Bike needs to be Re-Tired

[Ironride]

Hi all,
I need to get a new set of tires for one of my other bikes and was wondering what popular opinion is regarding brand. I have a set of Dunlop 491 Elite II on the XS and have been very pleased with them, but on my little GS850 I wouldn't mind trying something different like Avon or Metzeler if others have had good luck with them. Thanks.

[fusionking]

Just Cause

I voted for metzeler just cause ........ I like to try different Stuff and I've had good luck with them.

[MartyA]

Loved my Avons for grip, terrible for wear. Never got more than 4,000 on a back one, but I have scraped a peg or two with them (never intentionally though) and always trusted them. I have a BattleAx on the rear now, about 900 miles on it and it still looks new.

[sixtysix]

I use Dunlops on the XS, but put a Continental (Coni-tour) on a friends GS850 (rear), he was looking for a longer lasting tire, he had a IRC on there before. He a full season on it and it still looks great. He has not complained. His was the standard GS850G and it runs the same size as an XS standard....hmmmm 130/90 - 17.

[Dark Horse]

I put new Kenda Challengers on my bike two seasons ago. Not by choice. My wife and kids gifted them to me for my B-day. I just replaced the rear with almost 10k miles on it. Was a pretty decent tire for the price. The front tire still looks like new.

The new rear tire is also a Kenda Challenger. I like to keep a matched set on the Dark Horse. I know there has been discussion here about whether or not thats important. I'm not an authority on it, I just do it.

[fusionking]

Back in THE DAY

Back in the day I ran a metzeller Perfect ME-77 up front and a dunlop sport elite in the rear. It seemed like an unbeatable combo at the time to me and most anybody that I came up against. Maybe It wasn't the tires tho..................Now I have a Dunlop Cruisemax in front (new) and a conti-blitz(VERY OLD) in back. I'll probably go for the match when I get it back together again.

[Geezer]

There is a guy in Canada selling 130/90 17" Avon roadrunner tires on eBay very cheap. I bought 3 of them; I figure I'm stocked up for a while.

I wanted to put another Avon on the front but I couldn't find another Roadrunner in 100/90 19" all the ones I could find were only 90mm with. I was about to order a Metzler for the font when I scored a k591 Dunlop for the front. The profile is about the same but the tread pattern isn't a very good match.

Other than the old Sport Elite tires not working right until hot, I’ve had good luck with Dunlop. I've also been happy with Avon, Metzler and Michelin tires I've had. All were a little different but good in their own way. Continentals are ok too but I’ve never thought they were anything special but I don’t ride nearly as hard as I used to. ;o)

If they were still made, I would have bought a set of k181s in a NY minute.

Geezer