tire brand

[pantablo]

Bigdaub and Frost-

Yes, you can run 150/60 and 150/70 on rear and *may* get some rubbing on brake arm in the 70 size depending on brand. I've seen a 150/70 michelin mounted and it had 1mm clearance; misaligned just a little and it rubbed.

I ran a 150/60 on the rear and have switched recently to a Avon AV46 140/80 rear. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND A 140/80 OVER A 150/60. The 150 mounted on stock gs rim flattens out on top making the transition from vertical to leaned over nonlinear and will feel like you're "falling into" corners. The 140 has a very linear progressive feel to very leaned over and the avons are very sticky.

Avons are reported to be better in the rain than Metzelers.

[Frost]

Thanks Pablo for clearing things up...
you had your Avon on stock rims right?...and clearance is fine?
how are Avon A45/46 compare to Metz Z2/Z4 in mileage and handleing?

[Frost]

where is the CHEAPEST (list price + S+H) place to buy tires online?

[gsJack]

Thanks Pablo for clearing things up...
you had your Avon on stock rims right?...and clearance is fine?
how are Avon A45/46 compare to Metz Z2/Z4 in mileage and handleing?

I ran the Z4/Z2 combo the past 2 seasons and am planning on the AV45/46 this coming season.  I'll let you know about the milage and handling next fall. :lol:  :lol:

I have an AV36 on the rear of my 97 now and clearance is good.  The newer AV46 is a tad narrower than the AV36.  Our 3.5" rear rims are the reccommended size for a 140/80 size tire.

I really expect the AV45/46 tires to be equal to or better than the Z4/Z2 combo in both handling and milage and better yet in wet handling.  My AV36 is better than the Z2 in the wet.  Time will tell.   :dunno:

[gsJack]

where is the CHEAPEST (list price + S+H) place to buy tires online?

I compare prices at:

http://swmototires.com/

http://www.discountmotorcycletire.com/

http://www.motorcycletireplanet.com/index.asp

I think Southwest has the best price on AV45/46 tires right now, remember they have free shipping on a pair.  The other 2 add shipping costs.  The Avons are about $190 delivered to your door.

[Frost]

cool...you the man jack  
Avon it is then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bigdaub]

thank you all for the info, and gsjack, you are a bamf!

[Turkina]

I ran a 150/60 on the rear and have switched recently to a Avon AV46 140/80 rear. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND A 140/80 OVER A 150/60. The 150 mounted on stock gs rim flattens out on top making the transition from vertical to leaned over nonlinear and will feel like you're "falling into" corners. The 140 has a very linear progressive feel to very leaned over and the avons are very sticky.

I know the Avons' smallest size is the 140/80, but how do you think it would handle different than a 140/70?

[werase643]

where is the CHEAPEST (list price + S+H) place to buy tires online?

have fun getting mail order tires mounted at a shop.....spread them cheaks boy

[yamahonkawazuki]

whoa jack, i honestly wasnt aware of the tread depth difference. cool! :mrgreen:

[TR]

I just confirmed my worst fears, the Z4/Z2 tends to be slippery in wet, actually I tend to ride worst in wet too. This morning lowsided my full faired GS while crossing a pedestrians walk painted in white and yellow. Not sure if this behavior has to do with cold tires, since it happened early in the morning, and I had rode only a couple of miles or less.

So, for what I've read Z6s and A45/46s must be the best choice if rain is an issue. The Z4/Z2 works great on dry roads...

[JamesG]

Bummer man.  I hope you got away without any injury and the butcher's bill for the bike isn't too bad.

IMO All Metzlers suck all the time.

[akh223]

JamesG,

Please tell us what brand you like.  I'm not trying to start anything, but I am interested in this as I still have the stock pieces of crap on my bike.  I know I need to upgrade at some point, so what would you recommend?

Andy

[TR]

Bummer man.  I hope you got away without any injury and the butcher's bill for the bike isn't too bad.

Only my pride injured and a couple of scratches on the knee, the bike got a side cover partially broken, hope I can glue it for a while until I get a replacement, also a bunch of nasty yellow scratches on the left side of the fairing, but it resisted pretty well, polished them and almost fade away... everything because I made a shortcut... damn! Lucky it happened at low speed.

And somehow now I tend to think like you about Metzelers, but considering they are muy "practically" new tires I have to learn to live with them.