gs850 tire choices?

[Guest]

Looking for new tires. Tires are 100 90 19 for the front and 130 90 17 for the rear. I'd like to have a little shorter profile . What's a good tire size? Wider would be nice also.

[Nessism]

Those sizes are correct for the bike and wheel size. Tried and true.

[marvinsc]

Yes, shorter and wider won't gain much and may cost in terms of performance and wear..............

[lurch12_2000]

I would agree that the 100/90 front and 130/90 rear would be best. If you are looking to reduce seat height with lower profile tires then a shorter /80 aspect ratio might help by reducing tire height about 1/4"(measuring tire radius from axle to ground). Wider tires really don't improve anything and a 110/90 front actually slows the steering response making the front a little heavier feeling. If you really want to do something because the bike is too tall, the best way is to reshape the front part of the seat to be a little narrower to allow your legs to straddle less to get feet more solidly on the ground. The 850G has a very comfortable stock seat but can be a bit wide for a shorter rider. Remember too that lower tires will also make putting the bike up on the center stand a little harder.

[Steve]

What do you hope to gain with the lower profile?

Wider tires will not help ANYTHING in a positive direction.

There will be constant discussion about which brand or model tire is "best",
but everyone is pretty much agreed that the sizes you mention,
100/90-19 and 130/90-17 are the right sizes.

.

[bwringer]

Agreed -- use the correct sizes. It'll handle like a pig with 80 series tires or with wider tires.


My standard recommendations:

- Avon AM26 RoadRiders if you ride a lot. With some retailers, the front is listed with the rears or is listed oddly because it can be used either on the front or the back.

- Shinko 230 Tourmaster if you don't pile on the miles (significantly cheaper, but don't last as long). Possibly the Shinko 712 as well -- I believe this recently became available in a 17" rear.


Cost per mile is better with the Avons (they last roughly twice as long, and you can go 2 rears for each front), but if you don't ride a lot the Shinkos work great and are significantly cheaper to buy. Whether you pay someone to mount your tires or do it yourself is another factor.

Other good modern tires include the Pirelli Sport Demon, Michelin Pilot Activ, Bridgestone BT45 Battlax and possibly the Continental "Go". Cost is very similar for all these.

I recommend against the Bridgestone S11 Spitfire, the Dunlop 404, and the Metzeler Lasertec. These are all older designs that are short-lived and get very wonky as they wear. The Metzeler is also a good bit more expensive than anything else. There's also a Dunlop 501 some folks recommend; it's not available in a 130/90-17 rear anyway, and it's another very old design that doesn't last very long and turns evil as it wears.

[one_civic]

I have Pirelli Sport Demon's on my 750 and love them. Super sticky tires.

[JTGS850GL]

I have the Shinko 230's on my 1000 and have no issues with them so far with around 10K miles.

[GSX1000E]

I have the Shinko 230's on my 1000 and have no issues with them so far with around 10K miles.

They tend to last as long as the Battleaxes if you keep them properly inflated (34-38psi) under normal loads or closer to 40psi when the GVWR of the bike and
load limit of the tires is maxed out or exceeded. Also twisting the throttle a bit too often also helps to wear them (all tires) faster. 8-12,000 on the rear and 14-18,000 on the front.

[Wingsconsin]

I have Michelin Commander II's on my GS850 .
I like them so far - but it's too early to tell for longevity with about 4000 miles total on them (they still look new).
Sticky - quiet- hold air pressure - track straight - turn in well -
Only found them slippery in the rain on tar snakes and painted surfaces....(like every tire mostly).
But not cheap...they do Promise extended wear however so time will tell....

[bwringer]

I have Michelin Commander II's on my GS850 .
I like them so far - but it's too early to tell for longevity with about 4000 miles total on them (they still look new).
Sticky - quiet- hold air pressure - track straight - turn in well -
Only found them slippery in the rain on tar snakes and painted surfaces....(like every tire mostly).
But not cheap...they do Promise extended wear however so time will tell....

The Michelin Commander II is not available in the 17" rear used on the OP's GS850G. Your 850GL uses a 16" rear. There are quite a few choices in 130/90-16 and relatively few in 130/90-17.

I'll agree that Michelin does make some mighty fine tires!

[bwringer]

I have the Shinko 230's on my 1000 and have no issues with them so far with around 10K miles.

They tend to last as long as the Battleaxes if you keep them properly inflated (34-38psi) under normal loads or closer to 40psi when the GVWR of the bike and
load limit of the tires is maxed out or exceeded. Also twisting the throttle a bit too often also helps to wear them (all tires) faster. 8-12,000 on the rear and 14-18,000 on the front.

Blasphemy! There's no such thing as twisting the throttle too often. Unless you're just sitting at a stop light.


Just to show you the potential impact of hard usage, I wore out a set of the Shinko 230s in about 3,000 miles.

Here's the sordid tale: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Torture-Test

Normal people will get FAR more miles out of these tires. They're pretty darn awesome for the money.

[Grimly]

A 140/80-R17 on the rear transformed the feel of the old barge and it went round corners like on rails. However, not all 140s are exactly the same, and there might be one or two out there that are a touch too wide for swingarm clearance. The one I had on, an Avon Gripster, iirc, just fitted nicely.
I see Oponeo are doing some of that size - might take another punt on one.

[mikerophone]

Pirelli Sport Demons here too

I have Pirelli Sport Demon's on my 750 and love them. Super sticky tires.

Me too, and I love the look and feel of these on my 750, although I've put 5K on them and the rear is almost out of tread in the center. Maybe I'm twisting the throttle too much but it sure is fun!

Think I'll ty the Avon or Shinkos on my 850 this year. Used The Tourmasters on my Magna for several sets and had mixed results. Had to replace the rear in about 7K miles twice and also had to return one due to a lump that went whomp whomp whomp round and round. Pretty dang good for the price though.

[GS1000S]

- Avon AM26 RoadRiders if you ride a lot. With some retailers, the front is listed with the rears or is listed oddly because it can be used either on the front or the back.

+1
I like these on my 850. They felt better instantly than the 404 Dunlops.

Pat