I need to get some new tires soon for my bike, as they are pretty slick now.  What is the best fit, performance, value tire out there. Please include size.  I am not really looking to changing the rims right now.

Post up!

I have 3 sets of Michelin Pilots. The Fronts are 120/70/17 Medium Compounds and the Rears are 150/55/17 Hard compounds. Price is $90.00 shipped

I don't know about price or size, but I have BT45s on mine, and I'm quite happy with them.

Laura

150's fit the rear rim but pinc like crazy... you need a Bandit 4inch wheel for the 150's to be right. 140 is max on stock rims.
Cool.
Srinath.

Quote from: newbieoneI need to get some new tires soon for my bike, as they are pretty slick now.  What is the best fit, performance, value tire out there. Please include size.  I am not really looking to changing the rims right now.

Post up!

I put the BT45s on my 97 GS for the first tire change.  Much better than the old OEM tires and quite popular here on the board.  I have since gone to radials. Go with the OEM sizes unless you have reason to do otherwise.  OEM sizes for the GS500 are 110/70-17 front and 130/70-17 rear.

GSJack - Which radials are you using and which do you recommend for stock rims?

Thanks

I recently put on Avon AV35/36 radials on mine (110/140 front rear sizes) and I love them.

I put on the 110/70 Z4 front with the 130/80 Z2 rear last 2 seasons on the 97.  They went all summer the year before last, but the new Z2 rear last year was destroyed after about a month or so and was replaced by a 140/80 AV36 for most of the season.  Late last fall, I replaced the Z4 front with a 110/70 BT010.  The BT010 frt and AV36 rear should last thru next winter on the 97 backup bike.

The 02 GS has the bias tires that came on it right now.  A OEM front and a Kenda rear that the dealer put on it before I bought it with about 4500 miles on it.  This bike will be getting the new Avon AV45/46 sport touring tires soon for this coming season in 110/80 frt and 140/80 rear sizes.  

Tires have a preferred rim width size and also approved sizes by the tire mfgs.  The GS 3.0" frt and 3.5" rear are the preferred sizes for the 110/70 and 140/80 tires.  The 110/80 and 130/80 tires both fall within the mfg approved sizes.  This Avon tire/rim fitment chart I picked up recently is a handy reference, although this info is available on tire mfg sites too:

http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/bc/40396913_138bb/bc/My+Documents/AvonTireRimFitment.jpg?bfwWEfABKLA2v9bl

I had BT45's in the stock sizes on mine and had no complaints at all.  They are the manufacturer's choice on the new '04 F model from what I hear.

I am interested in the set you have for sale ($90-sorry i forgot the name already) Gixxer 1300r, I am getting mixed answers on if they will fit or not. if they will fit i think i will have to pick those up, thats a great price

let me know
adam

sorry but i gotta bump this and get this answered. thanks

Quote from: newbieoneI am interested in the set you have for sale ($90-sorry i forgot the name already) Gixxer 1300r, I am getting mixed answers on if they will fit or not. if they will fit i think i will have to pick those up, thats a great price

let me know
adam

Those are used radial ply racing tires Gixx1300R is selling.  Not sure if he meant 150/55 or 150/60 size on the rear, but neither is approved for fitment on your 3.5" rear rim.  As a newbie just starting to ride your first bike, you'd be a lot better off getting a set of OEM size bias ply tires unless you are going to start out at the track.  

Gixx is new here too and has only posted three times, all for the purpose of selling those tires.  He posted some pics of them on another thread.

http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=67373&highlight=#67373

If you are looking for some decent low cost tires, less costly than the BT45s, take a look at the Avon AM51/52 tires. Or for even less look at the Maxxis Pro Max or the Kenda 671 tires.  All in OEM sizes.

You can get the AM51/52 for $117 a pair and the Maxxis Pro Max for $83 a pair from Discount.  Add about $20 shipping for the pair.

You can get the Kenda 671 for $106 a pair shipping included from Southwest.  I've tried a couple Kenda tires and they are really quite decent for the price.

http://www.discountmotorcycletire.com/

http://swmototires.com/

thanks there jack, he didn't specify they were used. just thought it was good price, who are the bt45's made by? i appreicate the links and priceing.  i will be sure to pick up a set in oem size, and be done with it.  Does anyone mount there own, or do you take it to a shop?

Quote from: newbieonewho are the bt45's made by? ?

bridgestone makes the BT45
i hadd them mounted... 80 bucks for both wheels with bike.. vs 40 for just wheels.

Quote from: newbieonethanks there jack, he didn't specify they were used. just thought it was good price, who are the bt45's made by? i appreicate the links and priceing.  i will be sure to pick up a set in oem size, and be done with it.  Does anyone mount there own, or do you take it to a shop?

There are quite a few here that mount and balance their own tires.  Do a search of the board and you can find some of the threads.

I use to mount all my own tires.  Just need one long curved tip tire iron and a large screw driver to pry the tires off and on.  I used the jack under the side of an old Ford Escort as a bead breaker.  Put jack base on side of tire near rim and jacked up the car a bit to break loose.  Turned over and did same on other side.  Never balanced any of them, but I never went over about 80 mph in those days.  Gave it up a few years ago when I was in my mid 60's  and thought I was gonna croak one hot August day doing it.

I take my mail order tires into a shop now for mounting and balancing but still pull my own wheels and carry them in.  About $25 per wheel around here for mounting and balancing.