Reading so much on the forum the last 2 weeks I am having a hard time deciphering all the info I have ingested. Lets pretend that money is no object........
What tire would you mount on your stock rims and why?
Being an older kinda sorta wiser fella I do realize that spending more money is not always the best thing but I have it so if it gets me a better ride for my 210 pound body and puts me in the twisties nice and tight then I don't care how much it costs. I want a tire that talks to me, puts me in a twisty and stays right where I put it from centerline to the outside edge. I want gradual roll into the corner not flicky flicky. Basically I want the perfect tire but get me close. Thanks for advice.
Louie
PS- Yes I have read almost EVERY post on tires !!! Just can't figure out if the general consensus is radial or bi and if it's Metzler, Dunlop, Bridgestone, or Avon. Buddy prefers AVON on his CBR1100.
well my expeience with tires so far has been the stock Bridgestone excedra's that really didnt do that great on the canyons.. it did okay but not that great.. I heard the BT45's are a night and day difference. However I am yet to get them mounted on my bike (as of this post its still sitting in my hall waiting to be mounted). So I will know after i mount them how zee works.
I however am sorta of a fan of wider is better. Coming from my old tercel which had 165R13 as stock I went up to 185R13 and boy that made it stick to the road.. I went with 140/70 R17 out back.. but i hear the wider tire does make the handling a bit lazier.. question is how lazy would it make it.
I cant wait to mount those tires on.
I was happy with the Bridgestone BT45's on my stock wheels, but the Michelin Pilot Sports on the bike now are stickier. They don't make a 130 rear in that tire though. Some guys pinch a 150 on the stock wheel, but I haven't messed with that. It just doesn't seem like a great idea to me to pinch the profile. I've got a GSXR front wheel and Bandit 400 rear with the Michelins.
If price is no object then changing to 3.5" and 4" wheels so you can mount modern 120/150 rubber is the way to go.
If you are limiting yourself to just tires, then for absolute best performance, 110/140 BT090 race compound tire are the ticket, just be careful on the street with them because they don't get up to temp as fast.
I used to ride a 2000 VFR800 and could ride the tires right off it. Now that VFR was beautiful in the corners and was graceful as a swan. The GS500 kind of slams into a corner on the stock tires and will stick there but not without total concentration and no time to enjoy the lean at all.
I want wider and stickier. If wider makes it lazier than so be it. I am already use to that anyway. This GS500 quicky flicky stuff freaked me out first time. I suppose it makes for good high speed, brake, slam it in the turn type of riding though.
Stick with the stock size tires for the GS500 first!
As for the best tire for the money and ride go with the Bridestone BT-45.
If you have the desire to go with a larger tire remember it will change the ride of the bike. First off a larger tire such as a 140/70 which will fit the stock rim will raise the rear of the bike which in turn will quicken the steering a bit also it will casue you to want to slide forward on the seat.
I will get shot down for this comment but do not go to a 150/60 on the rear! Some on this site will tell you they have raced on that size tire and have many miles on that size tire with no problems but it was not designed to fit the narrow size stock GS500 rear wheel.
Ask your self when deciding on a tire fitment who know more about tires? People on this site or Bridestone, Avon and the like who design the tires to fit certain size wheels. If you check out the tire companies web sites most of them have charts that tell you what size wheel each of their tires were designed to work best with.
I ride with a pirelli Dragon up front (110/70 zr17) and an Avon 46 Azaro (140/80 zr 17) rear. I recommend these tires.
140/ 80 radials fit the rim fine (better than a 150) and also fit the bike nicely. They raise the rear a little and give a slightly more agressive stance. That is also the closest sized radial to stock.
I rode 150 miles through 3 canyons yesterday and loved it- sooo much nicer than bias. Both tires stick nicely to the road and roll into corners very well. I also smoked an r6 on a tight freeway turn this morning-
From what I hear, the 150's square off alot more than a 140- if you plan to commute more I'd say go the 140 route. Avon, and dunlop (and metz I think) make a 140/80/17 ZR sport/touring tire. Dunlop has the D205.
