What tyres?

[2nd2last1]

Hi, I'm looking for some advice please regarding new tyres for my GS500. Currently I have Michelin 110/70-17 & 130/70-17. I use my bike around town (a little bit, not much) and go for regular rides on weekends and that(through twisties etc) and ride occasionally in the wet. What tyres would be suitable for all my needs as I'm not made of money and can't afford to have different tyres every month or so. Was thinking perhaps a bigger rear wheel with a sport type tyre so i can really get into the corners and learn to drop the knee and that (or have I got the wrong bike) I'm really clueless when it comes to this sorta stuff TBH! But, you got learn somehow!

[CookMySock]

Stick with Michelin. Ask at the bike shop what your options are. Anything other than Michelin and you will find its awful.

Steve

[birdhandler]

Good choice of bike:third:

http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Upgrades/Tires

Cheers

[Shaun]

Stick with Michelin. Ask at the bike shop what your options are. Anything other than Michelin and you will find its awful.

Steve



Each to there own Steve, I personally think that Michelin tyres suck these days.

[2nd2last1]

is it a biggie putting a larger ie wider rear wheel on the GS??? i just want more rubber on the road lol

[Ocean1]

If you think you're going to push the limits of a good road tyre on a good surface then you need to stick with the standard sizes dude.

Oh, and put some of them wet-wipes in your kit eh?

[CookMySock]

Each to there own Steve, I personally think that Michelin tyres suck these days.I went from battleaxes to Conti RoadAttack, to Michelin PR2, and the PR2 was sooo much more reassuring.

Why do you say that, Shaun?

Steve

[Shaun]

I went from battleaxes to Conti RoadAttack, to Michelin PR2, and the PR2 was sooo much more reassuring.

Why do you say that, Shaun?

Steve




Find me a rider/racer any where in the world, that goes fast using Michellin on the road

But as i said Steve, each to there own man

[StoneY]

Im running Michelin Pilots on both my bikes, Pilot Road 2's on the GixxeR and Pilot Power (1's) on the Duc

My GSX600 (same size bike as your 500 effectively) ran best on Battleaxe BT45's

I tried a number of tyres on that bike and the BT45 shone

Grippy enough to fang it up the Wainui or Rimutaka hill and lived long and well in regards to wear factor

Found anything softer was too fast to wear and anything harder was shit in the wet

With my two bikes i have now, I dont worry about the cost, I make sure they stick...no choice

The 600 being a bit tamer (but no slug) loved the BT45's
I see on the article posted above they're a recommended upgrade for the bike, I say well worth a shot for the $$$ and performance

Dont go to a bigger rim, it aint heavy or powerful enough to warrant it
The Suzuki design engineers usually know their shit in regards to what size wheel to use
;)

And Knee Down???Join VMCC

[Richard Mc F]

A second vote for the B45 Bridgestones, I think they were oe tyres on that bike at one point, bigger tyres screw your handling (technical term) don't do it

[vifferman]

is it a biggie putting a larger ie wider rear wheel on the GS??? i just want more rubber on the road lol
You won't increase the contact patch by doing that - just make the bike steer a little worse.

[AllanB]

Stick to stock sizing and if you want to be pushing it a lot harder your want a stickier front not rear.

Pilot Road 2 if they come in your size. My personal preference.

Conti Road Attack, I've enjoyed these but prefer the PR2.

Avon Storms rate well.

I'd talk to your tyre people and see what's available in your sizes and what they cost. For most road conditions you'll have a good choice of pretty even tyres to choose from.

[2nd2last1]

So bt45's for front and rear??? or spice it up with what that guy ^^^ said on the front???

[AllanB]

So bt45's for front and rear??? or spice it up with what that guy ^^^ said on the front???

