tire recomendations

[limeex2]

I know I may open up a can of worms here,but what is a good tire to use? I like sticky tires,but have also found modern sport touring work great on my modern bikes.Dont care about mileage. Its on a GS1100E that hopefully gets to see more corners that straightaways.Winter is a good time to buy tires,they usually are on sale.

[trevor]

Perilli sport demons. Have on my 83 1100 and love them. Avon roadriders if you want milage and decent grip.

[Rob S.]

Perilli sport demons. Have on my 83 1100 and love them.

Ditto. Have them on my '82 1100e and love them.

[GSX1000E]

The Pirelli Sport Demons with the Shinko Tour Master 230's as a close second for less money. Sticky tires last so much longer when more than 50% of the time is NOT spent in the center tread.
I have gotten over 8,000 miles out of both on the rear.

[Joe Guilbeau]

Perilli sport demons. Have on my 83 1100 and love them. Avon roadriders if you want milage and decent grip.

Yep, had the Pirelli Phantom's on my GS1100EX back in the 90's for a while, got about 2,700 miles out of them, tore up RM-2222 in Austin, Tx on moonless nights so I could see oncoming traffic in the 0400 hours. A few tankslappers as well. Tumbleweed Hill (10% grade for 1/2 mile and MoPac to Loop 360 using all 4 lanes...tsk, tsk...should be dead.

Be safe...

[eil]

There's some general advice here: https://www.gswiki.info/wiki/Tires

[limeex2]

Thanks! Inspired me to do more searching.Found lots of info/tires on the Avon site and others as well.I have wider rims laced up to large gauge spoke/spoked wheels.Would not like to spend time,effort and $$$ on upgraded brakes and suspension and be for not due to old tech tires.

[one_civic]

Perilli sport demons hands down! I had Bridgestone BT45's on my 80 750F that were not too bad....

[astradaryl]

contenintal classic attack radials
stick like sh*t to a blanket

[GS1150Pilot]

What's with people being unable to spell Pirelli? Their (amazing) calendars may have burnt out people's brains.

[Chuck78]

Did you get tires yet?

Shinko 230 TourMaster tires are amazing for the money, very very affordable & excellent quality, but limited size selections (sr741 rears are the same ultra-sticky compound but updated wider low profile sizes - 140/70-18 & 130,140,150/70-17).
http://www.shinkotireusa.com/tire/sr-740-741-series

http://www.shinkotireusa.com/tire/230-tour-master

AM26 RoadRiders by Avon are great as well, similar grip, but not quite as soft, but longer tread life (& higher price). More/better size selection. 35-40% More expensive than the Shinkos but 40%+ longer tread life.

Pirelli Sport Demons cost similar to Road Riders, but are very sticky & wear much faster like the Shinko's. Tons of vintage bike size availability like the Road Rider. The tread is my least favorite looking, but don't let that deter you. Ultra grippy tire for amazing cornering, but for miles per dollar spent, you may be better off with the first two choices. If needing the expanded size selection & wanting the best gripping tire for a reasonable price, or if cost vs mileage within this price range isn't a big deciding factor, then this is the ticket hands down.



If you don't ride a lot of curvey roads, and don't lean the bike over too far terribly often, the Avon is your best choice for grip vs treadwear life. If it takes you more than 1 season to rack up 6000 miles, or if you want the ultimate cornering grip, then the Shinko & Pirelli are the more viable candidates.


When choosing sizes, you can play around with shorter & taller aspect ratios for diameter/ride height/tire weight considerations, but when choosing tire width, it is IMPERATIVE that you choose width based on the tire manufacturer's recommended width according to your rim width, measured from the inside to inside bead seating area measurement, stamped into the rim somewhere.
Wider than recommended or acceptable range & you will be pushing around extra useless weight, have a narrower (pinched) contact patch, & a bike that, when leaned, rapidly flops into the lean due to distorted tread profiles from a wide tire pinched inwards by a narrow rim.




There are also Metzler tires that are highly acclaimed and fit our bikes, but they are much more costly, therefore I have never spent much time looking into them. Some guys say their Bridge stones are great, but I have also heard negative feedback on those from riders that prefer the above 3 (or 4) tire selections much more.

Best of luck.

[GS1150Pilot]

I'm mounting Shinkos on the 1150 after the wheels are powder coated.

[Rob S.]

I'm mounting Shinkos...

Just 'cause they're easier to spell?

[limeex2]

The bike will be lucky to see a 1000 miles a year. Might do a track day,but it is a extremely relaxed track day,go at your own pace.I have read up on the conti's and need to figure out the sticky version of the shinko's. Once you ride with sticky tires,the confidence they bring is worth every nickel. No pucker factor.....

[GS1150Pilot]

Just 'cause they're easier to spell?

Coz they're easier to afford.