tires

[Blairbee]

Hi all looking to replace the rubber at this point no knowing much about motorcycle tires I've looked around a bit and am not really sure which way to go any suggestions on preference of tire .....The other question I have is how big of a rear tire fits properly just because it seems to open up more options of tires will a 140/80 17 fit or can I go bigger

[gsJack]

I've run several bias and radial 150/70, one 150/60, and a couple 140/80 rear tires on the stock 3.5" rim.  Needs a little bend in the brake brace bar for some 150s, no mods for a 140/80.  Tires I've used for my last 180k GS miles:

http://www.gs500.net/gallery/data/500/GS500tirelogs.jpg

[Blairbee]

Wow lots of great info thanks

[gsJack]

Worth a read, comparo test of major brand bias tires run on a GS500 on a track:

http://www.ex-500.com/wiki/index.php?title=Tire_Comparison

[Blairbee]

I must say that sum's up pretty much all there is to say about tires on these machines and now to see what my wallet has to say


Thanks for the great info

[CrispThat]

I just dished out a bunch of cash for Bridgestone BT-003 radials (120/70-17 and 140/70-17). There's a bunch of snow on the roads now. Can't wait to try them.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but i believe that Bridgestone just stopped making the BT-45's and BT-090's. You can still find them here and there, but the tire shop in my town can no longer order them....

[ohgood]

I just dished out a bunch of cash for Bridgestone BT-003 radials (120/70-17 and 140/70-17). There's a bunch of snow on the roads now. Can't wait to try them.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but i believe that Bridgestone just stopped making the BT-45's and BT-090's. You can still find them here and there, but the tire shop in my town can no longer order them....

the bt090 was fantastic grip, but short on life

the bt45 wears like iron, but half the grip of bt090

the bt003 is supposed to be the 090's replacement, I think?

all of them are good, the 090's lasted me almost a summer, including abuse at multiple gymkhanas. I would love to have more of those.

right now I have irc road runners, they're about as grippy s the bt45 imo

[gsJack]

The BT45 are still available everywhere in both H and V speed ratings.  The BT003 replace the BT090 but the BT090 are still available in 110/70 and 140/70 sizes for OEM Motard applications.  All available at Tires Unlimited:

http://www.tiresunlimited.com/motorcycle_tires.htm

[BockinBboy]

The BT45 are still available everywhere in both H and V speed ratings.  The BT003 replace the BT090 but the BT090 are still available in 110/70 and 140/70 sizes for OEM Motard applications.  All available at Tires Unlimited:

http://www.tiresunlimited.com/motorcycle_tires.htm

Heh, go figure...

- Bboy

[TheOzTurkish]

I got a pair of pirelli diablo rosso 2's last week in 110/70 and 140/70

there a composite tyre so hard compound in the middle and soft on the sides and after the initial scrub in holy shaZam! do they grip, also turn in (tip in) has improved it feels like your riding on a knife edge as soon as you push on the bar in it dives, a big change from the bt45's, also feels like braking grip has improved

diffidently going to stay with these tyres

[Jayke]

I got a pair of pirelli diablo rosso 2's last week in 110/70 and 140/70

there a composite tyre so hard compound in the middle and soft on the sides and after the initial scrub in holy shaZam! do they grip, also turn in (tip in) has improved it feels like your riding on a knife edge as soon as you push on the bar in it dives, a big change from the bt45's, also feels like braking grip has improved

diffidently going to stay with these tyres

Great choice! Had a set of these on my supermoto, excellent tyres, can't fault them; they're even superb in the wet if you haven't tried already (obviously don't go nuts, its wet, but you can get surprisingly alot of grip when its wet )

Looking to get a set on my new GS soon

[Atesz792]

I got a pair of pirelli diablo rosso 2's last week in 110/70 and 140/70

there a composite tyre so hard compound in the middle and soft on the sides and after the initial scrub in holy shaZam! do they grip, also turn in (tip in) has improved it feels like your riding on a knife edge as soon as you push on the bar in it dives, a big change from the bt45's, also feels like braking grip has improved

diffidently going to stay with these tyres

Any idea about their longevity compared to Sport Demons?

[burning1]

Keep in mind that the 003s are more or less track tires. They offer way more grip than needed for the street, and really benefit from having the suspension set up properly. There's nothing wrong with a bias ply tire; I've gone knee dragging on Pirelli Sport Demons.

[gs500Faddicted]

This was on another tire discussion in an earlier thread and found it interesting to read prior to buying my rear tire.  Might help with some tire decision making.

http://www.ex-500.com/wiki/index.php?title=Tire_Comparison

[TheOzTurkish]

I got a pair of pirelli diablo rosso 2's last week in 110/70 and 140/70

there a composite tyre so hard compound in the middle and soft on the sides and after the initial scrub in holy shaZam! do they grip, also turn in (tip in) has improved it feels like your riding on a knife edge as soon as you push on the bar in it dives, a big change from the bt45's, also feels like braking grip has improved

diffidently going to stay with these tyres

Great choice! Had a set of these on my supermoto, excellent tyres, can't fault them; they're even superb in the wet if you haven't tried already (obviously don't go nuts, its wet, but you can get surprisingly alot of grip when its wet )

Looking to get a set on my new GS soon

nah its the middle of summer here atm haven't had any rain since about September/October but yer ive been told they hang on well in the wet aswell

I got a pair of pirelli diablo rosso 2's last week in 110/70 and 140/70

there a composite tyre so hard compound in the middle and soft on the sides and after the initial scrub in holy shaZam! do they grip, also turn in (tip in) has improved it feels like your riding on a knife edge as soon as you push on the bar in it dives, a big change from the bt45's, also feels like braking grip has improved

diffidently going to stay with these tyres

Any idea about their longevity compared to Sport Demons?

honestly I have no idea, from what ive been told and from the product descriptions the SD's are more a touring tyre where as the rosso 2's are more sports orientated so i would say the SD's would last longer, having said that though they are an older tyre any maybe the rosso's modern compounds might make them last as long.

on a side note the salesman was trying to get me to leave with a pair of supercorsa's http://www.pirelli.com/tyre/ww/en/motorcycle/sheet/diablo_supercorsa_sp.html but I didn't think i needed street legal race tyres, plus he'd have to fit a 150 to a 3.5" rim, possible but illegal in SA

[Twism86]

Keep in mind that the 003s are more or less track tires. They offer way more grip than needed for the street, and really benefit from having the suspension set up properly. There's nothing wrong with a bias ply tire; I've gone knee dragging on Pirelli Sport Demons.

The sport demoms are excellent, I highly recommend them. Any of Pirelli's higher end street tires are good IMO. Also, the other problem with a track tire is getting them up to the proper temps when riding on the road.

[burning1]

The 003RS we use on our bikes are okay temp wise. The front tire wears out really quickly though.

Tires are one of the highest costs on our bikes. For a commuter, I'd stick to the Bias Plys to keep the bike economical.

[Atesz792]

honestly I have no idea, from what ive been told and from the product descriptions the SD's are more a touring tyre where as the rosso 2's are more sports orientated so i would say the SD's would last longer, having said that though they are an older tyre any maybe the rosso's modern compounds might make them last as long.

Thanks 

[mach1]

I had a set of metzeler M1 tires stock front and 160/40 rear no modding of the brake arm and it looked good. those tires had really good grip and decent tread life. they were pretty cheap on ebay.

[burning1]

Don't go wider than stock unless you have to. 140s are enough to get your elbow on the deck. Wider just increases rotating mass, and pinches the tire.