OK :bleh:

That's about how it goes with choosing tyres! Some love one brand, others think they are crap ........ and we will flame away with each other on KB over tyres :no:

End of the day all of the modern big brand tyres are very good, some are even excellent on the right bike/rider combo. Shit I've know people to choose between tyres based on the coolest pattern :doh:

You can pretty much guarantee that if you stick to one of the big brands they will be a lot better than the worn ones!

Seriously, talk to your tyre shop and see what deals are on the go.

[Sidewinder]

bridgestone bt45's are realy good

[Pathos]

bridgestone bt45's are realy good

Then why were you complaining that they almost let go twice in the rain ? :lol:

I've tried Pirelli Sport Demons and the BT45's. I'd go with the BT45s because they feel better and will last longer - the rear has a flatter profile to handle more straight line riding while the Sport Demons squares off way to fast.

Never really been worried about traction with them in the dry and good feedback when its wet. But I don't do much riding above 100kmph with the GS500.

[Sidewinder]

Then why were you complaining that they almost let go twice in the rain ? :lol:

I've tried Pirelli Sport Demons and the BT45's. I'd go with the BT45s because they feel better and will last longer - the rear has a flatter profile to handle more straight line riding while the Sport Demons squares off way to fast.

Never really been worried about traction with them in the dry and good feedback when its wet. But I don't do much riding above 100kmph with the GS500.

maybe speed was the problem there lol, cheers for the bike that weekend tho was good fun:hug:

[carver]

Then why were you complaining that they almost let go twice in the rain ? :lol:

I've tried Pirelli Sport Demons and the BT45's. I'd go with the BT45s because they feel better and will last longer - the rear has a flatter profile to handle more straight line riding while the Sport Demons squares off way to fast.

Never really been worried about traction with them in the dry and good feedback when its wet. But I don't do much riding above 100kmph with the GS500.

how about shinko's or vee rubbers.
cheap as man, ok in the dry too

[jesska]

Stick to stock sizing and if you want to be pushing it a lot harder your want a stickier front not rear.



I have been thinking about a new front tire - is it ok to mis match front and back tho? ( its not ok on a car tho is it? ) ( also my tires are pretty new! )

I was forced to put my foot down when turnin on carpark - the tarmac ( not the really black stuff- more like grey stones but not loose - and didnt seem to be oily either..

It was a sharp lean tho and not too fast.

and also at a roundabout - again in the dry - ( altho it gripped again after i had a quick heart attack

both times my front slipped out -

I'd had an oil leak and maybe the mechanic got some on the front tire.

I washed the front tire wth washing up liquid and a spnge..

these are fairly new dunlop qualifiers..

it hasnt happened again - but I havent felt like i truly trust them since..

( this is on a hornet 600 )

[carver]

I have been thinking about a new front tire - is it ok to mis match front and back tho? ( its not ok on a car tho is it? ) ( also my tires are pretty new! )

I was forced to put my foot down when turnin on carpark - the tarmac ( not the really black stuff- more like grey stones but not loose - and didnt seem to be oily either..

It was a sharp lean tho and not too fast.

and also at a roundabout - again in the dry - ( altho it gripped again after i had a quick heart attack

both times my front slipped out -

I'd had an oil leak and maybe the mechanic got some on the front tire.

I washed the front tire wth washing up liquid and a spnge..

these are fairly new dunlop qualifiers..

it hasnt happened again - but I havent felt like i truly trust them since..

( this is on a hornet 600 )

cold tires ya n00b

[jesska]

well it was cold that night - but I had just rode 22K to the carpark? is that enough?

i think the 2nd time on the round about was a rut in the road - from buses q'ing? - scared the s#it out of me - becos I was going way too fast to put feet down.. and the front end just slide a bit..

[discodan]

well it was cold that night - but I had just rode 22K to the carpark? is that enough?

It could still be too cold a tyre. The Qualifiers are performance tyres designed to be warm before they grip properly. This is great on a sunny back road or track day but if you never get them hot enough, you would be better off with a less racey tyre.

