s out...

Avon AV45/46
MEZ4/2 combo

Avon rear comes in 140/80ZR17 only
and is it true that the Z2 rear 140/80ZR17 will be too big?
are the Metz tire generally 'bigger'???

what i'm looking for in HANDLING + MILEAGE....and price

please help a brother out...

[JLKasper]

Choosing tires is the sport of choice in this forum, isn't it?  Besides Penguin Baseball, of course.  Backbackbackback--GONE!  

[TR]

Well, Metzeler Z4/Z2 improved my handling since the begining, which isn't very objective since I was a dull rider when the stock tires were new and round, but I feel like I'm doing better with the Metzelers, and don't feel any slip on the white lines like the stockers did. The price, I paid $192 for the set (SHIPPING INCLUDED) at RonAyers, and $20 for mounting.

The Z4 comes in 110/70 (110 mm width and 60 mm high from the edge of the rim) and the Z2 in 130/80 (130 mm width and 88 mm high from the edge of the rim). I read recently, GSJack said Metzeler had approved to mount a 150 tire on 3.5" rims, so you could get a rear Z4 in 150/70.

[Frost]

The Z4 comes in 110/70 (110 mm width and 60 mm high from the edge of the rim) and the Z2 in 130/80 (130 mm width and 88 mm high from the edge of the rim). I read recently, GSJack said Metzeler had approved to mount a 150 tire on 3.5" rims, so you could get a rear Z4 in 150/70.

i doubt that putting a 150/70 rear is a good idea...i think it'll just upset everything...

but will a Z2 rear 140 be too big for clearance?

[gsJack]

The Z4 comes in 110/70 (110 mm width and 60 mm high from the edge of the rim) and the Z2 in 130/80 (130 mm width and 88 mm high from the edge of the rim). I read recently, GSJack said Metzeler had approved to mount a 150 tire on 3.5" rims, so you could get a rear Z4 in 150/70.

i doubt that putting a 150/70 rear is a good idea...i think it'll just upset everything...

but will a Z2 rear 140 be too big for clearance?

The 140/80 Z2 is 153 mm wide on a 3.5" rim, and the150/70 Z4 is 154mm wide on a 4" rim. The Z4 would prob be narrower than the Z2 on a 3.5" rim.  It would be very close to the brake torque rod.  My 140/80 AV36 is only 144 mm wide and is very close.  My choice in the Z2 is the 130/80 size for plenty of clearance and also the 130/80 has a 8 mm tread depth for longer life.  That's why it is H rated.  The 140/80 Z2 has only 7 mm tread depth.

Metz does approve the Z4 150/70 for a 3.5" rim, but it would still be a close fit on the GS500.  The narrower 130 tires will give the best handling so I only go to wider ones because the tire I want to try doesn't come narrower.  The wider tires on modern sport bikes are to provide enough traction for acceleration on the more powerful bikes.  Not a problem on the GS.  :lol:  :lol:

[gsJack]

which one is better???...i want radial...so i'll rule the bt45s out...

Avon AV45/46
MEZ4/2 combo

Avon rear comes in 140/80ZR17 only
and is it true that the Z2 rear 140/80ZR17 will be too big?
are the Metz tire generally 'bigger'???

what i'm looking for in HANDLING + MILEAGE....and price

please help a brother out...

I ran the Z2/Z4 tires the past 2 seasons but will be getting the AV45/46 tires for the 02 GS this coming season.  My 97 GS ended the past season with a BT010/AV36 combo.  Was early Dec when I put the BT on the front and I think I will like it.  Will play with it further when it warms up.   :mrgreen:

And yes, that 140/80 Z2 is one of the widest tires of that size I have seen.  Some of the old bias ply 140/80 ME55 and ME99 tires were that big also.  They all vary a bit.

[JohNLA]

My choice in the Z2 is the 130/80 size for plenty of clearance and also the 130/80 has a 8 mm tread depth for longer life.  That's why it is H rated.  The 140/80 Z2 has only 7 mm tread depth.

Daaaamn Jack, even knows the the different tread depths between the two sizes.

[gsJack]

My choice in the Z2 is the 130/80 size for plenty of clearance and also the 130/80 has a 8 mm tread depth for longer life.  That's why it is H rated.  The 140/80 Z2 has only 7 mm tread depth.

Daaaamn Jack, even knows the the different tread depths between the two sizes.

:lol:  

[pattonme]

you can put a 150/60 tire on the rear. But frankly the 140 size is better to use. Z2/Z4 are good. But for the GS anything rubber, black, and round will do.

[Turkina]

you can put a 150/60 tire on the rear. But frankly the 140 size is better to use. Z2/Z4 are good. But for the GS anything rubber, black, and round will do.

Except for the stock tires.  Especially old ones.  Cheap, slick, crappy circles of rubber, they are!   :mrgreen: