It's finally time for new tires!

I have both tires off my bike and am trying to decide what tires to get. It doesn't help that many of the tires that I like don't come in the GS's sizes. What tires do you guys recommend? I need a tire that will provide alot more grip than the stock bridgestones but will last me more than a year.


Here is what I have been considering:

Metzler Lazertec

Rear:

Front:

Michelin Pilot Activ





I think that I remember GSjack saying that he liked the Metzlers but I'm not sure

Some feedback would be very helpful 

I think you are a little confused about the bridgestones bt-45s.  They have great grip, and the rear will last about 7k miles.  Front will probably get 2x that.  I think GSJack has a FAQ tire post.  You can do a search and find all the info you're looking for.

Quote from: Jarrett on January 02, 2007, 01:11:05 PM
I think you are a little confused about the bridgestones bt-45s.  They have great grip, and the rear will last about 7k miles.  Front will probably get 2x that.  I think GSJack has a FAQ tire post.  You can do a search and find all the info you're looking for.

BAH.. great grip? They're mediocre, at best under wet/cold/high lean angle conditions. I've had mine slip on me several times under moderate braking and moderate lean. Having ridden several bikes with nicer tires, I know I want to upgrade.

I know Jack liked his metzlers because I read his review and decided they'd probably be my next tire. Good grip, and better life than a set of sport demons.

Quote from: Jarrett on January 02, 2007, 01:11:05 PM
I think you are a little confused about the bridgestones bt-45s.  They have great grip, and the rear will last about 7k miles.  Front will probably get 2x that.  I think GSJack has a FAQ tire post.  You can do a search and find all the info you're looking for.

The BT45s are, as NGFL pointed out, mediocre at best. I was never felt confident on mine through the entire duration that I had them. I used them in hot and cold weather, and even during the warm stuff they didn't feel that sticky. There are better options.

I've haven't heard many good things about Bridgestone motorcycle tires. I really wanted a Dunlop, but they don't make a tire in the size that I need

Quote from: Mr.7 on January 02, 2007, 02:49:26 PM
I've haven't heard many good things about Bridgestone motorcycle tires. I really wanted a Dunlop, but they don't make a tire in the size that I need

Bridgestone BT-090 maybe?

Hi there,
In earlier posts, I have highly recommended the Michelin Macadams that I have on my 1991 GS500E.
I still love them.
Great grip, mileage, performance, nice ride.
And they come in 17 inch GS500 tire sizes.
Check my earlier posts.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=29932.0
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=24322.0


Best wishes,

Todd

Check out the Avon Distanzias if you are feeling adventurous. They make a 130/80-17, a 140/80-17, and a 120/70-17 which are all approved for GS sized rims.

Good prices:
http://americanmototire.com/

This comes up at a good time for me, I'm about to order some tires...was thinking about the sport demons... Whatcha think, I realize that they will wear fast.. I want sticky and have stock wheels

Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on January 02, 2007, 02:48:07 PM

Quote from: Jarrett on January 02, 2007, 01:11:05 PM
I think you are a little confused about the bridgestones bt-45s.  They have great grip, and the rear will last about 7k miles.  Front will probably get 2x that.  I think GSJack has a FAQ tire post.  You can do a search and find all the info you're looking for.

The BT45s are, as NGFL pointed out, mediocre at best. I was never felt confident on mine through the entire duration that I had them. I used them in hot and cold weather, and even during the warm stuff they didn't feel that sticky. There are better options.

The BT-45 is a good all weather tire.  I say so, and so do many other people on this board and in independent reviews.  It's not a Pilot, but it's functional, cheap, sticky, and will last many thousands of miles.

Quote from: pantablo on July 23, 2003, 10:34:38 PM

Quote from: BUZZINI don't know anything about the Kenda tire, good or bad.  By doing a "Tire" search, it appears for daily non-race duty, that the Bridgestone BT45 is recommended by a lot of you.  It seems that I could read message after message and end up not being able to make a decision.

I prefer a tire that has some pretty decent wear characteristics, but I would also like it to stick in the corners.  Is there a Radial Tire that fits properly that will give the wear of the BT45?  That's assuming if course that the BT45 does wear well.  What are your recommendations for brand and size?

