GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: georgel on May 23, 2008, 05:15:55 AM

Title: tire choice
Post by: georgel on May 23, 2008, 05:15:55 AM
I need help I am trying to decide what to do about tires on my GS. I like to lean over as far as you can go and I did with my R6 I ocaasionally drug the feelers. Now with the 130 back tire I'm skittish I'm afraid I'll run out of tire. Is this a legitamate fear. Does someone out there carve up the curves and I mean extremelly carve them with a 130 on the back. Do I definatly need to go to a bigger back tire. Pirelli Diablo has a 130 and a 110 sounds good to me but I still am on the fence.
Title: Re: tire choice
Post by: gsJack on May 23, 2008, 06:53:20 AM
I don't go to the edges of the tire myself but would use the 140/70 rear with the Diablos as I am currently doing with the Roadriders.  Both the Diablos and Roadriders are sized for a 3.75" preferred rim width and are an equally good fit on either a 3.5 or 4.0" wheel.  Mostly the 140/70 and 150/70 tires have been shaped for a 4.0" preferred rim width.

Many run the supersport tires with a 150/60 rear on the standard 3.5" rim on both the GS500 and Ninja 500 bikes.  The Pilot Powers have been quite popular with them.  I never use supersports because of the shorter tire life but have run 150/70 Lasertec bias and RoadAttack radial rears.

The RoadAttack rear with a Lasertec front were the best handling and stickiest tires I've run on my GS's, the RoadAttack tires seem to fall halfway between the sport touring and supersport tires in stickiness, my RoadAttack radial rear:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/RoadAttack-4.jpg)

There are quite a few here doing track days and running the supersports on the street as well as on the track and maybe some will respond, most are a half century younger than me too.  :laugh:  Some have gone to wider Kat rear wheels.  The 150 tires will fit the GS on the 3.5" rim with clearance all around except they come close to the brake torque rod which must be bent a bit for clearance in some cases.

Tires of all types and sizes that I've used on the GSs:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GS500tirelog.jpg
Title: Re: tire choice
Post by: Jlittle on May 23, 2008, 07:15:00 AM
I personally like my Pirelli Demon Sports, very sticky and i take them all the way to the edge of the tire. My next tires will prob be the same ones.
Title: Re: tire choice
Post by: ben2go on May 23, 2008, 08:47:04 AM
Shinko 005 Advanced 120-60-17 and 160-60-17 on a B6 rear wheel.Sticky Z rated road legal race tire.  :thumb:
Title: Re: tire choice
Post by: saady2s on July 02, 2008, 08:59:21 PM
Hello,

After installing some lights,and fixing up other things on my 04 gs500f i'm thinking to replace a rear tire with some wider one. I currently have Factory Rim and Tire installed. Is it safe to do so?

Any suggestions? Links to good rated tires etc...would me much appreciated.

Also, should I go with Sport touring tire or Sport bike tire?

(How about this tire 150/70zR/17 : http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/28/396/13124/ITEM/Dunlop-Roadsmart-Sport-Touring-Rear-Tire.aspx)

Regards,
Saad.
Title: Re: tire choice
Post by: ben2go on July 02, 2008, 09:13:41 PM
Quote from: saady2s on July 02, 2008, 08:59:21 PM
Hello,

After installing some lights,and fixing up other things on my 04 gs500f i'm thinking to replace a rear tire with some wider one. I currently have Factory Rim and Tire installed. Is it safe to do so?

Any suggestions? Links to good rated tires etc...would me much appreciated.

Also, should I go with Sport touring tire or Sport bike tire?

Regards,
Saad.

140 is about the biggest on the stock 3.5 wheel.If you wanna go to a 150 you need to contact the tire manufacture or dealer to make sure it is rated for a 3.5 inch wheel.Pinch tires can be dangerous.Also mixing radial and bias ply tires can be dangerous.Be aware of this.Also a 150 sometimes requires mods to the bike.Spacing the rear sprocket and rebending the rear brake caliper torque rod are the most common mods that have to be done to fit a 150.A 160 can get very difficult but has to be done on a Bandit600 rear wheel(contact me for conversion details) or a 98+ Katana 600/750 rear wheel.Changing wheels requires mods especially with the bandit600 wheel.I have a 160 on a B6 wheel on my bike.
Title: Re: tire choice
Post by: gsJack on July 03, 2008, 06:09:20 AM
See recent post on 150 tires on 3.5" rim:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=42035.msg473087#msg473087
Title: Re: tire choice
Post by: warning on July 03, 2008, 12:41:34 PM
If youre dragging feelers on your R6 on the canyons/twisties, you might want to try to work on your body positioning.

I run GBC Street Sharks on my GS500 and the bike only sees canyons/twisty duties. I ride the hell out of if and the tires seem to be stable and have not felt any slipage. (110/70)(140/70)
Title: Re: tire choice
Post by: saady2s on July 06, 2008, 02:23:37 PM
I'm thinking about getting this tire (140/80V/17) : http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/28/396/6015/ITEM/Bridgestone-Battlax-BT45V-Sport-Touring-Rear-Tire.aspx

What do you guys say?

Regards,
Saad.