which would you buy?
I'm in the market for a rear 140/80 only. (140/70 if they come in radial).

Comments anyone? GSjack probably has ridden both...

isn't a 80 series tire too high for the GS? stock is 130/70-17 so even if you got a 140/70-17 tire, it would be higher than stock....140/80 would be too....just my 2 cents

the most importaint question is,  what do you have on the front right now?

Pablo, you had the Pilot Sports on your bike last time you showed pic of your worn 150/60 rear tire.  If you still have the radial on the front, you will want a radial on the rear too.  Radial front and bias back is a bad mix.  A radial rear can work ok with a bias front though.

The AV45 and the Demons are both bias ply.  The 45's are a little better life than OE and better handling, but I got very poor milage from the 2nd BT45 rear when pushed.  I've been real happy with the 130/80 Z2 rear radial and expect it or the 140/80 Avon AV36 or AV46 rears would work ok with the Pilot Sport front.

So far on the 97 GS500, I've run:

Z4 front with Z2 rear
GT501 bias front with Z2 rear
Z4 front with AV36 rear
BT101 front with AV36 rear.

I'm liking that sticky BT101 sport radial front with the AV36 radial sport touring rear and waiting for some warmer weather to really try them out a bit.

Comparing the MEZ2 and the AV36 rears, the Z2 lasts longer and the AV36 handles better, especially in the wet.

I have never tried the Demons since I switched to radials before they came out.  I'd guess they handle and stick better than the BT45, but give less milage.

Tires I've tried so far on the 97 GS500:

http://members.aol.com:/jcprrp/97GStirelog.txt

I expect to run the Avon AV45/AV46 ST tires on my newer 02 GS500 next season.


GRU, I've run both 130/80 and 139/90 tires on the rear of my 97 GS.  The 130/90 raises the rear approx 1".  I tried a couple touring type tires that don't come in the lower profiles.

We (ok I) are trying D205s radials and supposedly pretty good ST tires.
I'll report how it goes.

Quote from: gsJackIf you still have the radial on the front, you will want a radial on the rear too.

Absolutely

Quote from: gsJackI've been real happy with the 130/80 Z2 rear radial and expect it or the 140/80 Avon AV36 or AV46 rears would work ok with the Pilot Sport front.

Comparing the MEZ2 and the AV36 rears, the Z2 lasts longer and the AV36 handles better, especially in the wet.

I knew you'd have experience with these...I may try a Avon instead of a Metz next. 140/80 seems my only choice (or 130/80... )

Thanks all.

(michelin Pilot sport 110/70/17 front btw)

Wouldn't suggest the Demons.  My friend went down due to a Pirelli Demon on the front of his KZ550.

you can say with certainty that it was the tire's fault? Could the tire temp, surface temp, street slickness, painted lines, etc have had anything to do with it?

I'm only asking because several here have praised the Demon's.

Sorry to hear about your friends accident, but I'm curious too as to the circumstances.  I don't distrust what you say, but I'm skeptical when riders blame equipment such as tires for a crash.

I've noticed my Demons stick very well but are quite unhappy with tar and paint, as are most tires. On concrete or asphault they have stuck VERY well, even in the wet relative to the oversized Macadam 90x I had on there before.

Check the manufacturer's sites for the tires. Metzler listed the 140/80-17 as being for the correct rim width for the GS but the 140/70-17 tires are for wider rims. A little extra height isn't going to hurt anything on the bike and the extra diamater is more than offset if you're running a 15 tooth front sprocket.

Quote from: Black Snowmanif you're running a 15 tooth front sprocket.

i'm not.

Im running the AV45/46's on my 01' and I love them.  The 140/80 rides a bite higher than stock, but I believe that the higher back end improves handling.  I did stick w/ a 110/70 on front because of clearance.

I have had the front on for 3,500 miles and the back for 1,500 mile.  The traction is much improved over metzler and stock tires that I have riden.  They have stuck to the roads in temps verying from 30-90 F, and I have only lost traction on gravel or wet manhole covers.  The tred has worn very little, but I would hope that since I've only put on a few thousand miles.  But they have worn less than stock BT45's w/ the same milage.

I will probably put another pair on when my current tires need to be replaced, the only draw back is the price.  If you can find a distributer w/ low retail value I would recommend these tires highly.

So is there a problem with clearance with a 110 80 front??  I'm looking at replacing my BT45s in the next month or so and have decided to go with the Avons

Lane

For the front I went w/ AV45ST 110/70R17, the 110/80 will have trouble clearing the front fender.  The rear is a AV46ST 140/80R17, it was a tight fit, it just barley clears the swing arm.

That is the exact set up I was looking at, but was unsure, until now, about the clearance for the front tire...

Thanks!
Lane

Quote from: crmeyerFor the front I went w/ AV45ST 110/70R17, the 110/80 will have trouble clearing the front fender.  The rear is a AV46ST 140/80R17, it was a tight fit, it just barley clears the swing arm.

I've had the ME33, BT45, and GT501 110/80 front tires on my 97 GS with no fender clearance problems.  One did touch the acorn nut on the bolts that hold the mud flap on.  Just turn the bolt around with the acorn outside and the smooth button head inside and there is plenty of clearance.

There is no clearance problem with the 140/80 Avon AV36 and AV46 tires and the swing arm.  I currently have a 140/80 AV36 on the 97 GS and it comes close to the brake torque rod but not the swingarm.  The AV36 is 2 mm wider than the AV46 according to specs.  Brake torque rod could be notched if necessary.  If you are touching, make sure the wheel is aligned straight.

Thanks Jack!

Jack your right, it's the brake torque rod not the swing arm...Sorry.