Race or new age tires for a 1979 GS550E

[Guest]

HI everyone. I am in the process of restoring my 1979 Gs550E. I have not ridden this bike in over 25 years and need to find tires for it. the front is a 3.25x19 or 100/90/19 and the rear is a 3.75x18 or 130/80/18. I am making a picture file on the complete project rebuild. i will post later. About the only matching tire set i can find in these sizes are the Avon am26 roadriders. Anyone here use these tires or have more input on them. Or dose anyone know where i can find good matching set of street/track tires in the 19 front and 18 rear i need. I know i could swap rim's but that is not what i am looking for.. Thanks..

[Nessism]

100/90-19 front is good, but the widest rear you can run is 120/90-18 due to the width of the rear wheel. Road Riders are good tires, as are some others. Tire threads are very common here so you might want to look around for more recommendations.

[Steve]

Can't help you with your tire selection, but a 3.75 rear is not a 130.

Doing the math, 3.75 times 25.4 equals 95.25.

The 130 or a 120 width is pretty close, depending on the actual width of your wheel, but I would stick with a 90-series, rather than the 80 that you mention. In other words, look for a 120/90-18 or a 130/90-18 for the rear. The 100/90-19 is a good choice for the front.

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[Nessism]

A 120 is already too wide for the 2.15" rear wheel. It's doable but not ideal. I wouldn't go wider still although some people do so and live to tell about it.

[Sand_fiend]

The rear tire on it now is a Dunlop 130/80/18 and i have a little room for a wider tire. I don't remember why i put that tire on it back then ? thanks for the Quick replys. I will have to look more into it. I will look into the 120/90/18

[Steve]

The rear tire on it now is a Dunlop 130/80/18 and i have a little room for a wider tire.

It's not a matter of how much room you have, it's more a matter of what fits (properly).

Trying to control a wider tire with a narrow rim is like trying to control a balloon by just holding the inflation stem.
It just wobbles all over. If that's the way you want to ride, go for it, but please let us know where you are, so we know where to avoid a wobbling 550.

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[Big T]

The solution is to order the Avons in 3.25-19 front and 4.00-18 rear

That will give you the most traction and best handling

[RichDesmond]

Pirelli Demon and Bridgestone BT-45 are also good tires that come in the correct sizes. Stock sizes generally give the best handling.