what's a good tire?? what sucks A$$??

[HiSPL]

I would not use Cheng Shin period, they feel like they were made for a bicycle. Very thin sidewalls.

I wouldn't use them on my bicycle either :twisted:

[SqDancerLynn1]

They are higher in price than the Metzlers and Dunlops, are a touring tire

[Hoomgar]

Whats the word on Continentals? I believe thats what I have and I was told they are good but no one has mentioned them here.

I used those on my Turbo many moons ago. Not a bad tire but not a good one either if you ask me. I didn't like the tread pattern, the feel or the wear for what I paid. After I burnt up my second pair of them (they were what the Yamaha dealer was putting on my Turbo as recommended) I went to Dunlop's from a recommendation and have been with them every since. I am so pleased with the Dunlop's that I have never tried the Metzler's which I only ever hear good things about. My mechanic tells me that Metzler makes a slightly better tire than what I can get from Dunlop but they would run me about 60-80 more for the pair and they are only marginally better so I have never tried them. Maybe I'll just have to do that one of these days

[Anonymous]

For the last three years I've been experimenting with different tires on my GK, both front and rear. I've had Continentals, Avons, Metzelers, Dunlops, Bridgestones, and the cheap ones: Kendas, IRC's, and Cheng Shins.

Lest y'all think I baby my GK, let me assure you that I don't. I ride rather aggressively compared to most "touring" riders. My riding includes lots of curvy mountain riding in the MidAtlantic States.

Not once did I ever experience any problems with any of these tires, whether top line or el cheapo. All gave me good adhesion, predictable handling, and decent wet pavement performance.

The only difference was in mileage. The cheap ones didn't last very long. The Dunlop K491 rear gave me many more miles, for example, than the Kenda Challenger.

At this time I have a Harley Davidson Dunlop clone, a 401, on the rear of the GK (long story behind that one...). This is essentially a K491 with H-D stamped on the sidewall, and sold for too much money at Harley dealerships. On the front I have a Bridgestone Spitfire. Both are doing fine. I had a Conti Blitz up front before the Bridgestone, and it did very well also; handling on these two is different, though not necessarily one better than the other.

Moral of my story -- in my experience, all tires available for our GS bikes are good performers. Not all will give you the same mileage. Good rear tire mileage comes particularly from tires like the Metzeler 880 or the Dunlop K491, both of which are belted.

So, in my opinion, you may shop for tires while being assured that you'll be safe on any of them. Again, not once have I felt insecure or unstable while riding on any of these brand tires. I wouldn't buy another rear IRC, simply because I only got 4,000 miles out of it. So, value for the money is at issue here.

Nick

[Anonymous]

I've run everything from Metzlers, to Dunlops and Cheng Shins. I'm not a knee dragger, or one to ride long distances in the rain, but I've been riding for 15 yrs. and I have not noticed anything but slight differences in any of my tires, except in mileage. Dunlops seemed to last longer, Cheng Shins were the shortest, but not by too much.

Anything you'd mount now-a-days is better than anything these bikes had on them when they were showroom new.

I'm no expert, but I'm going to run counter to the opinions on this post - I 've not had any bad experiences with Cheng-Shins and I tend to want to replace my tires on both my bikes every 2.5 or 3 years whether they are worn, or not.

I know guys with $300 tires on their bikes that have had them for 6 years that won't change them because of a looming $300 price tag that would be better off with a new set of $100 Cheng Shins changed more regularly.

[Anonymous]

I've run everything from Metzlers, to Dunlops and Cheng Shins. I'm not a knee dragger, or one to ride long distances in the rain, but I've been riding for 15 yrs. and I have not noticed anything but slight differences in any of my tires, except in mileage. Dunlops seemed to last longer, Cheng Shins were the shortest, but not by too much.

Anything you'd mount now-a-days is better than anything these bikes had on them when they were showroom new.

I'm no expert, but I'm going to run counter to the opinions on this post - I 've not had any bad experiences with Cheng-Shins and I tend to want to replace my tires on both my bikes every 2.5 or 3 years whether they are worn, or not.

