I know this one has just gone around recently, but I'd like to hear from those or you who run them. Last night I got a screw through my rear tire and convinced my wife that it's time for new tires anyway
Anyway I'm trying to decide between the bridgestone battleaxes and the metzlers.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Also I need to know what sizes to run. I'd like to get the rear a little bigger, but i don't wanna deal with any major mods to make it fit.
Thanks in advance.
Jake
on ething i forgot in my previous post.
How much should i be paying for metzlers or the bridgestones? I'm gonna look at a couple shops here in the interest of getting it done quicker, but can anyone point me to online sources with really cheap prices?
jake
:cry: depressed cuz i had to miss the first pittsburgh ride today
either tires will do you right. but since the Metz's are radials I'd prefer those on my ride. 140/80 rear is what the metz has that's a bit bigger without problems.
You should be able to get a pair for $200 I'd think. Do a search for tire or tires and find the online sources listed previously. We should probably include those somewhere (vendors list on for sale forum maybe).
Quote from: pantabloWe should probably include those somewhere (vendors list on for sale forum maybe).
I think that's a great idea! It might be better on the main page. You know what John says,
"There is more to this site than a message board." :nana:
Perhaps a list of vendors with special notation if they carry GS500 specific stuff.
Quote from: pantabloeither tires will do you right. but since the Metz's are radials I'd prefer those on my ride. 140/80 rear is what the metz has that's a bit bigger without problems.
You should be able to get a pair for $200 I'd think. Do a search for tire or tires and find the online sources listed previously. We should probably include those somewhere (vendors list on for sale forum maybe).
140/80 0n back
is the front 110/70?
thanks again.
jake
you'll pay a little more for a set of Metzlers, but the 'Stones should be in that range. 140/70 for BT-45 rear 110/70 for front. If you go with the Metzler radials it'll be 140/80 or 130/80 rear and 110/80 or 110/70 front. Heard the 80 in the front helps with the speedo accuracy, but only slightly. Spend the bucks and go for the radials....... :thumb:
I have the Metz....110-70 front and 130-80 rear. I went with GSJacks recomendation..check out his tire info. They are great tires. I have never felt as planted in the corners as with these and they don't track road grooves or rr tracks. In the last week and I have scraped a toe a couple of time :mrgreen: :mrgreen: !
Wayne
Quote from: Arpeeyou'll pay a little more for a set of Metzlers, but the 'Stones should be in that range. 140/70 for BT-45 rear 110/70 for front. If you go with the Metzler radials it'll be 140/80 or 130/80 rear and 110/80 or 110/70 front. Heard the 80 in the front helps with the speedo accuracy, but only slightly. Spend the bucks and go for the radials....... :thumb:
so if i go for the 140/80 rear and the 110/80 front, my shop shouldn't have any probs getting them on and i shouldn't have any clearance probs right?
jake
I would go with the 130 instead of the 140. I think gsjack said once that the 140 metz was near the size of some 150 size tires, not sure though. Try a search on tires, there has been some very good threds in the recent months.
Uh, we need to be more precise about which Metzelers we're talking about. I've got a pair of Metzelers on one of my GS500Es, but they're bias, NOT radial. Front = model 330, Rear = model 550.
They perform just fine, but I'm disappointed in the tread wear of the rear tire. I have about 7,000 miles on it and I'm down to the wear indicator marks in the center groove, with LOTS of tread left on the sides. I guess that's what I get for using this bike more for commuting than for riding the canyons. Also, it is a 130/80 profile tire. Maybe that made a difference in the wear pattern?
Anyway, if you happen to live in a land where the roads are flat and straight, consider yourself forewarned....
I ran both on the Bridgestone and the Metzelers, and in my opinion, the Metzelers are more expensive, but way better handling then the BT's. I even like dunlop or Pirelli's over Bridgestones.
As far as tire size, I stick with stock size. Bigger tires only make your bike turn slower, and I don't need the extra traction becasue my GS is stock and only 45 HP.
Quote from: sprint_9I would go with the 130 instead of the 140. I think gsjack said once that the 140 metz was near the size of some 150 size tires, not sure though. Try a search on tires, there has been some very good threds in the recent months.
It's the other way-soem 150's, once pinched a bit from our narrow rear rim are only slightly wider than a 140. The 150's also aren't necessarily 150 wide but vary quite a bit...most being closer to 145 but one or two wider than 150, can't remember which brand (maybe Bridgstone).
won't have any clearance problems with 110/80 or 130-140/80 at all.
This has some very good information on what tires to get. I asked alot of questions in this one and learned a whole lot.
http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1156&highlight=tires
The Metz's that I have are MEZ2 and MEZ4...110-70 front and 130-80 rear.
They are radials.
Wayne
The Metzler MEZ2 140/80-17 is made for a 3.5" rim according to Metzler's site. I plan on going the 110/70 MEZ4 front with MEZ2 140/80-17 rear on my next set.
Which I might get soon because my oversized 150/70-17 Mich Macadam 90x is really scary in a deep lean. Being pinched at the edges I lose a lot of grip and the lean accellerates as you get way over. Not fun. That's where you want the confidence in your tire. Not where you want it to get scary.
