Replacement Tires

[GTGZ]

I'm looking for new tires for my GZ and having a hard time finding a matched set. Anybody have any luck finding tires?

[blaine]

I'm looking for new tires for my GZ and having a hard time finding a matched set. Anybody have any luck finding tires?

I use Kenda tires.But you need to run a 100.90/16 on the front as they don't make the 110.90/16
:) :2tup:

[alanmcorcoran]

Do a search on "tires". You are not alone. However, ultimately everyone seems to find something that works.

[Easy Rider]

Do a search on "tires".

:plus1:
It's been discussed recently.
Also, they don't have to "match".
And as mentioned, the don't have to be exactly the same size (width) either.

[GTGZ]

I did do a search and did not find much info, I know that they don't need to match but I like them to.

[bonehead]

I wound up with a Dunlop 404 for the rear and a Dunlop gt 501 for the front. Seems to be a good "match". Bike handles great.

[GTGZ]

I just oredered some Shinko tires, Front 712 in 120/80/16 & Rear 230 in 130/90/15 cost was $103 with free shipping!

[GZ250]

search at bikebandit.com

i bought from them. shenko and continental and both are good.

[Skunkhome]

I too have been looking at tires and search for info on replacement tires pretty sketchy. Any new info on what tires are best for the GZ250? Also what are you guys paying to have mouNted and balanced?

[mrlmd1]

I had a 120/80-16 Cheng Shin on my front and it fit and rode fine. These tires and the 100's are only 1/4" or less different in diameter from 110's and you or any other expert will never know the difference.
Do a search on here, there are innumerable tire threads.

[Skunkhome]

Innumerial? I must be doing something wrong as I find individual posts that are about tires but the threads are all over the place covering a ll maner of modifications other than tires. And the posts,like yours above, really don't answer the question. Thanks for tolerating my asking of the question. I know it's all a pain.

[Water Warrior 2]

The last few posts have mentioned 3 different possibilities for you. I am not sure if there are many more available for the GZ. The one thing I personally would try to avoid is a tread pattern the has lines running the circumference of the tire. They will tend to follow pavement tracks and are a little scary on steel decked bridges or roads with grooves that run down the road. It isn't really a life threatening thing as long as you realize the bike will want to do a little dance under you while riding on those surfaces. Just stay loose and you will be fine. Don't freeze up or fight the bike, it won't fall, it just wants to wiggle your buns for a while.

[mhoughton]

I just put a Shinko SR735 on the front (110/90-16) and a Shinko SR734 (130/90-15) on the back of my 2003 GZ250. I got both tires from BikeBandit for $104.00. I have a few hundred miles on them in both wet and dry weather and am very happy with them.

[jonathan180iq]

Cut from the following link: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1058 (http://gz250bike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1058)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There aren't many tire options for our bike that come in a matching set. There are, however, many options if you don't mind mixing up tire brands and/or going to a slightly smaller tire up front.

The factory tires sizes are: 110/90-16 (F) & 130/90-15 (R)

The rim width for the front wheel is 2.5" and the rear wheel width is 3.0"
That being the case, a size 100/90-16 front tire will work on this bike. It does have an overall diameter decrease of 9mm over the 110/90-16 but that isn't really very drastic.

Samato has verified that alternate tire size 100/90-16 will mount up with no problem.

As well, the 120/80-16 alternate tire size is another choice for the front tire and has been successfully mounted by MRLMD1.

Factory replacement tires: 110/90-16 & 130/90-15
Dunlop D404 (only available through a Suzuki dealer)
Metzeler ME77 (only available through a Suzuki dealer)
Cheng Shin C906 & C907 (possibly no longer available)

Rear Factory Replacements:
Kenda Challenger
Pirelli MT66 (Route 66)
Maxxis M6103
Cheng Shin Marquis
Metzeler Me 77

Factory Replacement Front:
GBC Green Shark
Metzler Lasertec
Pirelli Sport Demon
Avon Roadrider AM26
Conti Ultra TKV11
Kenda K671 & K673

100/90-16 Front:
Bridgestone BT45
Maxxis M6002
Cheng Shin C6000
Kenda Cruiser
IRC Durotour

Matching tires with low profile front: 100/91-16 & 130/90-15
Kenda Cruiser



For more discussion and lots of info, see these posts:

http://www.gz250bike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=722

&

http://www.gz250bike.com/forum/viewtopi ... =10&t=1818






This list is not complete but will be updated as more options are disc

[5th_bike]

I wonder if Michelin makes tires that fit the GZ250 - I love them between our cars and the road.