KENDA=BAD

BT45's are a great tire and sticks in corners fine from what people say...plenty good for most  (if not all road riding). Radials are a limited bunch-you'll likely head towards Metzeler MEZ2/Z4 combo 110/70, 140/80 (one of them, Z2 or Z4 is not available in the front size, so you use the other, thats why there's two models instead of the same one front and back). This is an infinitely popular setup for radials and are at least as good if not better than the BT45's...arguably.

Quote from: scratch on July 24, 2003, 04:59:02 AM
Just last week I bought a pair of BT-45's and am most impressed. Thank you, guys! They're not even broken in yet, and they stick like glue. Originally, I was going to buy a Metzeler ME33 front and a Bridgestone BT45 rear, but due to financial difficulties, bought BT45's and am very pleased.

Quote from: JeffD on July 24, 2003, 05:36:50 AM
As for wear on the BT45's, I have put on almost 10,000miles since october '02 and am still not down to the wear line on the rear, and front still has tons of meat on it.     The shop said that rear would last 6,000 and front would last 10,000.  But Im probably looking at 15,000 for rear and 20,000+ for front.  And I can take corners hanging off the seat at around 30mph. so yes they will stick more than enough for street riding.  (oh yeah Im 250lbs 6'2")

Quote from: V8Pinto on July 24, 2003, 07:54:42 PM
Yeah I have BT45's and they are pretty cool.  They stick real well and my chicken strips are only 1/4" wide or thereabouts.  I can get on the front wheel if I weight the front properly and I can very predictably skid the front tire without ending up on the ground as long as I am upright.

I like them.

I wouldn't call the BT-45 mediocre.  I would classify tires mediocre if they had an equal amount of negative reviews as positive.  These tires don't fit that category.  They are good all weather street tires for the GS.

Quote from: Jarrett on January 02, 2007, 07:16:26 PM
The BT-45 is a good all weather tire.  I say so, and so do many other people on this board and in independent reveiews.  It's not a Pilot, but it's functional, cheap, sticky, and will last many thousands of miles.

Compared to the stock Excedras on the pre '04 GSes, maybe, but as overall tires they really aren't anything to shout about.

GSJack's recomendation of the Metzlers makes me tend to lean toward them but I can't get over how much cooler the tread pattern on the Michliens are.

I'm sorry, but I guess that after having such a bad time with the stock Bridgestones, there is no way that I can put another set of this brand on my bike for a while. No BT-45 for me.

Quote from: Mr.7 on January 02, 2007, 08:10:45 PM
I can't get over how much cooler the tread pattern on the Michliens are.

Dude. Distanzias.

There is a posting of my ranking of the tires I've used in the FAQ section which was copied there by Pablo.  I updated this ranking last Oct to include the Lasertecs and Road Attack I used since the original ranking but couldn't post it myself in the FAQ section so I've copied it here:

<<< Time to update my ranking of the many tires I've used on the GS500's.  Just my own personal opinions based on my experiences, your usage may vary. 

Tires I've used on the GSs so far and miles used:

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

My ranking so far for my type of use:

1.  Metz Lasertec front with Conti Road Attack rear.  Tentative rating, see below.

2.  AV45/46 Avon ST radials

3.  Metz Lasertec bias sport touring

4.  MEZ4/Z2 sport touring radials

5.  ME33/ ME88 Metzelers for longer life with good handling.  Consider Lasertec/ME880 combo now for long life but gives very tall 130/90 or 140/80 rear tire.

6.  BT45

7.  AM51/52

8.  OEM Excedras

9.  K491 rear.  Very long lasting but too slick for GS500s handling.  Worked good on my previous old Hondas though. 

The ME33 front was the most even wearing front tire I've had on the GSs, most other fronts wore very unevenly for me.  Main reason for my trying the Lasertecs rather than the Demons or Actives, the front has the same ME33 type tread pattern.

The BT010 front was put on the 97 because it was immediately available locally and the more responsive handling of this sport radial is quite noticeable over the sport touring radials.  If you ride less miles per year or have lots of tire bucks, you might enjoy the all out sport radials although the rear tire size will be a compromise on our 3.5" wheels.

