Tires for '80 GS250T

[phillylightguy]

Hey folks,

I bought my GS250T about eight months ago with fairly old tires on it, so I've been wanting to replace them as soon as I got the chance. I exchanged emails with someone at RevZilla, who recommended the Avon Roadrider AM26. They sound like great tires, but upon receiving them today I have these two concerns:

1. Putting tubeless tires on spoked rims. Do I need to be concerned about the beads staying properly seated, if I run them with tubes in?

2. Two front tires. The rear AM26 doesn't come in a size that fits my bike, so they had me order two fronts. The one I ordered for the front wheel is marked "universal," the one I ordered for the rear is marked "front." Is this a concern? Should I just put them on? Should I put the rear one on backwards (sounds crazy but I've heard similar things)??

I see that others here have recommended the Roadrider, so hopefully these questions have been dealt with before...

[bwringer]

I put new tires on a GS250T last year, and the only ones I could find in the correct sizes were IRC Duro Tour.

What sizes did you end up with in the Avons? They're great tires, and Revzilla is a great retailer, but it's doesn't sound like you have the correct tires.

A front on the rear ain't right. The "universal" can be used on either end -- just use the correct directional arrow.



Also, tires marked "tubeless" can be used with or without tubes -- with spoke rims, you obviously need tubes, and many early cast wheels require tubes.

Tires marked Tube Type (or just TT) require tubes no matter what kind of rim they're on.

[phillylightguy]

Thanks for the response--

In the front, for 3.00-18 I substituted 90/90-18.

In the rear, for 3.50-17 I substituted 100/80-17. (The RevZilla guy told me I wouldn't have an issue, but this is the one that turned out to be a front tire. The designated rear AM26s start at 120/80-17.)

[phillylightguy]

Also, for what it's worth, in the pictures the tread pattern looks the same on both front and rear. In fact the description says "Wide range of sizes and matching tread design front and rear," whatever that's supposed to mean.

http://www.revzilla.com/product/avon-roadrider-am26-tires

http://www.revzilla.com/product/avon-roadrider-am26-rear-tires

[bwringer]

Had to go look it up -- I went with the following on the GS250T I worked on:

From my order at American Moto Tire:
1 x KENDA RIM STRIP 16/17" (K41550310)
1 x KENDA RIM STRIP 18/19" (K41550710)
1 x IRC TUBE 3.25/3.50-17,110/90-17, TR-4 (IRC61)
1 x IRC TUBE 2.75/3.60-18, 90/90-18, TR-4 (IRC63)
1 x IRC DUROTOUR RS310 90/90-18 M/C 51H, FRONT (IRC298)
1 x IRC DUROTOUR RS310 110/90-17 M/C 60H, REAR (IRC313)

The 110/90-17 rear (slight upsize) worked great and the rim width was in spec for the tire. That's the only street tire available in 110/70-17. There is a 3.50X17 dual-sport tire available.

That 100/80-17 front (purchased for use on the rear) is a lower profile (note the 80 instead of the 90) and may not work as well on the 250's narrow rim.

Will this make you dead? No, probably not. The 250 is a light, slow bike, so tire construction differences aren't going to factor in significantly (tread pattern is entirely irrelevant). But it might handle a little funny and it will very likely wear out rather quickly compared to a rear tire of the proper aspect ratio.

[Guest]

I've just replaced the Pirelli Sport Demons on my 450 with Avon Roadriders but I haven't put many km's on them yet, only had them on two days.

FWIW both my tyres are running tubes and are universal fitment, 90/90-18 front, 100/90-18 rear.

The only reason I swapped from Pirelli to Avon is they're better sized for my rims and I was wearing the centre of the rear out in 5500km's.

As long as you have the universal you'll be fine and it sounds like the sizing will be fine too.

The Avons were highly recommended to me by the tyre guy, over the Pirelli's and Bridgestone BT45's.

Time will tell...

[phillylightguy]

Here's an overdue update on this issue. I got back in touch with the gear geek at RevZilla and he said he hadn't realized the 100/80-17 was designated as a front tire. Obviously some of them are universal and he just neglected to check. So he gave me a free RMA label and told me to get the 120/80-17 rear tire. We'll see how that one goes.

[phillylightguy]

Aaand, the new tire came today. Can't wait to mount 'em as soon as I get the time.

[bwringer]

Glad to hear Revzilla took care of you!

They're pretty awesome.

Post some pics!