Tire Prices

[Rocketman]

Here's a list of several vendors and their prices for popular tires for my '82 GS850L in case any of you can use it. I just did this research this morning.

Suzuki Tires​

Front: 100/90-19 57H (MM90-19)​

Rear: 130/90-16 67H (MT90-16)​

***= Best Price (Including Shipping)

Bridgestone Spitfire S11
Bike Bandit 56/66 (122.00)
Ron Ayers 51.59/59.28 (110.87)
SWMoto 64.95/78.95 (143.90)
Dennis Kirk 52.99/59.99 (112.98)
MC SuperStore 54.99/65.99 (120.98) ***

Dunlop EliteIII
Bike Bandit 86/102 (188.00)
Ron Ayers 80.13/112.55 (192.68)
SWMoto 88.95/118.95 (207.90)
Dennis Kirk 75.99/105.99 (181.98) ***
MC SuperStore 82.99/110.99 (193.98)

Avon AM26 Road Riders
Bike Bandit 90/114 (204.00)
Ron Ayers 89.54/114.24 (203.78)
SWMoto 81.95/105.95 (187.90)
Dennis Kirk 68.99/96.99 (165.98) ***
MC SuperStore N/A

Metzeler Lazertec
Bike Bandit 120.57/122.58 (243.15)
Ron Ayers 116.73/130.09 (246.82)
SWMoto 119.95/123.95 (243.90) ***
Dennis Kirk 145.99/147.99 (293.98)
MC SuperStore 120.00/126.99 (246.99)



Shipping Expenses:
Bike Bandit: $ 7.95 flat fee + $4.95 per tire UPS handling fee
Ron Ayers: $ 12.00 per tire
SWMoto: Free
Dennis Kirk: Free over $100 + $5 per tire handling fee
MC SuperStore: Free

 

[DanTheMan]

I've been buying the Perrelli Scorpion S/T from Motorcycle Superstore for a couple of years now, they don't cost as much as the others you've listed, handle real well, and I get about 10-12k mi. out of the rear and about 24k mi out of the front. The last rear tire I bought cost me $96.00, the front was $110.00 with free shipping.

 

[Steve]

From Tires Unlimited:
Bridgestone Spitfire S11: 64.68/87.86 (152.54)
Dunlop E3 101.61/122.93 (224.54)
Avon AM26 roadrider: 84.83/106.87 (191.70)
Metzeler Lasertec: 147.18/149.42 (296.60)

I did not worry about shipping costs, it seems the tires are too expensive there to worry about how much it will cost to ship them.

No matter, they are just up the road from me, I don't pay shipping.

.

 

[sschering]

I just ordered AM26s from my local bike shop..
91 for the front 107 for the rear plus another $20 for tubes

Going through DK would have saved me $23 but the shop will have them mounted and ready to roll on Monday.


For what it's worth

From Motorcycle Superstore
Shinko 240 Tourmaster V rated 100/90/19 front $51.99 130/90/17 rear $64.99 ($117 pair)

Shinko 712 H rated 100/90/19 front $41.99 130/90/17 rear $53.99 ($96 pair)

 

[Rocketman]

Everybody's fairly close. Local shop will charge me $65 total for both wheels mounted and high speed balanced if I walk in with the wheels; or $25 total if I mount them and they just balance them.

 

[steve murdoch]

Great info. Thanks, Rocketman.

 

[Guest]

From Motorcycle Superstore
Shinko 240 Tourmaster V rated 100/90/19 front $51.99 130/90/17 rear $64.99 ($117 pair)

I just bought those exact tires from Motorcycle Superstore and they showed up today...

Not really sure about the Shinko brand, but they were inexpensive, V rated, came in the sizes I wanted, and free shipping. I'll let you all know how they work out, but that won't be until next season.

Mike

 

[Steve]

Not really sure about the Shinko brand, but they were inexpensive, V rated, came in the sizes I wanted, and free shipping.

For most of our bikes (or at least the way we ride them ), the V rating won't mean much. That only means the tire is rated for a maximum of 149 mph (240 kph) at maximum load and pressure. The two other most-common ratings are H, which is 130 mph (210 kph) and S, which is 112 mph (180 kph). Most of us can easily get by with an S-rated tire, but it does seem that the H- and V-rated tires are constructed a bit better, so might be better tires, overall.

.

 

[ukilme]

For Canadians looking for a deal and do not want to deal with customs or brokerage fess.

www.petes-superbike.com have amazing prices as well.

Bridgestone Spitfire S11 69/99 (Canadian dollars) is just an example. This is with taxes and not shipping. Their shipping cost are not bad 20 for a set to Ontario.

