Tires

The stock tires on older GS500 models (Bridgestone Exedras) are widely regarded as sub-par. Upgrading to a newer tire can improve your handling considerably. There are a wide and confusing array of tires available, which this page will try to help with. The newer 2004+ GS500's use a better alround tire the Bridgestone Battalax BT-45.

Tire Sizes

Stock tire size is 110/70-17 front, 130/70-17 rear. It is recommended that the stock size be used for any tire that is available in that size. This will maintain the best handling. Sometimes a larger tire is used, for example a 140/70 or 140/80, and in some cases 150. This is done because certain styles or compounds are not available in the stock sizes. It is often also done for cosmetic reasons.

Putting a 150 on the GS's 3.5 inch rear rim is a controversial topic. It's been done with success, but it can cause excessive wear and erattic handling in some cases. It also requires modifying at least the brake caliper torque arm for extra clearance. Swapping rear wheels to something wider allows for proper fitment of most 150 section tires.

Best Bets

There are a number of tried-and-true and highly recommended tires for the GS500. If you are not into experimenting and want something that "just works" go with one of these. Details on each tire are below.

  • Performance:
    • Pirelli Sport Demon
    • Bridgestone BT-45
    • Bridgestone BT-090
    • Avon AV45/46** Michelin Pilot Active
  • Touring:
    • Bridgestone BT020
    • Bridgestone BT-92
    • Avon AV45/46
    • Avon AM51/52
  • Budget:
    • Avon AM51/52
  • Track/Racing:
    • Bridgestone BT090

By Brand

Avon

  • AV45/46 radials. Highly recommended. 110/80 front, 140/80 rear. Better durability and wet performance than BT-45s. Classed "sport touring" by Avon, but users are pleased with spirited riding performance.
  • AM51/AM52. Value priced. Can be under $120 for the set. Considered a "commuter" tire. Decent traction, long life, and plenty cheap.

Bridgestone

  • BT-45 OEM replacement bias-ply, updated for the times with a dual compound construction. Sticky sport/street rubber. Reasonable durability. Highly recommended all-around tire. If you don't know what tire you want, you probably want this one.
  • BT020 sport-touring. Good balance of handling and tire life. Less sticky than BT-45 but lasts longer. Recommended for tourers.
  • BT-090 is a sports radial that offers excellent grip thanks to its silica compound. Especially good on the track. High wear rates might be an issue for regular street use. It is available in a 110/70R17 Front and a 140/70F17 Rear.
  • BT-92 is a sports touring radial tire. Like the BT-45 it is a duel compound tyre with a harder compound in the center (less wear when commuting) and softer compound edges (more grip when cornering). It is available in a 110/70R17 front and a 140/60R17 or 140/70R17 rear.

Dunlop

  • D205 radials. 110/70 front, 140/70 rear. Reported to have good handling.
  • GT501

Pirelli

  • Pirelli Sport Demon. 110/70 front, 130/70 or 140/70 rear. Highly recommended for spirited riding. These tires seem to leave a lasting impression on anyone who has tried them. Stickier than BT-45, but will not last as long.

Metzler

  • MEZ4/Z2 sport touring radials. 110/70 front, 130/80 rear. May be discontinued?
  • ME33/88. Longer tire life, good hanlding. Discontinued and replaced by ME330/880.
  • ME55. Bad traction and tire life. Discontinued and replaced by ME550. _(Also bad?)_
  • Metzler Marathons. Said to have bad traction. Avoid.

Michelin

  • Pilot Powers: Requires a wheel swap for proper fitment. 150/60 rear, 110/70 front. Amazing tires, killer performance, low mileage. The only thing stickier are DOT race tires. Bike is still flickable, smoothly rolls between left and right lean without hesitation.
  • Pilot Active are available in stock front, and (stock) 130/70 and 140/70 rears. These tires are rated as offering good alround performance and being good wet weather tires.

gsJack

gsJack has long been the GSTwins tire guru. With over 120K on GS500's, he knows tires very well. Please note that his use is sport touring, so track favorites like the Pilot Powers or Sport Demons are not on this list.

