GPZ500 Tyres!?

[Glenben92]

Coming very rapidly to the end of the BT45's life on my bike and need some ideas for a replacement. I'm looking at sports touring tyres, focusing on wet weather performance for commuting, i dont tend to push hard enough in the dry for ANY tyre to let go. I like the idea of dual compound tyres and was decided on michelin pilot road 2's... until i realised that they don't seem to make the rear in the size i need:


Front: 110/70 17
Rear: 130/70 17

The rears start at 150 unfortunately. So can anyone recommend a good alternative? I'm not pleased with the life i've had out of the BT45s (although they weren't brand new on when i bought the bike, they weren't too far from new) i've had about 6k miles out of them.

Any help would be appreciated!
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[Dazbo666]

Only ever used BT45's on my GPZ... (but I had the 1991 model with the 16in rims, so my choices were limited)
However I'd suggest that you probably are pushing quite hard if you're only getting 6k out of them
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[Glenben92]

I feel like there's absolutely shit loads left, cornering speed wise. I'm gonna have a hunt around for some old photos to compare to some manufacturer photos of the tyres to see exactly how much tread HAD gone bye bye before i bought the bike.

I hadn't realised how fucking expensive bike tyres were until i've came to buy some. I've just noticed pilot road THREES on the michelin website which ARE made in the sizes i need, but i'll guarantee they'll be expensive as fuck, being fairly new.
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[Noxious89123]

About £20 more than a pair of PR2's from what I've read.
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'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[Glenben92]

How easy/important is tyre fitting and balancing to do at home?
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[Kickstart]

Hi

If you have the tools then it is possible to do your own tyres and balance the wheels. Personally I haven't bothered to get the tools. Cheap enough to pay someone to do it.

The tyre widths on the GPZ are pretty much ensuring cross ply tyres. Quick look on the Michelin web site and the Pilot Road 3 is available for the front but not the rear.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Glenben92]

Looking at prices and based on performance and their screaming reputation with the bike, i think i'm gonna stick to BTs. Annoying sizes on these tyres though, i'd really like to try some dual compound's, see what they're like.

Yeah the little blue "available sizes" box on the michelin website mislead me. any opinions on Pilot Activ's ? at least they fit!
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[neatbik]

BT45's are dual compound (on the rear at least).
To be honest i dont think you will find anything much better than them for your bike at that kind of price.

[Glenben92]

are they!! the rear squared off pretty easily with commuting :/

EDIT: as you can tell, i know shit all about tyres, only what i've started learning tonight as i've been looking to buy. appreciate the help
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[P.]

110 and 130, I used a BT45 on the front and a Conti Twist on the GS500, was fine for me!

If you want mileage and all round tyres, BT45, if you fancy something more "fun"
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110-70-17-130-70-17-H-Continental-Conti-Go-Motorcycle-Tyres-SUZUKI-GS550-NEW-/350514400733?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item519c494ddd#ht_4158wt_1163

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110-70-17-54H-130-70-17-62H-Dunlop-Arrowmax-GT501-Motorcycle-Motorbike-Tyres-/350492932315?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item519b01b8db#ht_4755wt_1163

(Had conti's on the CBR125, different ball game but NEVER had an issue, hot or cold)

You can also get Avon RoadRiders.. AM26? Thats if you are feeling lucky

Also, I do my own tyres, saved me a small fortune with part worns, takes me about 20 minutes to do the rear tyre (changed one last monday) and its relatively painless, but I'd get something to "squash" the tyre, check the tutorials on youtube. I started with a large chisel type item and a rubber mallet, now use a press.

[Glenben92]

As I say, the absolute top priorities are wet performance, very closely followed by mileage. What mileage SHOULD be expected from a bt45 rear?
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[P.]

[Glenben92]

That doesn't sound too far wrong. I am prone to the ahem OCCASIONAL summers day blast, it's not just a commuting machine for me. and as i say, it was fitted when i bought the bike. There's a BT21 (if i recall correctly) on the front and that seems totally fine compared to the fucking state of the centre of the rear. Would the excessive centre wear indicate that i've been running the pressures too high on the back?

ah and whats the life expectancy and wet performance on those conti go's like? they're... cheaper
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[Kickstart]

[Glenben92]

[stinkwheel]

I once put contis on my GPZ5 and took them off again after about 500 miles because they made the front end so twitchy. This was quite a long time ago now though.

BT45s should be about as good as anything else in the wet. They have a high silicone compound.

EDIT: If it has an R in the tyre number, it's a radial. If it doesn't, it's a cross ply or bias belt. So 110/70 R17 is a radial. 110/70-17 is not.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Glenben92]

The "45R" on the back is radial then, front is a cross ply. Think I'm settled on the bt45s, anywhere cheaper than ebay that I should try?
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[Snorty]

BT45s are pretty good but I've only had about 3 months out of my rear lol... guess that says something about my riding.

Should imagine it all depends on how harsh you are on the acceleration and cornering etc. Majority of my miles are commuting, but whenever the weather is suitable I go out for a blast.

I think they get quite sticky! I've scraped the pegs with them, and noticed that the top layer has "melted" and scraped across some of the tread before.

[Snorty]

[Kickstart]

[Glenben92]

No wonder I knew cock all about tyres, its a bastard minefield.

I live on the coast next to newcastle.
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[P.]

[evoboy]

Running a Conti Go! on the rear of my 500S. Grips well in wet and dry. Dunno about mileage as this is the first one ive used.

45's are good, but expensive.
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[wilbur]

As mentioned elsewhere I have been very pleasantly surprised by the Arrowmax on the back of mine. At least as good as the B45 IMVHO but stickier so possibly not as long lasting. I may put one on the front later today as well. I say this as a long term BT45 fan on GPZ500s but I think I'm changing my preference.