I had a set of BT016 shipped to my door,in the spring, for less then 300. Local shops wanted an arm and a leg for these tires.

You have to sign up to see the prices because a lot of local shops in Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa put pressure on the distributor to put Pete out of business as a result the distributors forbidden him from putting the prices online. His way around it is to sign up. Kinda like New Enough with HJC helmets.

 

[Guest]

For Canadians looking for a deal and do not want to deal with customs or brokerage fess.

www.petes-superbike.com have amazing prices as well..

My sportbike riding friends have been getting their tires from Pete for quite a while now, but the last time I checked his site (before the sign-on requirement) he didn't have any bias-ply tires listed. Thanks for the info, I'll have to check out his pricing before buying next time. I usually have them shipped from the U.S. (USPS only.....no brokerage fee, and never had to pay any customs yet, but that's a crap shoot, I guess) for less than half of local prices, even after shipping costs.
Tony.l

 

[almarconi]

I've got a set of Shinko Tourmaster installed on my KZ 750. Have not put any miles on them yet. The price was right $110 shipped and they do have a V rating.

 

[Grandpa]

I just bought those exact tires from Motorcycle Superstore and they showed up today...

Not really sure about the Shinko brand, but they were inexpensive, V rated, came in the sizes I wanted, and free shipping. I'll let you all know how they work out, but that won't be until next season.

Mike

I have a Shinko Tourmaster 230 on the front of my Yamaha Venture, a big, heavy barcalounger. So far, after 4,500 miles on it, so good. It shows practically no wear, it handles well on grooves and grated bridges, and decent in the rain.

If I can get 10,000 safe miles out of this tire, I'll be a very happy guy. You can't beat the price through Motorcycle Superstore. It should take me safely into the 2010 riding season.

When the Michelin Commander on the rear of the Venture wears out, I'll try the rear Shinko Tourmaster 230.

I tried the same type of Shinko on the front of my GS1100GK a couple of months before I sold it, and it worked just fine on the GK.

Nick Diaz
Middletown, MD

 

[Guest]

I have a Shinko Tourmaster 230 on the front of my Yamaha Venture, a big, heavy barcalounger. So far, after 4,500 miles on it, so good. It shows practically no wear, it handles well on grooves and grated bridges, and decent in the rain.

If I can get 10,000 safe miles out of this tire, I'll be a very happy guy. You can't beat the price through Motorcycle Superstore. It should take me safely into the 2010 riding season.

When the Michelin Commander on the rear of the Venture wears out, I'll try the rear Shinko Tourmaster 230.

I tried the same type of Shinko on the front of my GS1100GK a couple of months before I sold it, and it worked just fine on the GK.

Nick Diaz
Middletown, MD

Thanks Nick - sounds encouraging!

 

[Rocketman]

I just placed the order with Southwest Moto Tires for the Metzeler Lasertecs. Read the reviews here and elswhere for all the major tire brands, and man, opinions sure do vary! I already have Metezler ME880's on my BMW and have nothing but good things to say about them. Hopefully the Lasertecs will follow suit. Time will tell......

 

[Steve]

I already have Metezler ME880's on my BMW and have nothing but good things to say about them. ...

The only place I have seen anything negative about Metzelers has been on a Wing forum.
Seems there was a bad batch of tires a couple of years ago that tended to spit chunks of tread off the carcass.
Never lost any air, just tread.

.

 

[Steve]

When the Michelin Commander on the rear of the Venture wears out, I'll try the rear Shinko Tourmaster 230.

Another option is the Shinko 712.

I just picked up new tires for "Freebie" this past weekend, and both of the Shinko models were on my shopping list. I inquired what the differences were, and was told that the 230 is a V-rated tire, the 712 is an H-rated tire. The V rating is good for sustained speeds of 149 mph, the H is 'only' good for 135. Either one will easily handle most of our bikes, but I was also told that the V-rated 230 might be a stickier tire, therefore the 712 might last a bit longer.

It was all a moot point, though, they did not have the rear tire of either model, so I came home with a pair of Kenda Challengers. $141 for the pair, including tax (I will mount them myself).

.

 

[slow_heavy_750]

I just placed the order with Southwest Moto Tires for the Metzeler Lasertecs. Read the reviews here and elswhere for all the major tire brands, and man, opinions sure do vary! I already have Metezler ME880's on my BMW and have nothing but good things to say about them. Hopefully the Lasertecs will follow suit. Time will tell......

Im running a lasertec on the front of my 750 right now. The rear didnt last very long, but thats because i got a little stupid and did a couple of extended burnouts with it.

I have zero complaints about the tires. Real sticky, ride well. I switched to a BT-45 on the rear when the metzler died, and also love it. Its a dual compound, and has been holding up extremely well.