I know guys with $300 tires on their bikes that have had them for 6 years that won't change them because of a looming $300 price tag that would be better off with a new set of $100 Cheng Shins changed more regularly.

[Anonymous]

Anything you'd mount now-a-days is better than anything these bikes had on them when they were showroom new.

I'll agree with you there! Even my GK, a 1984, is now 20 years old, and that's a relatively "new" GS bike.

At this time I have a new Cheng Shin rear tire mounted on my 17-inch wheel, ready to be installed on the GK when the Harley tire wears out.

Nick

[Hoomgar]

Man I run the tires right off my bikes. I guess I must really ride harder than I even think that I do. You guys get "years" out of a rear tire?!?! That's unheard of in my garage I have been riding on the street for 22 years and I have never had a rear tire last 2 years. I replace my rear tire every year on every bike I have ever owned no matter what tire or bike it was. In a lot of years past I have gone through 2 tires a year and once I even ate up 3.

On the front I average about 2 years with some lasting 4 years and some lasting 2. Most lasting 3.

I guess I need to back it off a bit

[snowbeard]

thanks for all the advice guys (and gals) looks like its the dunlop or metzler for me!! I agree with the skin vs rubber approach too, now I know what to grab at a good price and what to possibly avoid at a steal!!

[Pete's GS]

I do like Metzeler 880s. They're on my XS650. The GS550 has new Pirelli (which owns Metzeler but Metzeler makes only mc tires) MT66s. Now that they're scrubbed in, I'm beginning to like them, though I prefer the handling of the XS a bit more.

I don't hear much about Contis anymore though twenty years ago they were all the rage. You'd get 20K on a front, 10 K on the rear and drag the footpegs !

My used 550 had a well-scrubbed Kenda Challenger on the rear. It sucked. I didn't trust it at all. The front was a Dunlop 191, I think, but it was marginal too.

I hear good things about Bridgestone and Avon but haven't tried them yet.

[earlfor]

How about four rear tires last year and I am already on my 2nd rear for this year. :-) :-) :-)

Earl


[quote="Hoomgar"]
I have been riding on the street for 22 years and I have never had a rear tire last 2 years. I replace my rear tire every year on every bike I have ever owned no matter what tire or bike it was. In a lot of years past I have gone through 2 tires a year and once I even ate up 3.

[Hoomgar]

[quote="earlfor"]How about four rear tires last year and I am already on my 2nd rear for this year. :-) :-) :-)

Earl

I have been riding on the street for 22 years and I have never had a rear tire last 2 years. I replace my rear tire every year on every bike I have ever owned no matter what tire or bike it was. In a lot of years past I have gone through 2 tires a year and once I even ate up 3.

Thx Earl, I was concerned it was just me. The GS1000 is a monster and really rips the tread right off of them when you hot dog it. Which I do a lot

[Anonymous]

yeah, I buy a new tire each year, either front or back depending on the year. The Metzeler 880 gives about the same mileage as the 491 and is much softer which is interesting. I just put an old 491 on the front of my bike and man do I like it. When I lock up the front wheel each morning to see how the bike is working I get a great chattering feel with my forks flexing as the tire tries to hook up again. My other tires would just slide with no interest of regaining control!

Steve

[Carter Turk]

Tires

The ME 55 Metronic was the worst rear tire I had on my 80 1100E. Hated white crosswalks stripes. Stepped out in the dry, sketchy in the rain, no confidence or feedback.

My favorite combo was the Dunlop 591 (now a Harley tire) up front and the Metzler MEZ2 out back. I tried the Dunlop 501 Arrow GT's, a replacement for the 591, but prefered the old profile 591. Worked great for a trackday as well. I'm thinking about going back to bias rear since the availibility of 140/80/17's radials are slim.

The Pirelli Sport Demon 140/80/17 will be the next rear of choice . Hopefully it will have similiar characteristics to the MEZ2. At about $100. Carter

[Dink]

I ran three sets of Metzelers on my 1150 and loved them except when we moved to a warmer climat when they just evaporated off the rims, I now run BT45's and like them
Dink