Edit: They do exist, apparently:
Michelin M45.
130/90 - size 15
110/90 - size 16

[attachment=0:ddvlngqw]m45.jpg[/attachment:ddvlngqw]

Now try and find them in the USA... :whistle:

[bonehead]

In the 4 years of owning the GZ, I never could find a matched set of tires.

[bwader]

I ordered a Shinko SR734 130/90 15 tire and IRC TR-4 Tube - 130/90-15/--
came to 75 bucks total off amazon.
my bike has 5,300 miles on it now and at least 8 years old with metzeler tires.

5,000 miles doesn't seem like a lot of miles I would have expected more like 9,000 or 10000 miles out of a rear tire on a motorcycle.

Anybody try the "RIDE ON" brand balancer and sealant or balance beads on your bike or car? I'm intrigued by the idea.

I'd put it in my sentra and GZ.

[JohnC]

Pirelli Sport Demon front and Kenda Cruiser rear. Very sinilar tread pattern, seems to work fine, although SOQS is not the world's most agressive rider...

[alantf]

5,000 miles doesn't seem like a lot of miles I would have expected more like 9,000 or 10000 miles out of a rear tire on a motorcycle.



I've got 25,000 km (16,000 miles) on my bike. Still got the original back tyre. A bit squared off, because there are no twisties where i live, but still plenty of tread left. It's six years old, but still grips fine, for my style of riding.

[bwader]

What brand tire do you have alanf? Mine has Metzeler tires. That's a lot of miles on a tire! On my rear tire it has 2 parallel lines in the middle and they are about bald though still tread around that.

I got my shinko rear tire should come in tomorrow. I have tire levers I changed a 130/60 13inch scooter tire to an Avon. It was a pain doing it myself but I saved myself money. It took me 2 hours wrestling that last bit on the wheel, but this time I know what I'm doing so it shouldn't take that long hopefully.

If I do have issues replacing the tire myself I can just take the wheel and new tire and tube to a shop and still save money compared to riding there.

[bwader]

Tire wasn't that hard to put on, I used dish soap straight and cheap tire irons from last year. Tube inside was a Pirelli tube so I put it back in, I have an IRC tube as a spare just in case. Took a ride around my neighborhood and its better ride already. I know to take it easy on it for 100 miles. I'm happy it took me 15 minutes to put on the new tire and I saved myself money taking it to a shop.

[alantf]

What about balancing? BTW, sorry - forgot to check what brand my tyre is.

EDIT :- Checked, and (don't forget, it's a European bike) the factory tyre is a SAVA or SAUA. Can't tell which, because the logo is stylized.

[JohnC]

I've found having 3 tire irons useful. Two to hold the ends you've already done and the third to advance with. Also, on tube tube tires I always replace the tube and the rim band. It's cheap insurance, IMHO. Powder the tube with talc to help it slip around inside the tire and prevent twisting.

[bwader]

What about balancing? BTW, sorry - forgot to check what brand my tyre is.

EDIT :- Checked, and (don't forget, it's a European bike) the factory tyre is a SAVA or SAUA. Can't tell which, because the logo is stylized.

This is the first time I heard of that name, For that many miles that name should be better known worldwide.
I'm going to use RIDE ON to balance the tire. I wouldn't have bought two 8ouce tubes of it if it didn't have very positive reviews on a few different sites that sell it. Only con really people said is the cost is a bit much. On ride on website they go on and talk about it being 8 times stronger than steel and blah blah blah. What mattered to me was watching some utube videos where they had a tubeless tire roll over some nails, they drilled holes in the tire. And the stuff is like a gel it stays on the contact patch to help balance the tire.

I don't know if it would do that well on a tubed tire, I doubt you could drill holes in the tire or want to do that. Doesn't protect the sidewall or beyond the contact patch is a con.

My rear rim doesn't have any weights on it, so I think it didn't need balanced with that tire.
The stuff should come in in a couple days and I'll post my own findings with it. I'm not riding for a few days, I'm off til then. My joy is commuting with the bike