What Tyres Please?

[bod]

Currently putting my 77 GS750 back together, and need some new rubber!

What tyres would you recommend? Can I fit a lower profile than the stock size, and should I go for a wider rear?
Used Bridgestone's for years now on modern bikes and swear by 'em!

Although, I realise that old school tubed sizes are a whole new ball game.

Any input would be gratefully received!

 

[hampshirehog]

Dave, you'll start a fight asking questions like that! Everyone has their own preference.

For my twopenn'orth, Avon Roadriders or Cheng-Shin Hi Max. Roadriders are better but the Hi Max isn't far behind (and they're quite a bit cheaper).

 

[Larry D]

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=154561&highlight=TIRES

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=145218&highlight=TIRES

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=146729&highlight=TIRES

That should get you started.......:-\\\

 

[Nessism]

I like round tires, made of rubber.

 

[Dave8338]

Dave, you'll start a fight asking questions like that! Everyone has their own preference.

For my twopenn'orth, Avon Roadriders or Cheng-Shin Hi Max. Roadriders are better but the Hi Max isn't far behind (and they're quite a bit cheaper).

Hi Max FTW. Good tire and GREAT price! :clap:

Now...I have a question about oils. Which one should I use.

 

[bod]

Dave, you'll start a fight asking questions like that! Everyone has their own preference.

For my twopenn'orth, Avon Roadriders or Cheng-Shin Hi Max. Roadriders are better but the Hi Max isn't far behind (and they're quite a bit cheaper).

Yes Wally, I did cringe a bit when posting it - I did hit the search button first, but forgot the "Merkins" can't spell tyre properly!:-\\\

Plenty more dumb ass questions coming your way boys & girls - will now shut up and go through the links you sent.

Thanks all , Dave.:clap:

 

[Billy Ricks]

Stick to stock sizes for the best grip and handling. A low profile, wider than stock tire will actually give you less contact area because the sidewalls get pinched down.

 

[sschering]

1 vote for not getting Bridgestone S11's.
Silly things follow every little grove in the road.

 

[salty_monk]

Go British... get the Avon's

 

[bwringer]

Avon RoadRiders are the cat's ass.

(That means they're really good tires.)

Get stock sizes, too (or whatever the metric size equivalents are). None of that "wider is better" low-tech automobile-based thinking. Vehicles that lean the right way depend on having the correct tire profile to handle smoothly and predictably.

 

[Andr?]

I like round tires, made of rubber.

Is that answer a bit rough on the edge?

 

[mwootto]

1 vote for not getting Bridgestone S11's.
Silly things follow every little grove in the road.

Ah hell I just put a rear S11 on. I got the wrong rim size up front so I just ordered a bridgestone mag mopus G511 for that. Anybody else have an opinion on either of these? Also I ordered the mopus from bikergarage101.com never heard of them but that's where I landed whilst searching for a 90/90-18 for under $80...anybody heard of that site?

 

[Nessism]

What's with all this "get the stock sizes" business in this thread? In the one millon other tire threads here on GSR, about 99% of the people say to get tires that are roughly one size larger than stock. The stock front is a 3.25 but I'd move up to a 100, and the rear was a 4.00 but I'd go with a 120. The rims can handle these sizes comfortably so why not? Plus these sizes are tried and true with the GSR brethren so it's basically gospel.

 

[Billy Ricks]

What's with all this "get the stock sizes" business in this thread? In the one millon other tire threads here on GSR, about 99% of the people say to get tires that are roughly one size larger than stock. The stock front is a 3.25 but I'd move up to a 100, and the rear was a 4.00 but I'd go with a 120. The rims can handle these sizes comfortably so why not? Plus these sizes are tried and true with the GSR brethren so it's basically gospel.

He asked about lower profile and maybe wider. That combination will pinch the sidewalls down more than just going one size wider. I switched from a 120 to a 130 on the rear when I had stock wheels and it handled fine. Always stuck to the 100 up front though since it is only a 2.15" wheel. A 110 would be okay but I wouldn't run a 120 like people are doing. A 120 on a 2.15" wheel is really pinched down. You end up with a triangular shaped tire that will want to fall into corners abruptly instead of being neutral. It will resist leaning over and when it does it will fall into corners. Suzuki found out about how triangular shaped tires effect handling on the '88 GSXR. Because of the short forks they had Dunlop make up special tires that were more triangular than normal. It ended up handling like I've described.

 

[Guest]

I got the wrong rim size up front so I just ordered a bridgestone mag mopus G511 for that. Anybody else have an opinion on either of these? Also I ordered the mopus from bikergarage101.com never heard of them but that's where I landed whilst searching for a 90/90-18 for under $80...anybody heard of that site?

I had no idea the Mag Mopus tires were still being manufactured.....the factory original tires were on my bike when I bought it in '02, and they were Bridgestone Mag Mopus, 20 years old, but still new with the little rubber nubs intact. No doubt the composition and chemistry have been updated since, but it appears these are being imported for you (or bikergarage101 may not be in N.America?) so no idea as to their performance here. There are several well-reviewed tires available locally in that price range, so if you aren't into gambling, and it's possible to cancel the order, do so and go with Shinko or Cheng Shin Hi-Max (dis-continued, but some vendors probably have stock available)...decent tires, at a reasonable price.

 

[bod]

I had a 550E years ago and that had Avon's fitted with no problems at all.

3 nods of approval for the Avon - so Avon it will be!

My only experience of oversizing tyres was on a GPz 750, fitting a 150 tyre onto a 120 rear rim Crap handling & 2" chicken fillets!

 

[Joe Nardy]

I had a 550E years ago and that had Avon's fitted with no problems at all.

3 nods of approval for the Avon - so Avon it will be!

My only experience of oversizing tyres was on a GPz 750, fitting a 150 tyre onto a 120 rear rim Crap handling & 2" chicken fillets!

Just to stir the pot and since I didn't see them listed on this thread....Pirelli Sport Demons. I have run both the Sport Demons and RoadRiders and prefer the Sport Demons. Definitely stickier and have more feel than the RoadRiders but significantly less life........

Thanks,
Joe

 

[hampshirehog]

Just to stir the pot and since I didn't see them listed on this thread....Pirelli Sport Demons. I have run both the Sport Demons and RoadRiders and prefer the Sport Demons. Definitely stickier and have more feel than the RoadRiders but significantly less life........

Thanks,
Joe

True - I've got the SDs on my 1100F. I'm starting to slow down a bit in the bends nowadays though and feel that the 'extra stickiness' is wasted on me. Sh!t - I'll be buying Skidmasters soon.......

 

[bod]

I had Pirelli demons on a Honda 400N Wet Dream once - ace tyres!
I thought they were scrapped in favour of the Dragons?

Wear isn't an issue on this bike as mileage won't be excessive.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

I happen to like the Bridgestone Spitfire S11 tires on my bike. They're not very expensive, last a good long time, and perform all-around "commuting to canyon" duties for me just fine. Yes, they are a compromise tire (or tyre), but they fit my riding style, budget, safety concerns, etc. I can scrape my pegs and ride in the rain (though NOT at the same time) without any undue concern.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff