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I recently got a pucture in my back tyre, so i had it plugged for the time being, im looking for a new one and after speaking to a mate of mine he said i can get a more profiled tyr, can anyone suggest what tyre i should by please[?] thanks [
]Welcome to the forum
A couple of forum members, Pete247 and Ses310 have tried Maxxis tyres recently. Good value and grippy. Might be worth a look?
What sizes are you after, can’t really offer advice unless you state ya front and rear sizes mate
I wouldn’t start mixing tyres if your front still has life in it.
IMO a proffessionally plugged tyre will last till you’d change it due to wear so don’t go throwing money away unless it is towards the end of its life. I’ve done tackdays on plugged tyres and had a tyre with less than 100miles on it need plugging which I have carried on riding for over 1500 miles till it was worn out and it never lost air.
If you want a different profile rear you really need to put a matching front on as well. You will that way be able to appreciate the extra grip etc from how the tyre manufacturers designed them.
I love the Maxxis Supermax Sports, but there are apparently 2 versions, the old one I have not tried but is reported to be total cack, the new version however is my favorite tyre of all time so far and a pair of them for my GSX-R 750 is around £80 cheaper than my second best tyre; the Michilin Pilot Power 2CT, it also lasts twice as long, offers as good grip in the dry and despite the minimul tread pattern is awsome in the wet (I had knee down on wet roads the day I got them fitted) Trouble with the Maxxis is they are not supplying them in all sizes as yet.
Have just looked it up, excuse the american spelling etc, it just a cut and past from this website:
https://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Upgrades/Tires
Tires
The stock tires on older GS500 models (Bridgestone Exedras) are widely regarded as sub-par. Upgrading to a newer tire can improve your handling considerably. There are a wide and confusing array of tires available, which this page will try to help with. The newer 2004+ GS500’s use a better alround tire the Bridgestone Battalax BT-45.Tire Sizes
Stock tire size is 110/70-17 front, 130/70-17 rear. It is recommended that the stock size be used for any tire that is available in that size. This will maintain the best handling. Sometimes a larger tire is used, for example a 140/70 or 140/80, and in some cases 150. This is done because certain styles or compounds are not available in the stock sizes. It is often also done for cosmetic reasons.Putting a 150 on the GS’s 3.5 inch rear rim is a controversial topic. It’s been done with success, but it can cause excessive wear and erattic handling in some cases. It also requires modifying at least the brake caliper torque arm for extra clearance. Swapping rear wheels to something wider allows for proper fitment of most 150 section tires.
Best Bets
There are a number of tried-and-true and highly recommended tires for the GS500. If you are not into experimenting and want something that “just works” go with one of these. Details on each tire are below.Performance:
Pirelli Sport Demon
Bridgestone BT-45
Bridgestone BT-090
Avon AV45/46** Michelin Pilot Active
Touring:
Bridgestone BT020
Bridgestone BT-92
Avon AV45/46
Avon AM51/52
Budget:
Avon AM51/52
Track/Racing:
Bridgestone BT090
By Brand
Avon
AV45/46 radials. Highly recommended. 110/80 front, 140/80 rear. Better durability and wet performance than BT-45s. Classed “sport touring” by Avon, but users are pleased with spirited riding performance.
AM51/AM52. Value priced. Can be under $120 for the set. Considered a “commuter” tire. Decent traction, long life, and plenty cheap.
Bridgestone
BT-45 OEM replacement bias-ply, updated for the times with a dual compound construction. Sticky sport/street rubber. Reasonable durability. Highly recommended all-around tire. If you don’t know what tire you want, you probably want this one.
BT020 sport-touring. Good balance of handling and tire life. Less sticky than BT-45 but lasts longer. Recommended for tourers.
BT-090 is a sports radial that offers excellent grip thanks to its silica compound. Especially good on the track. High wear rates might be an issue for regular street use. It is available in a 110/70R17 Front and a 140/70F17 Rear.
BT-92 is a sports touring radial tire. Like the BT-45 it is a duel compound tyre with a harder compound in the center (less wear when commuting) and softer compound edges (more grip when cornering). It is available in a 110/70R17 front and a 140/60R17 or 140/70R17 rear.
Dunlop
D205 radials. 110/70 front, 140/70 rear. Reported to have good handling.
GT501
Pirelli
Pirelli Sport Demon. 110/70 front, 130/70 or 140/70 rear. Highly recommended for spirited riding. These tires seem to leave a lasting impression on anyone who has tried them. Stickier than BT-45, but will not last as long.
Metzler
MEZ4/Z2 sport touring radials. 110/70 front, 130/80 rear. May be discontinued?
ME33/88. Longer tire life, good hanlding. Discontinued and replaced by ME330/880.
ME55. Bad traction and tire life. Discontinued and replaced by ME550. _(Also bad?)_
Metzler Marathons. Said to have bad traction. Avoid.
Michelin
Pilot Powers: Requires a wheel swap for proper fitment. 150/60 rear, 110/70 front. Amazing tires, killer performance, low mileage. The only thing stickier are DOT race tires. Bike is still flickable, smoothly rolls between left and right lean without hesitation.
Pilot Active are available in stock front, and (stock) 130/70 and 140/70 rears. These tires are rated as offering good alround performance and being good wet weather tires.
gsJack
gsJack has long been the GSTwins tire guru. With over 120K on GS500’s, he knows tires very well. Please note that his use is sport touring, so track favorites like the Pilot Powers or Sport Demons are not on this list.Tire Log
Metz Lasertec front with Conti Road Attack rear. Tentative rating, see below.
