GSX400 - Tire suggestions

[Guest]

I currently have from the PO of my bike some Dunlop rubber but its due to be repaced

The size is 100/90 18 front and 110/90 Rear

I am having trouble finidng the same rubber in the same size and am not sure what the stock (or is this is the stock) tire sizing for the bike.

Does any one have any suggestions?

I am thinking the Bridge stone S11's as they seem to be directly avalible in thouse sizes

[Big Rich]

I believe stock was the equivalent to 90/90-18 front, and 100/90-18 rear. Check out Avon tyres, along with Shinko. Avon makes some great tires but cost more. Shinko tires are still pretty good, but cost about half.

[Gorminrider]

you have it right as to profiles whether 18" or 19 front,17 rear..but it's getting harder to find the 18"set, alright

81 gsx400TX has 19" front, 17"rear, while the cafe style 81 gsx400EX has 18" wheels front and rear. ( L's have 16" wheel on rear I believe and can possibly have a slightly wider tire... see below per swingarm)

I have both bikes. I'd guess the wheels are interchangeable, but haven't tried it. the forks and swingarm certainly look to be!

From myTX rims and parts fiche
2.15x17 (rear) and 1.85x19 (front)
Front Tire 3.60sx19 tube is 3.00x18? 90/90 19 IRC original equipment
Reartire supposed to be 110/90/ 17 IRC

From EX Parts fiche: (inches only given)
(rear tire ) supposed to be 3.50s x18 or 3.75s x 18 IRC or Bridgestone and had tubes...these'd translate as 110/90/18
(front tire) supposed to be 3.0s x18IRC or Bridgestone (no rim size seen in fiche) these'd translate as 90/90/18

I couldn't find OEM IRC not available, apparently, judging by their website.

18" tires are bit harder to find. I had to mix and match but it was what was cheap, too. rear is a tubeless,and was harder to get on... but I have innertubes in all my wheels...I bought some cheapo tires and I'll run out and have a look if you do indeed have 18"??

.... if you have 19"This means you must be very careful with the profile of the front at 90/90 or max 100/90 (works fine) , because the fender is very close and in the same place whether TX or EX. Likewise,you must be careful to stay at MAX 120/90/17" at rear because of width of swingarm. 110's will be hard to find for rear. Be careful even if you do have 18" rims.
I had no trouble finding 19 and 17 but as a matched set, was harder.

[GS(X)400]

18" tires are bit harder to find. I had to mix and match but it was what was cheap, too. rear is a tubeless,and was harder to get on... but I have innertubes in all my wheels...I bought some cheapo tires and I'll run out and have a look if you do indeed have 18"??

.... if you have 19"This means you must be very careful with the profile of the front at 90/90 or max 100/90 (works fine) , because the fender is very close and in the same place whether TX or EX. Likewise,you must be careful to stay at MAX 120/90/17" at rear because of width of swingarm. 110's will be hard to find for rear. Be careful even if you do have 18" rims.
I had no trouble finding 19 and 17 but as a matched set, was harder.

It is the dual 18's. In the end i went with the same sized tires that are on there already. I went for a set of pirelli sport demon. They are a matched set and avalible in a good number fo suzens

[BentRod]

Question: do you not like the current tires? Remember, OLD rubber will never be as nice as new rubber. Also, quick search will answer many of your tire questions, but places to start:

B.S. S11 - have used - decent
B.S. BT 45 - have now, I like em a lot but I'm not in love

Avon Road Runners are a nice look and solid tire
I'm not sure is metzeler or pirelli make anything is your size, but worth looking.

shinko - not if you paid me, but some guys here swear by them
Chengshin HiMax - my tire when I was a student eating kraft dinner and hotdogs to I could afford a motorcycle

[Gorminrider]

...here you go.on the GSX400EX I have
(rear) DURO 110/90/18 a tubeless tire
(front) SHINKO Tourmaster " 475" size 3.00"/18 it's a stale tire 1 year past due date .

[GS(X)400]

Question: do you not like the current tires? Remember, OLD rubber will never be as nice as new rubber. Also, quick search will answer many of your tire questions, but places to start:

Avon Road Runners are a nice look and solid tire
I'm not sure is metzeler or pirelli make anything is your size, but worth looking.

Yea i was recomended aginst shinkos i wanted to go with somthing with name behind it. The mixed reviews on them scare me off.

