I have been reading up on tires, and there is so much info to go through! One thing I am confused by is that lots of people have bias ply tires on the GS500, a bike that was built for radials. But to me, there don't seem to be too many options for radials in the stock size. Will something like the Pirelli Sport Demons (Bias Ply) handle as effectively as radials in the stock size? Some people seem to recommend 140/80/17, but others say that these will cause the bike to "fall in" to corners.
Anyway, I like the price and the look of the Pirelli Sport Demons, and they come in the OEM size. I guess I am just afraid of the Bias Ply tag. Should I be concerned about that? :dunno_white:
The GS500 was designed with bias ply tires.
Oh.
For some reason I had thought that it says right on the rims "Radial Use Only" or something like that. I was about to post it but decided I would be stupid not to go down and check. Sure enough, I was not thinking right. They say "For Tubeless Application". :cookoo:
Anyway that makes me feel a lot better about going with the bias plys. I am not racing or anything like that, but I was under the impression that it came stock with radials, so why would people put bias ply on it?
If you want, Bridgestone makes the BT-090, which is a radial that comes in sizes that will fit the GS's wheels. 140 in the rear, but it's approved for a 3.5" rim.
Do a search mate,
Pirelli Sport Demons and Bridgestone BT45 are two of the popolur tyres for the GS500.
The previous owner run 140/70/17, I just replace the 130/70/17 BT45 today, the bike feels so much better than the 140/70/17.
The reasons y i am using BT45 because it is around 50USD cheapper