:dunno:   Put about 9k miles on the AM51/52 tires on the 02 GS and had enough rear tire tread left to last well into next season.  

These tires are a real bargain for the price.  Handle as good as the BT45s in dry and wet conditions and give great tire life for such a bargain price so I can't just totally reject them.

But,  

I've quilified my opinion of these tires since I first saw the cross section shape of the rear AM52.  It's suposed to be of the new multi arc design, but instead of gradually changing shape, the outer edge just angles off sharply.  There is a corner there about 1" from the outer edge viewed from behind, more then that viewed on the bias.  Why?

I'm not into knee dragging by any means, but I ride the twisties at a pretty good pace.  Usually have about a half inch of chicken strips left on my tires.  I've not got beyond that "corner" on the AM52, a lot of tire unused.  Seems that riding at my pace I'm cornering on that "corner" of the tire greatly reducing the contact patch and while traction is good enough on a good road, it's quick to break loose on a tar snake or those narrow steel plates sometimes found at bridge joints, etc.

There is much construction in our area and I rode on those scraped up black top roads with the anoying grooves many miles while the AM52 was new, but now with the 9k miles on it the AM52, it is all over the place on those grooves.  Road grooves seem to be working on that "corner" of the tire which is getting more pronouced as the miles add up.  A few days ago on a newly  paved road with only a slight difference between tarmac strips, my rear was upset considerably when trying to climb the small differences.  I'm not referring to the large difference between lanes with different number of layers of new blacktop, I'm referring to a slight difference in the finished road.  Think these AM51/52 tires would be greatly improved with a change in profile of the rear tire.

Pulled the wheel and had a new 150/70B17 rear Lasertec tire mounted yesterday and will run it with the AM51 front till spring and replace it with a Lasertec front.    Got wheel back on and waiting for rain to stop, hate to scuff in a new tire on a wet street.

Wait...what?

I've also noticed a 1" chicken strip with a sharp angle to the used part of the my AM52 also.  This is after 3500-4000 miles and what I think to be some pretty hard turns(Though not as hard as some people take them).  I still like the tire, but the tire profile does seem pretty odd. :dunno:

With another switch in brands, Jack, would you mind posting your preference ranking of the tires you've run off your bike.  

Following your posts over the years, it seems you're still hunting for the better tire than the last one you've worn out.  

I really have to get out and break in that new Lasertec rear tire and give it a good try before it starts raining again, but I do want to answer your post RedShift and it will take a bit of time with my one finger typing style.  Be back later.  

I still really like the AV45/46ST series you recommended, even though they were a little bit more expensive than some other brands.  I don't have a hell of a lot of miles on them yet, but they're very predictable and have great wet traction.

Quote from: gsJackI really have to get out and break in that new Lasertec rear tire and give it a good try before it starts raining again, but I do want to answer your post RedShift and it will take a bit of time with my one finger typing style.  Be back later.  

Thanks Jack.  Take all the time you need.  I'm all for gathering data, especially if it means throwing a leg over and going for a ride.  

150/70 ?  didnt know they made that size, bet that would fit on a bandit rim really nice.

Metz US site only shows 6 sizes of Lasertec tires so far.
http://www.us.metzelermoto.com/en_85/tires/template_categorie.jhtml;jsessionid=VYUTIKVOE2S2VFYKJO4SFEY?catid=85SPTOU&productid=16116&product_list=catid%3D85SPTOU%26productid%3D16116

Metz Worldwide site shows 49 sizes.

http://www.metzelermoto.com/en_86/tires/template_categorie.jhtml;jsessionid=PDLL3033FKLMDFYKJOPSFEY?catid=86SPTOU&productid=16773&product_list=catid%3D86SPTOU%26productid%3D16773

My local supplier had rear 17" Lasertecs in 130/90, 140/80, and 150/70 sizes so I went with the 150/70 and after about 50 miles I like them.  Need more miles and drier roads to really get into them.  

150/70 will fit on the stock rim?...will it wear down properly?

and I have the same problem with the AM51/52...i thought it was because of all the highway mileage I do...but I managed to get ~14000km out of it...

Quote from: Frost150/70 will fit on the stock rim?...will it wear down properly?

and I have the same problem with the AM51/52...i thought it was because of all the highway mileage I do...but I managed to get ~14000km out of it...

Some tire mfgs approve fitment of the 150/70/17 on a 3.5" rim and some don't.  Metzeler approves the fitment for both their Z6 radials and their new Lasertec bias tires.  More approve it for bias tires than do for radial tires.

Here it is right from Metzeler:

http://www.us.metzelermoto.com/media/m_full_line.pdf;jsessionid=TADQEJZMS4FJRFYKJO4SFEY

It really has a nice rounded shape on my rim and even with the used AM51 still on the front it just falls into corners with the new tire     will have a more experienced opinion some thousands of miles from now.  

The AM51/52 tires are really still a bargain at their current price and I do feel that I more than got my moneys worth from them.  Got 9k miles from the rear and it really just became annoying towards the end.