But tires are only half the fun- the kat shock and progressive springs make a huge difference in how the bike handles.
tkm <<< Stick with the stock size tires for the GS500 first! >>>
Generally speaking, that is good advice. Can't go wrong heeding it and there are some good choices of bias ply tires in our std sizes. But if you want the the benefits of long life touring tires, they are not available in stock sizes. Or if you want the benefits of radial tires, they are not available in stock sizes.
I tried the std size bias tires, I tried the touring tires that I used to like, and then I tried the radials. I am sold on the radial tires for the GS500. I've put over 80k miles on my GS's, the last 26k of those on radials.
tkm <<< Ask your self when deciding on a tire fitment who know more about tires? People on this site or Bridestone, Avon and the like who design the tires to fit certain size wheels. If you check out the tire companies web sites most of them have charts that tell you what size wheel each of their tires were designed to work best with. >>>
That's good advice too, but we must remember the tire mfgs must take a very conservative approach in their advice to us in our current very litigous society. There are choices of radial tires approved by the tire mfg to fit our rims.
The reccommended or best rim size for the 140/80 tire is our 3.5" rear rim. The 130/80 Z2 is approved by mfg for our rim and the 150/70 size Z4, Contiforce, and BT020 tires are approved by mfgs.
I'll stick with the radials myself. Pun intended. I don't like slowing down for a little rain. :lol:
partmonster <<< I want a tire that talks to me, puts me in a twisty and stays right where I put it from centerline to the outside edge. I want gradual roll into the corner not flicky flicky. Basically I want the perfect tire but get me close. >>>
Me too! And I'm getting close. :lol: :lol: :lol:
I'll interview the AV45/46 tires for the job this season.
Handy Avon tire/rim fitment chart for reference.
http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/bc/40396913_138bb/bc/My+Documents/AvonTireRimFitment.jpg?bfTSMYABlxnqv9bl
Tires I've tried on the 97 GS.
http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/bc/40396913_138bb/bc/My+Documents/97GStirelog.txt?bfTSMYABRG.lPazS
Hi-T <<< I ride with a pirelli Dragon up front (110/70 zr17) and an Avon 46 Azaro (140/80 zr 17) rear. I recommend these tires. >>>
Might be nice. :lol: I've got a 110/70 BT010 front with a 140/80 AV36 rear on my 97 GS now. I like the combo.
I don't think I'll mix the Pirelli front in with the Avons though. I might try the Avon AV49 ST with the AV46 rear though. Avon likes that combo too.
What about these???
http://www.cycletires.com/
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
GSJack Wrote: "I don't think I'll mix the Pirelli front in with the Avons though. I might try the Avon AV49 ST with the AV46 rear though. Avon likes that combo too.:
Jack- Why not- why not mix the 2? Just curious. From what I've read- once you get into a ZR rated tire you can expect about the same level of performance- especially when you're not pushing the tire to the limit. I guess the tread could influence a decision- but I try not to ride in the rain...
In decenber I switched my stock tires for the Metz Z4/Z2 combo in 110/70 and 130/80, radials, they felt a lot better than the stocks, and very sticky in dry asphalt. Then some rain came and I felt very insecure on wet asphalt, however I must say I rode over a few pedestrians crosses all painted with white and yellow slippery paint.
Later some guys here told they don't like Metz at all. I have had not the courage to really test the tyres on wet, so I am very conservative when it rains. After my tyre switch the Avon 45/46 appeared on the scene and some people said they were grippier that Z4/Z2 and almost same price, there is also Z6 which claimed to be around 130% as Z4.
My opinion is you don't have to buy the most expensive tyre to get the best for yourself, depending on your riding habits could be a few good candidates for you. And how Hi-T said, suspension upgrade would be a wise move too.
Quote from: mwdbrunoWhat about these???
http://www.cycletires.com/
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Actually, color road racing bicycle tires are prevalent these days. Black is not the natural color of the "rubber" used in tires; in their natural state, it probably resembles the color of raw plastic-- sort of a pastel shade of s**t. Carbon black is added as a coloring agent only. Black is still used on the primary road contact surfaces, because when the colors get dirty they get quite ugly.
Continental and Michelin make road bicycling tires in at least five colors.