Now possibly the best of both worlds, the new Conti Road Attacks.  Conti's claim:  "giving the performance of a sports tyre and the mileage of a touring tyre."  I'm trying a Road Attack rear with a Lasertec front, my favorite front tire.  With over 2k miles on them so far I can confirm Conti's handling claim.  I find myself cornering faster now with the Laser/Attacks than I did with the sport touring radials or the pair of matching Lasertecs and doing so with ease and confidence.  I really don't expect the Road Attack rear to last the 13-14k miles the Avon and Metz sport touring radials did, but if they go the 10k miles at least that the Lasertecs did they will remain my first choice.  Final report next year on these. >>>

Some thoughts I just posted on the BT45s on another forum to a friend inquiring about their life:

<<< Back in 99 I put a pair of the BT45s on my first GS500 to replace the OE Bridgestone Excedras and thought highly of them.  They were considerably better than the Excedras they replaced. I got 9500 miles from the rear and 13,600 from the front.  After trying a couple of touring tires on the rear, I put on a 2nd rear BT45 and picked up the pace a bit and it was half worn out at 2300 miles when I replaced it with a radial Z2 rear that went 13,900 miles.  I kept a pic of that BT45 and it was nicely rounded from lots of twisties and not at all flat spotted:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/bt45wear.jpg

To be honest I think the Pirelli Demons, Metzeler Lasertecs, and Michelin Activs are currently the best of the bias ply sport touring tires; the BT45 and Dunlop GT501 are older designs.  However I've heard from a couple sources that Bridgestone has upgraded the compounds for the BT45s and they might well be better now than when I tried them. >>>

So who is going to try the new Avon Road Riders now available and report on them?  Think I'd try the 110/80 front and 140/70 rear, nicely priced at Southwest:

http://swmototires.com/


 

I m use Metzeller Lasertec , it is not so bad but i can offer you the Michelin Pilot Activ. Maybe little expensive but it is best

the active pilots are not much more then the stones . i like my stones i have not had any problems and i try to find every twisty road i can . i'm fixing to buy me a set of pilots about tax return time and see what there like .. stealer ship told me $89.00 for the front and &108.00 for the rear and 35 per tire to mount and balnce .. i payd $145 for my stone mounted and blanced

Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on January 02, 2007, 08:24:21 PM

Quote from: Mr.7 on January 02, 2007, 08:10:45 PM
I can't get over how much cooler the tread pattern on the Michliens are.

Dude. Distanzias.

Yes! Where do I sign?! 

QuoteI m use Metzeller Lasertec , it is not so bad but i can offer you the Michelin Pilot Activ. Maybe little expensive but it is best

Could you, rephrase that? I have no idea what you are saying.

Quotethe active pilots are not much more then the stones . i like my stones i have not had any problems and i try to find every twisty road i can . i'm fixing to buy me a set of pilots about tax return time and see what there like .. stealer ship told me $89.00 for the front and &108.00 for the rear and 35 per tire to mount and balnce .. i payd $145 for my stone mounted and blanced

Does this mean you like the Michelins?

BTW: thanks for the feedback Jack

Quote from: Mr.7 on January 03, 2007, 04:12:34 PM
Yes! Where do I sign?! 

www.americanmototire.com

$112 for the rear
$85 for the front

Radial construction, great wear (from what I've read), and sticky enough to drag pegs on motards and dual sports.

I got the Avons last time cause they were cheap and easy to find (at least I think so).  Seemed to wear kinda quick, and my front wore more on the left side than right, but maybe due to my bike, balance, etc...  I've not heard many people mention them here though...  Are they junk and I don't know better?  (first set I've replaced so far, so no frame of reference...)

Quote from: smoker on January 04, 2007, 02:14:09 PM
I got the Avons last time cause they were cheap and easy to find (at least I think so).  Seemed to wear kinda quick, and my front wore more on the left side than right, but maybe due to my bike, balance, etc...  I've not heard many people mention them here though...  Are they junk and I don't know better?  (first set I've replaced so far, so no frame of reference...)

Which Avons were you running? The Distanzias?