New Tyre Time - Opinions Please

[1018cc]

Yes, I have searched but I can't find the answer. Everyone is on a budget and doesn't want to spend anything on tyres or live in places that don't have corners.

I'm in need of some new tyres very shortly (almost down to the wear markers both front and rear so I'll be replacing both at the same time). I currently have Michelin Pilot Street Radials in stock sizes that were on the bike when I bought it and I've done 18,500kms on them (approx 11,500 freedom units) - they looked reasonably new when I bought the bike so I'd expect they'd have 20k+ on them seeing as the PO also used the bike as a commuter.

Looking at what to buy - please let me know based on the following information:

• Stock sizes - not interested in changing from the 110 front or 130 rear
• Price is not a concern
• I don't have any chicken strip left on the rear and hardly anything left on the front (Bit of a hoon / ride hard as there is plenty of tight twisty roads around me, bike sees redline / accelerate flat out quite often)
• I've had the front end push and the rear loose traction before (not at the same time) so I know I'm pushing these to their limit as it is as I've scared myself before
• I commute on my bike pretty much no matter the weather so tyres must be reasonable in the wet
• I'm in Aus and about the coldest it gets where I live is approx 0°C in the winter (no snow)
• I go fast through the corners but I also travel long distances and don't mind going down the odd well maintained dirt road / track
• I never take any one two-up but generally carry a fair bit of stuff with me (tail bag and a large rear rack / bag)

The Michelins have been ok but I'd like something grippier / better for the twistys. I know I said price is not a concern for me but I don't want full on track tyres either because they'll be way too soft and too much of a pain to change all of the time (I want something soft but I'm also too lazy to want to change tyres all of the time). I'd be happy with 10,000 - 15,000kms out of a set of rubber and even then I'll only get 6-9 months out of a set of tyres before I have to change them. Michelins are quite worn at the moment and the bike moves around quite a lot under cornering (corners like a drunken pig on ice once it is leaned over so whatever brand / type I go to next will be heaps better because they are new and not worn out).

Let me know what you've run that might fit the bill. Thanks!

[Bluesmudge]

I would recommend the Pirelli Sport Demon. Its my favorite street tire that I have run on the GS500. You are not going to get anywhere near 20k miles out of a set of them but they will allow you to push it a lot harder in the corners.
They are also probably one of the stickier tires you can get without going to a 140 in the rear.

Depending on how much dirt riding you do I would also recommend TKC80s. Its a premium dual sport tire that comes in sizes that work on the GS. TKC80s are notorious for their short lifespan, especially on the rear. Figure 4,000 - 5,000 miles rear tread life on a lighter low power bike like the GS500. On the street they are so sticky you won't even notice you are running on knobbies.

[J_Walker]

I haven't run TKC80s on the GS itself. but have on an actual dual sport, they are better street tires then they are off-road tires for sure. they are more like "styled like" off road tires.

My two cent.

[Bluesmudge]

You are right, the TKC80s are not a D606 or something super offroad worthy like that, but its as close as you will ever get on something like the GS's stock wheels.

[ajensen]

Sport Demons are great--super cornering, but they do not wear as well as some tires.

[1018cc]

Thanks guys for the response. I looked at the TKC80s and it looks like I'd have to go to a large size front and rear - as in they'd fit but I'd have a 140 rear and a 120 front tyre based on their sizing. Interesting to note that they are super sticky and good on the road. They don't look like they should be.

I don't do that much as probably 95% of my riding is on road (commuting taking up a large portion of that and having mates on super sports means no dirt roads when I go with them). I've been on Pirelli Sport Demons before but not on the GS so I think they might be my choice for now. Thanks!

[Bluesmudge]

Oh yeah, I forgot the TKC80's are wider and taller. I definitely noticed the bike felt taller and less "flickable" when I put them on the GS.
They are an incredible tire though. Last summer on a road trip around the western united states I really pushed them to the limit with hard cornering on mountain passes with my wife and all our gear for 2 weeks of camping on the back (at least 400 lbs of total weight on the bike). The sport demon would do just as well and last longer but it makes you stay away from sand, mud, and gravel.

I have done some hard pack summer dirt road riding with the Sport Demon and it does fine.

[J_Walker]

Oh I forgot to say, I run Avon AM26 Roadrider, Stock sizes, but I opted for a slightly taller tire 80's instead of 70. feels it gave me a slightly more responsive-ness to the bike. along with stiffer shocks of course.

[MichaelM3]

Another Australian point of view...

I had a set of Pirelli Sport Demon    (rear lasted 15682.3 ks, the front lasted 23216.0 ks). The rear was not thoroughly worn out - there was little bit of tread left above the tread wear indicators. However, as I was heading off on a long ride I replaced them early.
   
Currently I'm running a set of Michelin Pilot Street Radials (so far - 39873.4 ks on the rear and 31842.7 ks on the front). There is still millimeters of tread above the tread wear indicators. These have been so good that I expect Mr Michelin to take them off the market - they are lasting way too long for Michelin to be making  money out of them 

The Michelins are really good in the wet. However, they are surprisingly bad on gravel. It could be the hard centre compound that make them skate around. The Pirelli tyres were better on gravel - much more predictable. Obviously this comes at the cost of longevity.

[TGTwin]

Over 30k kms on the pilot street radials? Damn, that's making me feel better about my choice.
Getting a set of those for my GS this arvo to replace the old and questionable tyres that came with the bike when I bought it. I was hoping to be able to get around 20k kms out of a set (about a year of riding), so you getting 30 makes me feel much better.

[1018cc]

That is some impressive mileage. I am way too much of a delinquent to get anything close to that on a set a rubber.

[Scrambled Eggs]

Thanks guys for the response. I looked at the TKC80s and it looks like I'd have to go to a large size front and rear - as in they'd fit but I'd have a 140 rear and a 120 front tyre based on their sizing.

i see 110 front and  130 rear in stores available. was this not available in 2017? or you had some other reason to go for wider tires?