I went with pirelli sport demons! Would have loved some metz or Heidenau but didnt see anything close to size.

[Steve]

shinko - not if you paid me, but some guys here swear by them
Chengshin HiMax - my tire when I was a student eating kraft dinner and hotdogs to I could afford a motorcycle

Interesting that you used to use ChengShin HiMax, but won't even consdier the Shinkos.
ChengShin no longer makes street tires, Shinko has filled that void quite nicely with tires of similar or better quality.
Much like the ChengShins, they are not a "perfect" tire, but they do have surprising quality for the price.

... it's a stale tire 1 year past due date .

I have never heard of a "due date" on a tire. How did you determine that?

Yea i was recomended aginst shinkos i wanted to go with somthing with name behind it. The mixed reviews on them scare me off.

I went with pirelli sport demons! Would have loved some metz or Heidenau but didnt see anything close to size.

Shinko has a decent following on street, trail and track.

I have never heard of "Heidenau", had to look them up. Seems that they DO have tires in the sizes needed by the OP.

.

[GS(X)400]

I have never heard of "Heidenau", had to look them up. Seems that they DO have tires in the sizes needed by the OP.

Yea they are newish (in NA). They probably do that the sizes i want but not though any of the distributors i deal with. Getting tires can suck here.

Also I am the OP :P

I have had two people I trust (one who races) say stay away from Shinko. Both said thery were good in fair weather but realy suck in the rain. But its all opinion. It would be a mental thing for me after all you have to feel confident in your rubber. Im sure some people have had great experience with them.

[Gorminrider]

(Steve,=the date of manufacture +5 years according to the guys that sell tires... I'd have to admit I never bothered much before, but my (really) New tires are waay stickier- the old ones slipped on white lines when they were dry!!-no kidding.)

[Gorminrider]

.....

I went with pirelli sport demons! Would have loved some metz or Heidenau but didnt see anything close to size.

good oh! I will keep this as future reference if I put the EX permanently on the road ....I too, got aggravated looking at tires, their reviews, their sizes...
I got Pirelli Scorpions and so far they are great! Unfortunately, my TX is now too shiny +nice (with it's Collector Plates), to try em on the dirt roads for which they are supposed to be ""10% useful

[BentRod]

Interesting that you used to use ChengShin HiMax, but won't even consdier the Shinkos.
ChengShin no longer makes street tires, Shinko has filled that void quite nicely with tires of similar or better quality.
Much like the ChengShins, they are not a "perfect" tire, but they do have surprising quality for the price.


.

I found that the ChengShin tires worn quickly (but evenly) and weren't the greatest in the rain, but they were predictable. I had a lot of trouble with the equally priced shinkos, which I just couldn't get a feel for when they were going to misbehave. Does that make sense? With the Chengshin tires the bike felt unbalanced or unsettled before something bad was about to happen, where as the Shinkos usually surprised me. Am I just nuts?
All the same I use BT-45's now for most of my bikes, except the scooter which gets conti's because they look nice. When I have the money I'll move up a leve to michelin or pirelli.

[flyingcrook]

Hey i need some new rubber and looking at the sport demons. how are they working for you?

[pete]

It is the dual 18's. In the end i went with the same sized tires that are on there already. I went for a set of pirelli sport demon. They are a matched set and avalible in a good number fo suzens

Good call on the Sport Demons!

A lot of the GS500 and Katana riders over here use them and rave how good they are, so I tried them this time around... I'm a convert!

Same sizes as you, 100/90-18 front, 110/90-18 rear.

They are awesome! Wet and dry and this is the closest I've ever come to removing the chicken strips...

They also don't seem to be squaring off in the middle with the commute but I haven't quite got 2000km's on them yet.

[GS(X)400]

Good call on the Sport Demons!

A lot of the GS500 and Katana riders over here use them and rave how good they are, so I tried them this time around... I'm a convert!

Same sizes as you, 100/90-18 front, 110/90-18 rear.

They are awesome! Wet and dry and this is the closest I've ever come to removing the chicken strips...

They also don't seem to be squaring off in the middle with the commute but I haven't quite got 2000km's on them yet.

I only have 250 KM on mine it was a busy year with my wedding and honey moon and the more fall like summer that we had but yea im very happy with them !