Tire recommendations for 1.85x19 & 2.15x18 (& 2.50x18) stock GS rims

[Chuck78]

I put together all if this info for 3 friends with 77-79 GS750B/C's & a GS550B, figured I'd dump it here as well for reference for you all. The verdict is still out on me leaning towards a 120 rear, but the tire manufacturers aside from Avon (they tend to run on the large side) & Pirelli say that a 120/90 is an acceptable fit on our 2.15 rim. Avon offers a 90/90-19 front which is the same width as everyone else's 100/90-19 but slightly shorter diameter (great for sporty steering improvement). The smallest front everyone but Avon has, 100/90-19, is the widest tire they all recommend on a 1.85 rim, so I figured matching it up to the widest rear they also recommend would tend to give the same profile curvature front vs rear.
I would note that the 110/90-18 will turn in slightly better and will be lighter, but getting a better more meaty looking rear tire on the back will also help with the slow stock steering by steepening the rake and lessening the front end trail. Here's my massive information dump with my opinions:

[Chuck78]

Shinko 230 Tour Master

$131.30/pair
*100/90-19 front
*120/90-18 rear
+awesome grip, I've ridden these A LOT in conjunction with a similar Shinko SR741 in a wider rear to fit my wider aftermarket rims, wife had 130/90 rear in the 230, same carcass and compound on SR741 & 230 Tour Master
+149mph V-rated carcass
+Lightest tires of all these choices
+good tread performance in rain
--rear will wear down fastest of all, ~4,000mi rear max, but front @ 9,000mi+ is excellent at least
--more frequent rear tire changing labor







Avon AM26 Road Rider
$181.76/pair
*90/90-19 front
(closest to original size 3.25-19 but shorter for quicker steering, best fit on GS rim)
(Avon runs bigger than competitors so I wouldn't run the 100/90-19, plus they're the only ones who offer a 90/90-19)
*4.00-18 rear
(OEM stock size, best fit on 1.85 GS rim, taller look vs 110 for aesthetics+quicker steering)
+Best tread wear of all these performance gripping choices, best for lots of city riding and long highway road trip miles 8,000mi+ on rear, 12,000mi front
+best fit on stock GS 2.15x18 & 1.85x19 rims, means the ideal profile curvature for slightly smoother lean-in feel when you lean over into a turn
+best grip of all higher mileage / longer tread life tires
+good wet weather performance
+/-Sane riders rave about their grip vs treadwear, but those who push it hard into corners leaning over substantially and riding very twisty roads in the hills will be running Bridgestone Battlax, Pirelli Sport Demon, or Shinko tires
--I got mine used 2 yrs old less than 100mi on them but had issues with cornering traction from the start. Some tell me it's because they were older, but it's a known fact the others I list grip better for aggressive cornering. I won't run these again unless I am planning many long road trips - may run rear only at that point.
--it's best to keep tires fresh - replace 'em by 3yrs old, front tread outlasts the rubber's good gripping lifespan if you don't rack up tons of miles to wear them out in 2 seasons or less
***(110/90-18 is similar rear to the 4.00-18 but not as tall & very slightly narrower - taller rear looks more appropriate and quickens steering but slows acceleration slightly due to gear ratio changing from height increase - that goes for all these in 120 rears - swap on 1T bigger rear sprocket next time you put on new chain. Slightly more sidewall flex on taller tire also)






Bridgestone Battlax BT45V
$221.76/pair
*100/90-19 front
*120/90-18 rear
+AWESOME cornering grip, used on older sport bikes @ racetracks often, grips 96% as good as the Pirelli Sport Demon but wears substantially better
+front tires run the shortest height for each size vs all other brands, which helps quicken the steering more to make it ride more sporty and fun
+2nd fastest lap times on race track test comparison
+rear tires use Bridgestone Sport SACT technology so has super soft grippy rubber on sides for intense cornering grip, but harder / better wearing rubber strip in middle for slightly longer treadlife on city/highway miles
-/+still wears down pretty quickly for a dual compound rear tread, but outlasts all other super grippy soft compound tires, 5,000mi+ on rear 10,000mi front, rear wears better than Shinko or Pirelli
-front tire not as good in wet weather, some bikes notice uneven front treadwear but others are fine
***(cheaper H rated rear is available in 110/90-18 but I opted to recommend the V-rated 120 as the 100 and 120 both are at the same maximum manufacturer recommended size fitment for stock 1.85"/2.15" GS rims so they'll both have same tread profile curvature ft vs rr & taller rear quickens the steering but will sidewall will flex slightly more)