Tire Log

  1. Metz Lasertec front with Conti Road Attack rear. Tentative rating, see below.
  2. AV45/46 Avon ST radials
  3. Metz Lasertec bias sport touring
  4. MEZ4/Z2 sport touring radials
  5. ME33/ ME88 Metzelers for longer life with good handling. Consider Lasertec/ME880 combo now for long life but gives very tall 130/90 or 140/80 rear tire.
  6. BT45
  7. AM51/52
  8. OEM Excedras
  9. K491 rear. Very long lasting but too slick for GS500s handling. Worked good on my previous old Hondas though.

The ME33 front was the most even wearing front tire I've had on the GSs, most other fronts wore very unevenly for me. Main reason for my trying the Lasertecs rather than the Demons or Actives, the front has the same ME33 type tread pattern.

The BT010 front was put on the 97 because it was immediately available locally and the more responsive handling of this sport radial is quite noticeable over the sport touring radials. If you ride less miles per year or have lots of tire bucks, you might enjoy the all out sport radials although the rear tire size will be a compromise on our 3.5" wheels.

Now possibly the best of both worlds, the new Conti Road Attacks. Conti's claim: "giving the performance of a sports tyre and the mileage of a touring tyre." I'm trying a Road Attack rear with a Lasertec front, my favorite front tire. With over 2k miles on them so far I can confirm Conti's handling claim. I find myself cornering faster now with the Laser/Attacks than I did with the sport touring radials or the pair of matching Lasertecs and doing so with ease and confidence. I really don't expect the Road Attack rear to last the 13-14k miles the Avon and Metz sport touring radials did, but if they go the 10k miles at least that the Lasertecs did they will remain my first choice. Final report next year on these.

Thread

March 2007 Update
Almighty gsJack said here:
"Noticed recently that Bridgestone no longer lists standard replacement BT45 tires in our OE 110/70 and 130/70 sizes, but the actual OEM spec G BT45 GS500F tires are avilable now at bargain prices. Available from AMT for $138 plus about $20 shipping for the pair.

Without going to cheap Chinese tires, I'd pick the new Avon Roadriders as the best bargain in a good tire right now. $125 plus shipping for a OE size pair from AMT. Southwest has them for $149 a pair, shipping included. I'd choose the 110/80 front and 140/70 rear from Southwest for $146 shipped.

http://www.americanmototire.com/
http://swmototires.com/ "

gsJack's tire log is here

DIY Tire Installation

Read How to Remove, Fit and Balance your own Tires

Tire Weight / Tread Width / Recommended Rim Width

  1. Bridgestone Battlax BT-45 110/70/17 = 9 pounds - Width 106mm - 2.75-3.50 Rim
  2. Bridgestone Battlax BT-45 130/70/17 = 14 pounds - Width 136mm - 3.00-4.00 Rim
  3. Bridgestone Battlax BT-45 140/70/17 = 15 pounds - Width 145mm - 3.50-4.50 Rim
  4. Bridgestone Battlax BT-92 110/70/17 = ? Pounds - Width 110mm - 2.75-3.50 Rim
  5. Bridgestone Battlax BT-92 140/60/17 = ? Pounds - Width 140mm - 3.50-4.50 Rim
  6. Bridgestone Battlax BT-92 140/70/17 = ? Pounds - Width 146mm - 3.50-4.50 Rim
  7. Bridgestone Battlax BT-090 110/70/17 = ? Pounds - Width 110mm - 2.75-3.50 Rim
  8. Bridgestone Battlax BT-090 140/70/17 = ? Pounds - Width 140mm - 3.50-4.50 Rim
  9. Bridgestone Battlax BT-090 150/60/17 = ? Pounds - Width 156mm - 3.50-4.50 Rim
  10. Michelin Pilot Activ 110/70/17 = 9 Pounds - Width ? - 3.00 Rim
  11. Michelin Pilot Activ 130/70/17 = 13 Pounds - Width ? - 3.50 Rim
  12. Michelin Pilot Activ 140/70/17 = 15 Pounds - Width ? - 3.50 Rim
  13. Pirelli Sport Demons 110/70/17 = 9 pounds - Width ? - 3.00 Rim
  14. Pirelli Sport Demons 130/70/17 = 14 pounds - Width ? - 3.50 Rim
  15. Pirelli Sport Demons 140/70/17 = 15 pounds - Width ? - 3.50 Rim
  16. Pirelli Sport Demons 140/80/17 = 15 pounds - Width ? - 3.50 Rim

DO NOT RIDE WITH A MIX OF RADIAL AND PLY TIRES!

The different handling and grip characteristics of these tires can cause major handling issues.