Personally, I'd like to see motorcycle tires have colored stripes on the sidewalls; a la the Michelin red stripe tires often found on old TR-6s. :cheers:
Quote from: Hi-TGSJack Wrote: "I don't think I'll mix the Pirelli front in with the Avons though. I might try the Avon AV49 ST with the AV46 rear though. Avon likes that combo too.:
Jack- Why not- why not mix the 2? Just curious. From what I've read- once you get into a ZR rated tire you can expect about the same level of performance- especially when you're not pushing the tire to the limit. I guess the tread could influence a decision- but I try not to ride in the rain...
I've found very few combinations that won't work together Hi-T, I've just never tried the Pirelli tires although they are more and more like the Metzelers all the time. I ran the 02 season on the Z4/Z2 combo and was quite happy with them compared to previous bias ply tires. Got 14k miles out of that Z2 rear after wearing out a BT45 rear in a few thousand miles.
So I started last year with another new set of Z4/Z2 tires but the Z2 was cut through the tread and had to be replaced after a few thousand miles. I found a Avon AV36 to quickly replace the Z2 and the finished the season on the Z4/AV36 combo. Quite similar actually to your Dragon/AV46 mix. After the 97 GS was totalled and then restored, I put a BT010 on the front with the AV36 rear and this mix felt better to me. Could be because the BT010 and the Avon Azzaro tires are both Aramid/Kevlar belted and the Metzeler and Pirelli tires have the stiffer steel belts.
I'll probably start this coming season on the 110/80 and 140/80 AV45/46 tires; but if I decide on a sport front/sport touring rear combo again, I'll use the more similar AV49 SP front with the AV46 ST rear. And I'd choose the Kevlar belted BT010 to run with the Aramid belted AV46 before I'd try either the Metz or Pirelli steel belted tires with the AV46. Just my opinion I guess. I've run most of my 320k miles on bias and bias belted tires. Really just getting my feet wet in the radial world.
Quote from: TRIn decenber I switched my stock tires for the Metz Z4/Z2 combo in 110/70 and 130/80, radials, they felt a lot better than the stocks, and very sticky in dry asphalt. Then some rain came and I felt very insecure on wet asphalt, however I must say I rode over a few pedestrians crosses all painted with white and yellow slippery paint.
Later some guys here told they don't like Metz at all. I have had not the courage to really test the tyres on wet, so I am very conservative when it rains. After my tyre switch the Avon 45/46 appeared on the scene and some people said they were grippier that Z4/Z2 and almost same price, there is also Z6 which claimed to be around 130% as Z4.
My opinion is you don't have to buy the most expensive tyre to get the best for yourself, depending on your riding habits could be a few good candidates for you. And how Hi-T said, suspension upgrade would be a wise move too.
Although I still like the 110/80 Z2 rear tire for the GS because of it's combination of good handling and long life, I'll agree the Avon Azarro tires are better in the wet and I do a lot of riding in the wet. But the Z2 tires are now 2 generations old having been replaced in most sizes first by the Z4 and now by the Z6 as Metzeler's sport touring radial. Those Z6 tires do look good though, but would have to use the 150/70 size. Don't know yet if Metz will approve it for our 3.5" rim like they did with the Z4.
We ran hard all day at an indicated 80 mph on the freeways on our 540 mile trip to Lake George in 02 and it rained very hard about half the time. I felt secure on my Z4/Z2 combo, but after all these years and all these miles; I still slow way down and stand the bike up for those painted lines on city streets. They can be as slick as ice to lean on or to brake on. We are just starting to get a new paint with an abrasive in it in our area. Glad they are finally realizing how hazardous those painted lines can be when wet.
If money truly is no object, your best bet is probably:
1. get the best Bias-ply tires you can find. I personally recommend the BT-45 tires. I've tried those and messlers, and I like the BT-45 a little better. Up to you, of course.
2. Get the best Radials you can find. switch back and forth a few times to see which you like better, and think about the advantages/disadvantages of each.
3. Try a few other types of tires if those first combinations don't work as you like them.
If you have that kind of money, you're definitely in the minority here. Most of us squeek by on as little as we can possible shell out (as I think you've noticed ;) ). If you really want the best ride, though, you'll have to take everyone's advice with a grain of salt and try it yourself. Everyone has a different opinion, and on something like this, there is no 1 right answer.
Oh, and if you do this, please post your findings here... I know I'm not the only one who would be extremely interested.