Bridgestone Battlax BT45 H-rated
$199.76
100/90-19 ft
110/90-18 rr
*same as above except carcass only H-rated for continuous use up to 112mph, less sizes available - these are the sizes to fit GS 1.85x19 & 2.15x18 rims






Pirelli Sport Demon
$195.76/pair
100/90-19 ft
110/90-18 rr
**---Pirelli doesn't rate these size tires as a recommended fit for stock early GS 1.85/2.15 width rims even though Avon and Bridgestone do, but people still run them on GS rims with very excellent praise
+*BEST CORNERING TIRES OF ALL GS TIRES
+best lap times of the top tires in a race track test comparison
*Best wet weather performance of all
-rear will show lots of wear by 2,500mi but will last ~4,300mi or so






I recommended the most raved about options here. There are a few other slifhtly less popular "good" choices, Metzler makes a couple of popular tires but some models are ancient technology and some are newer, good reviews on the newer but against a Battlax or Sport Demon, those 2 always beat the Metzler.
Continental makes a Conti-Go and Classic Attack (radial I think, made for vintage sizes) but they are pricey and wear down as fast as the budget priced Shinko or faster even.
Dunlop makes one tire that I have heard a few people say real good things about, but the Avon/Pirelli/Battlax tires have a wealth of excellent reviews on the GS Forums and all over the Internet so you can be very assured of well experienced aggressive riding reviewers' feedback.

[Chuck78]

Free shipping & no tax on all these from RockyMountainATVMC.com
Double check prices vs chapparal-racing.com as these are the 2 best/cheapest places I've found to get tires, & at below our local shops' wholesale cost delivered to your door no tax & free shipping


Links:


SHINKO
Front 100/90-19

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/1145/29332/Shinko-230-Tour-Master-Front-Motorcycle-Tire

Rear 120/90-18:

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/1145/29333/Shinko-230-Tour-Master-Rear-Motorcycle-Tire

AVON
Front 90/90-19:

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/-/-/185070/?v=7534

Rear 4.00-18

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/750/22938/Avon-Roadrider-AM26-Rear-Motorcycle-Tire?v=11939

BRIDGESTONE V-rated
Front 100/90-19:

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/750/17125/Bridgestone-Battlax-BT45-V-Rated-Front-Motorcycle-Tire?v=7899

Rear 120/90-18: https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p...42427/?v=14310



BRIDGESTONE H-rated
Front 100/90-19:

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/-/-/1336537/?v=8111

Rear 110/90-18:

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/-/-/142035/?v=11940

PIRELLI SPORT DEMON:
Front 100/90-19:

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/750/19193/Pirelli-Sport-Demon-Front-Motorcycle-Tire?v=7405

Rear 110/90-18:

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/-/-/162932/?v=11940

[Nessism]

100 front and 120 rear is what I'd run.

My favorite tire seller...http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/

Oh, and I'm running Conti Go tires and like them. They are flagged as an all purpose tire and I'd agree.

[GSXR7ED]

I need new tires this riding season. Thanks for the info fellas!

Front tire is 100/90/19 and the rear tire on my "T" is 130/90/17.


Ed

[Chuck78]

I need new tires this riding season. Thanks for the info fellas!

Front tire is 100/90/19 and the rear tire on my "T" is 130/90/17.


Ed

I'm pretty sure all of those rear tires I discussed come in a 130/90-17 rear, & probably in 16" as well.

[Chuck78]

I also feel like I should mention I am looking into using a discount code to get the Harbor Freight tire changer and motorcycle tire adapter add-on, and then either a set of aftermarket Mojo Blocks and Mojo Tire Lever to replace the Harbor Freight junk, or else the No-Mar spindles and No-Mar tire lever. Also the No-Mar 3rd Hand tool.

Spooning tires on by hand with tire levers and DIY rim protectors made out of beverage bottle plastic slices is a real chore, and I don't like paying $35 each for tire changes, especially considering I have 14 to do soon if I include the ones I am helping my friends with on 3 of their bikes (+ 3 of mine and 1 or 2 dirt bikes).