GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Hello,

For more than 3 weeks I'm searching the internet for some advices regarding the best tires (front and rear) for my Suzuki GS500E from 2002. Everyone recommend a different tire. I've come to the conclusion that some of the best tires for this bike are the following:

Bridgestone BT45
Pirelli Sport Demon
Metzeler Lasertec
Michelin Pilot Activ
Avon Storm 2 Ultra
Continental Conti GO
Dunlop GT501
Heidenau K63/K64
Avon Roadriders - I can not find them where I live
others - please mention them

I know this subject was discussed over and over but the last post it's more than 2 years old so I need an update.

What I need from them is as much grip as possible in dry and wet conditions, as well. Also, perfect braking. I'm not a sportive rider but I need them to help me in almost any situation. I don't need them to last for ever because I'm using the bike not more than 3-4,000 km per year, maybe less. So, I guess I need a softer tire. I know I can not find "the perfect" tire but the one as close as it could be.

Can you, please, tell me what you recommend?

Thank you very much,

I recently got Michelin Pilot Activ for my B-Day. I rode just 3 times after I put them on so I can't say anything about them just yet.

Certainly they're better thany my 7 years old BT-45s  ;)

hope you will find a perfect tire,
good luck

I don't have any experience with any of those tires, so I didn't vote. (will have some experience with Pirelli Sport Demon the next 6 months though!)

But check out this post by gsJack:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=50083.msg566575#msg566575

There are links to scans of a tire (tyre) report by Bike Magazine.

Then do an advanced search for "tire" by gsJack.

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?action=search;advanced;search=

Lots of information!

Avon roadriders do me just fine, not noticed any diference from bridgestone except cheaper. :)

i put the stock size kenda k671 tires from jc whitney. Before it had meztlers or something like that. the tires were also a little bigger then stock. since putting the new kenda's on the performance was 100% better. they do great on curves and all. i would def recommend especially when i got the front and rear shipped for about 115 dollars. i dont know a whole lot about bikes and tires but i know, from now on i will always buy stock size tires for my bikes.

Quote from: purplepeopleeater on April 10, 2010, 10:27:42 AM
Avon roadriders do me just fine, not noticed any diference from bridgestone except cheaper. :)

Roadriders would get my vote. They also last longer than the Bridgestones.

I have updated the poll with Avon Roadrider.

Thank you all for your posts. Still looking for the best tyre! :)

No such thing as a best tire, but there are a lot of very good tires out there right now.  My first thought was the Roadriders as I'm on my 2nd set now and getting terrific milage from them with good enough handling.  I voted Lasertec for you though because of your low 3-4000 km annual milage.  The Lasertecs gave me very good handling with a very solid feel on the road but are quite a bit more expensive here in the US now, priced better in some other locations I'm told.  The Lasertec front/RoadAttack rear remains my all time favorite GS500 combo for handling but not enough better than the Roadriders to justify the price difference for my higher milage usage I think.  In spite of the cost per miles advantage of the Roadriders I'm currently thinking of another 140/80 Avon AV46 Azaro radial for the rear with a Roadrider front when I replace my 2nd Roadrider rear this summer.

Back about 8 years ago when I put my first ever radial tires on my first GS500 (my 5th bike) they were by far the best tires I'd ever had for wet weather riding, I quit slowing down in the rain with that Z4/Z2 combo.  Much better than any bias ply tires I'd used.  But since then all the major brand bias tires have been upgraded in both profiles and compounds and the current ones are much closer to the radials in the wet than previous bias tires were.  You really can't go too wrong with any of the Roadriders, Lasertecs, Demons,  GT501, BT45, or Activs now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GS500tirelog.jpg

for the price to grip to longevity, I will second the kenda 671 I get roughly the same mileage no matter what kind of tire I buy, and I am a very sporty rider, and the bike is my daily driver during the summer. being a daily driver, and still wearing the tire all the way across should be a pretty good indicator for u

fwiw  I get around 6400 KM longevity, no matter what tires I run

Quote from: joshmadison on April 10, 2010, 05:39:27 PM
i put the stock size kenda k671 tires from jc whitney. Before it had meztlers or something like that. the tires were also a little bigger then stock. since putting the new kenda's on the performance was 100% better. they do great on curves and all. i would def recommend especially when i got the front and rear shipped for about 115 dollars. i dont know a whole lot about bikes and tires but i know, from now on i will always buy stock size tires for my bikes.

Agreed...big rubber only looks cool, smaller tires have the best tip-in when cornering. Smaller flywheels/tires change direction the easiest  :thumb:

I say go with the classic BT45 and buy front and rear. Whatever you get make it same front and rear. Treat yourself.

Cheers. Drop in new pads while you are down in there.

I have only used the BT45's and the Pilot Actives and I prefer the Pilots. They just seem to give me more confidence in corners.


Both tyres were fine in the rain and for general commuting.

thank you all. I choose BT45.  ;)

I recently replaced by Bridgestones (originals from by 2005 GS500) with a pair of Avon Roadriders and I'm quite happy with them.  I was going to hold out for the Michelin Pilot Activ but they weren't in stock at the time so I went with the Avon's instead.    Riding with wet weather hasn't been a problem, and handling is much better than the original Bridgestones.  It gives the feeling as if I'm riding a mountain bike, and the front wheel response is amazing.  I did end up with a S versus the H Bridgestones had.  My understanding is that the lower the letter in the alphabet, the speeder the tires but also the greater wear.

kendra's, i got my ken's for like 55 in front and like 60 in back.