[jesska]

This is definitely something to think about for my next set? Actually I do lots of commuting - its great being able to filter and the hornet is way better than my volty for confidence!

so when I get on my bike I need to think about how cold it is and how far I've ridden before having any twistie action.. is there anything I can do other than getting my hair drier out? :rolleyes:

[discodan]

This is definitely something to think about for my next set? Actually I do lots of commuting - its great being able to filter and the hornet is way better than my volty for confidence!

so when I get on my bike I need to think about how cold it is and how far I've ridden before having any twistie action.. is there anything I can do other than getting my hair drier out? :rolleyes:

As long as you are aware that when the tyres are colder, they won't be performing at thier best. So no getting your knee down if you've just popped up the road to get some milk :msn-wink:

Not much you can do to warm them up except ride so just take it easy (weaving doesn't do jack). At the track I can tell in the first corner if my tyres are not quite up to temperature as they feel a bit strange but if they are just off the tyre warmers they are awsome!

[Mishy]

I have been thinking about a new front tire - is it ok to mis match front and back tho? ( its not ok on a car tho is it? ) ( also my tires are pretty new! )

I was forced to put my foot down when turnin on carpark - the tarmac ( not the really black stuff- more like grey stones but not loose - and didnt seem to be oily either..

It was a sharp lean tho and not too fast.

and also at a roundabout - again in the dry - ( altho it gripped again after i had a quick heart attack

both times my front slipped out -

I'd had an oil leak and maybe the mechanic got some on the front tire.

I washed the front tire wth washing up liquid and a spnge..

these are fairly new dunlop qualifiers..

it hasnt happened again - but I havent felt like i truly trust them since..

( this is on a hornet 600 )

I think that you have (perhaps) an incorrect choice of tyre for your own personel needs.
Super sticky tyres are great for riding hard in good conditions, but most people will get a more confidence inspiring level of grip in all sorts of conditions with a much more sports touring based tyre.
They just work better when it's cold or damp - fullstop.

[2nd2last1]

how about shinko's or vee rubbers.
cheap as man, ok in the dry too

:lol: I heard shinkos are so hard you can drive a nail through them, pull it out and they'll still be fine!!!:laugh:

[jesska]

hey mishy - you might be right! I was surprised to find that these tyres are considered sporty - Like Doh! qualifiers - racy! :banana:

I just let the mechanic choose. I told him I wanted something that was good in the wet - I dont mind riding in the rain to work.. I hate busses when I am in a rush! thats why I got a bike license

and basically thats what I use my bike for everyday of the week!

Of course I do like to take a country run over the week end sometimes - but I wouldnt claim to have even attempted to put my knee down...

I have done a couple of wheelies tho!!! :first:

edit; back to the thread! what tires gives me the best grip on city roads? and warm up quick!

[carver]

:lol: I heard shinkos are so hard you can drive a nail through them, pull it out and they'll still be fine!!!:laugh:

I had 003's on my DRZ-SM and they were miles better than the standard dunlops
pilot powers aint bad too

[Mishy]

edit; back to the thread! what tires gives me the best grip on city roads? and warm up quick!

You should seriously look at Continental "Go".
It's designed as a real world every day tyre, and is very good over a wide range of conditions.
There are guys who have used them as a race tyre on RG150's etc at Manfeild, but that's not really where they are at their best - the road is what they are designed for.

[2nd2last1]

I got Michelin 110/70-17 on the front & 130/70-17 on the rear... can you put like a 150 on the rear and say a 120 on the front?? or does it have to be exactly what was on before???

[Mishy]

I got Michelin 110/70-17 on the front & 130/70-17 on the rear... can you put like a 150 on the rear and say a 120 on the front?? or does it have to be exactly what was on before???

Generaly, if you go for larger tyres it will only mess the bike up.
Over tyring normaly ends up giving you a smaller contact patch - especially on the front, and this doesn't do anything good for you at all.