So far Parts411.com has had the best price, but I'm not sure what their shipping runs.
Quote from: Black SnowmanThe Metzler MEZ2 140/80-17 is made for a 3.5" rim according to Metzler's site. I plan on going the 110/70 MEZ4 front with MEZ2 140/80-17 rear on my next set.
Which I might get soon because my oversized 150/70-17 Mich Macadam 90x is really scary in a deep lean. Being pinched at the edges I lose a lot of grip and the lean accellerates as you get way over. Not fun. That's where you want the confidence in your tire. Not where you want it to get scary.
So far Parts411.com has had the best price, but I'm not sure what their shipping runs.
perfect.. that's exactly what i was thinking... thanks for the info.
jake
QuoteSince you want grip and milage with milage being more important, you want a sport touring tire. My choice in ST tires is the 110/70 and 130/80 MEZ4/2 combo or the Avon AV45/46 tires. The 140/80 Z2 is a really a big one, being over 6" in width mounted on a 3.5" rim and would be a very tight squeeze on the GS. Might have to alter a bit to make it fit. The 130/80 Z2 fits the GS nicely and has a deeper 8mm tread depth than any other radial I've seen, making it H rated instead of Z rated like the rest. I got about 14,000 miles out of the 1st one and just put on the 2nd one.
Gsjack said this in a post in a thread a few months back. Based on this I would go with the 130/80.
P.S. I dont know how to get the persons name at the top of the quote like others have on here. Could someone please help with this. Thanks.
Quote from: sprint_9I dont know how to get the persons name at the top of the quote like others have on here. Could someone please help with this. Thanks.
Click the "quote" icon below the post that you want to quote. This will automatically bring up a Reply page with the text surrounded by the appropriate "quote" tags.
Sometimes you only want to quote PART of the original message. Just delete the stuff you don't want, but make sure you leave the "quote" tags alone!
Ok, cool. Thanks for the help Kerry. :thumb:
I just ordered a pair of Bridgstones BT/45's. I got 140/70 rear and 120/70 front. I'm not a knee dragger and wanted something to last a while.
After reading this I am second guessing the front choice. I thought I read somewhere here that a 120/70 front was good. BUT, now I'm not so sure.
Should I NOT go with 120 on the front and stay with the 110/70?
Thanks,
Paul
The 120/70 is going to be a taller-than-stock tire. I seem to remember that someone used that size without problems, but there's something in the back of my mind saying "Check the clearance! Check the clearance!"
Something about the nuts/bolts that protrude between the fender and the tire....
It might also mess with the speedo.
:)
Well thanks for all the good info guys here's what I just ordered from parts411.com.
Front--MEZ4 110/70ZR17 Front --76bones
Rear--MEZ2 Radial 140/80ZR17--105bones
Shipping----------------------------28bones
I couldn't help going with the 140 on the back. I debated over and over after reading the posts.
My mouse just found the 140/80 automatically.
thanks again
jake
:thumb:
I think you'll like the looks of the 140/80. It does put a little beef on the bike from the profile and kind of fills up the rear end...but dang that's a lot of tire! You should be able to use most of it in the corners, without having to order "fries with your chicken strips".... :lol:
Quote from: Arpee"fries with your chicken strips".... :lol:
Call me noob.. but what are chicken strips?
by the way the dunlops i have on now are k591's and they don't even make em anymore..isnt' that swell.
oh well it was a good enough argument for my wife.
:thumb:
I'm ordering the exact same tires as we speak, and a 15 tooth front 40 tooth rear sprocket, EK SRX chain, and stainless steel bar ends. My chain has been going downhill FAST lately.
I thought I might just be adjusting it wrong because of the new shock but I checked the play at every position and the chain is just plain toast. I need to adjust it again and I've adjusted it 2 time already in the last 1100 miles.
And now when I rotate the wheel I get a lot of noise from the front sprocket. Not a good sign. Also I can move the chain sided to side a lot more than I'm comfortable with. So, new chain. I figured while I was ording stuff on the revolving debt card (credit card is kind of a misnomer) I got the tires since the rear contour looks like a car tire now and the front is the wrong size.
"Chicken strips" are the unused areas around the edges of tires drom not leaning "all the way over" in turns. With some wider tires, because of the cross section of the tire, it is impossible to get the edge of the tread pattern to contact the road before pegs, centerstand, and exhaust scrape first.
Some "riders" :roll: like to make fun of people with chicken strips as they seem to think that if you aren't using the edges of your tires, you must not be riding agressively enough.
Bad news from Parts411.com . . . . The MEZ rear has been discontinued and is no longer available :( :x :guns:
Looks like bias for me. When my rear is finally shot I'm going to get the Perelli Sport Demons and give them a try. They're available in the correct sizes and the tread and compound look really good from what I've heard.
Still rather have radials :(
Quote from: Black SnowmanBad news from Parts411.com . . . . The MEZ rear has been discontinued and is no longer available :( :x :guns:
Looks like bias for me. When my rear is finally shot I'm going to get the Perelli Sport Demons and give them a try. They're available in the correct sizes and the tread and compound look really good from what I've heard.
Still rather have radials :(
really?
I just ordered mine the other night and they didn't say anything to me at all.
jakek
Quote from: jake42Quote from: Arpee"fries with your chicken strips".... :lol:
Call me noob.. but what are chicken strips?
by the way the dunlops i have on now are k591's and they don't even make em anymore..isnt' that swell.
oh well it was a good enough argument for my wife.
:thumb:
Dunlop has replaced the ageing K591's with their new GT501's and considers them to be interchangeable and can mix with each other. They are even better than the K591's. An excellent bias ply tire, but a bit pricey. Can get radials for same or less.
Quote from: Black SnowmanBad news from Parts411.com . . . . The MEZ rear has been discontinued and is no longer available :( :x :guns:
Looks like bias for me. When my rear is finally shot I'm going to get the Perelli Sport Demons and give them a try. They're available in the correct sizes and the tread and compound look really good from what I've heard.
Still rather have radials :(
The MEZ4's replace the MEZ2's, but Metz has continued the Z2's in our 130/80 and 140/80 sizes. I prefer the 130/80 for the GS.
Got my Z2 from Discount last year and they dropped them after stock was gone. Got my new Z2 from Southwest this year.
When my new Z2 was destroyed, I replaced with a locally available Avon AV36 in 140/80. I like it very much after Smoky Mtn trip. Won't wear as long as the Z2 though. Think I might go with the newer Avon AV45/46 tires next year. Better tire life with same handling. New improved tread compounds make a difference.
http://www.discountmotorcycletire.com/http://www.swmototires.com/
[quote="glenn9171Some "riders" :roll: like to make fun of people with chicken strips as they seem to think that if you aren't using the edges of your tires, you must not be riding agressively enough.[/quote]
You will also almost invariably find that those who will give you a hard time for having chicken strips on your tires will have fallen off at least once from riding too aggressively. Don't let them get to you- buy good tires, ride within your limits, and think of all the repairs you have avoided by not riding right to the edge of your tires or your limits.
Thanks for the words of encouragement Michael, but they don't bother me. I was just using that as an example of how the term chicken strips got it's name.
By the way, I only have about a quarter of an inch left on the edge of my 130/70 BT45. And I have not "tried" to get to the edge.
:) gotta tell you, a lot or tire shops, wont mount tires purchased elsewhere., they say something about liability. ive got the bt45's on mine, even got the complimentary flat spot in the middle. doesnt affect ride, so im not gonna worry 'bout it yet. ive also heard, that some on the internet, carry discontinued tires, i.e. last years batch. gets you great price, but, like i said, there may be shops that wont touch them. some will. just gotta find. that is unless you intend on, :thumb: installing yourself? :cheers:
no probs there.
i can get mytires mounted and balanced by a local shop for about 13 bucks apiece. well worth it to me.
jake
QuoteSome "riders" like to make fun of people with chicken strips as they seem to think that if you aren't using the edges of your tires, you must not be riding agressively enough.
My point is, of course not that people will tell you you're a "wimp" for not pushing the bike to the edge; the point is that a "squared-off" tire is also dangerous...handles pretty bad when you do eventually get to the edge. The tendency is for the bike to then feel like it's pitching into a corner which can further sap your cornering confidence...no poking fun intended... :cheers:
Quote from: jake42no probs there.
i can get mytires mounted and balanced by a local shop for about 13 bucks apiece. well worth it to me.
jake
I hate you. $45 dollars a tire here. :nana:
$45!! where's that at so I can make sure I don't go there?
:o ouch snowman, $45 each, maybe time to find different shop?, some auto shops will do cycle tires also. equipments pretty much the same. 8)
Argh!!!
Got a call from parts411 today. The MEZ2 is out.
now i gotta decide
avon 45/46's?
bridgestone battleaxes?
pirelli sport demons?
i just wanna ride my bike :x
Check out the swmototires.com link they have them listed and free shipping if you order two tires. Price comes out to be cheaper than parts411.com I think its like $196.
I already ordered the Pirelli Sport Demons from parts411. Got the stock sizes. I have a spare set of rims so I'm going to clean them up and paint them before the new tires go on (if I can make the time).
I didn't see the thing about free shipping. They need to make that big and bold ;) Would have saved me $15 or so. The total with shiping to Kansas City, KS came out to be just a touch over $195.
That's about what Chen Shins would set me back locally, still unmounted.
Quote from: yamahonkawazuki:o ouch snowman, $45 each, maybe time to find different shop?, some auto shops will do cycle tires also. equipments pretty much the same. 8)
bwuahahah! i got you all beat. i just had someone tell me they wanted $187 to mount two tires!!!
My price isn't a random quote, it's the ONLY place that will do tires brought in of the 5 places I checked. The others flat out refuse to do tires not purchased from them, and of those only the Suzuki dealer will change them on the bike.
snowman, which shops refused?