AV45/46 Avon ST radials
Metz Lasertec bias sport touring
MEZ4/Z2 sport touring radials
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.
BT45
AM51/52
OEM Excedras
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.
Thread
March 2007 Update
Almighty gsJack said here:
“Noticed recently that Bridgestone no longer lists standard replacement BT45 tires in our OE 110/70 and 130/70 sizes, but the actual OEM spec G BT45 GS500F tires are avilable now at bargain prices. Available from AMT for $138 plus about $20 shipping for the pair.Without going to cheap Chinese tires, I’d pick the new Avon Roadriders as the best bargain in a good tire right now. $125 plus shipping for a OE size pair from AMT. Southwest has them for $149 a pair, shipping included. I’d choose the 110/80 front and 140/70 rear from Southwest for $146 shipped.
https://www.americanmototire.com/
https://swmototires.com/ ”gsJack’s tire log is here
DIY Tire Installation
Read How to Remove, Fit and Balance your own TiresTire Weight / Tread Width / Recommended Rim Width
Bridgestone Battlax BT-45 110/70/17 = 9 pounds – Width 106mm – 2.75-3.50 Rim
Bridgestone Battlax BT-45 130/70/17 = 14 pounds – Width 136mm – 3.00-4.00 Rim
Bridgestone Battlax BT-45 140/70/17 = 15 pounds – Width 145mm – 3.50-4.50 Rim
Bridgestone Battlax BT-92 110/70/17 = ? Pounds – Width 110mm – 2.75-3.50 Rim
Bridgestone Battlax BT-92 140/60/17 = ? Pounds – Width 140mm – 3.50-4.50 Rim
Bridgestone Battlax BT-92 140/70/17 = ? Pounds – Width 146mm – 3.50-4.50 Rim
Bridgestone Battlax BT-090 110/70/17 = ? Pounds – Width 110mm – 2.75-3.50 Rim
Bridgestone Battlax BT-090 140/70/17 = ? Pounds – Width 140mm – 3.50-4.50 Rim
Bridgestone Battlax BT-090 150/60/17 = ? Pounds – Width 156mm – 3.50-4.50 Rim
Michelin Pilot Activ 110/70/17 = 9 Pounds – Width ? – 3.00 Rim
Michelin Pilot Activ 130/70/17 = 13 Pounds – Width ? – 3.50 Rim
Michelin Pilot Activ 140/70/17 = 15 Pounds – Width ? – 3.50 Rim
Pirelli Sport Demons 110/70/17 = 9 pounds – Width ? – 3.00 Rim
Pirelli Sport Demons 130/70/17 = 14 pounds – Width ? – 3.50 Rim
Pirelli Sport Demons 140/70/17 = 15 pounds – Width ? – 3.50 Rim
Pirelli Sport Demons 140/80/17 = 15 pounds – Width ? – 3.50 Rim
DO NOT RIDE WITH A MIX OF RADIAL AND PLY TIRES!
The different handling and grip characteristics of these tires can cause major handling issues.After reading that sites info, they seem to suggest the Avon Roadriders with 110/80 front and 140/70 rear. That was updated in 2007 so there may well be far superior tyres available in a size that will suit your bike.
The size they mention for the Avons seems to have the same width front but with a steeper profile and a slightly wider rear using the same profile as std fit. the wider rear will pinch a bit in your rim thus steepening the profile slightly giving you a larger contact patch when cornering so more grip.
Have had a search on ebay and can’t find any tyres at those sizes in a pair, found these continentals in your standard sizes tho:
Can’t say if they are good or bad tho as never tried them
Thanks For your reply pete247 ive looked at the tyres on ebay and i am thinking of ordering a pair, anything will be better than what i have as the front tyre has a slow puncture too! ill let you know how i get on, but thanks for the quick reply
if you got a slow puncture it is probably a leaking valve. You are better off taking your bike to a tyre place and getting them to fit and balance your tyres and get them to replace your valves front and rear too. Will prob cost you about £10-£15 per wheel on a ride in ride out. If you take them loose wheels they may not even ccharge you except for the valves and they are cheap. If you bring your own tyres in, even with loose wheels they may well charge you upto £30 per wheel as they won’t be making any money off tyres with you. Even with ebay prices once you add delivery you can end up spending a lot more by sourcing “cheaper” tyres online and then paying for them to be fitted.
Where abouts are you? Am sure someone local will be able to reccommend a decent place to go. I’d stay clear of places like Kwick-Fit, you’ll need a proper bike tyre specialist to make sure they fit them correctly.
Prob best not to go to a motorcycle dealership either as their tyres will be marked up and they charge lots on labour.
ahh, bonny Scotland… I’m over on the West coast just outside Helensburgh. Don’t know any bike shops or tyre places up this way unfortunately, I get all my bike bits in the South when I’m home.
tis rubbish innit, was hoping to get out on the KTM for one last blat before vanishing under the waves, no such luck!
got on mines tonight, weather wasnt good at all, had a good time though… its ashame about not getting one last blast…
ordered them tyres pete, hopefully get them on by wednesday, can anyone tell me what/how to balance the wheels? cheers sean
quote:
Originally posted by seanchubbsordered them tyres pete, hopefully get them on by wednesday, can anyone tell me what/how to balance the wheels? cheers sean
Pete is away with work at the moment Sean, but let us know what you think of the tyres over the coming weeks.
In terms of balancing the wheels best to get them balnced at a bike shop
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