R1100GS Tire options

[kenhaggett]

This has probably been discussed a million times but I couldn't find anything on it. I am looking for a new set of tires for my 95 GS. I've had several dual sport type tires on it and I don't seem to get very much life out of them. Scalloping on the front is the usual problem. One thought I had was to run plain old road tires on her this time. I do some dirt road riding but no off road. The dual sports I've had were terrible in the mud or slime anyways so I'm thinking a road tire couldn't be much worse. Have any of you run straight road tires on your GS? Think it would affect the handling on dirt roads much?

Thanks,
Ken

[manicmechanic]

I haven't put road tires on either GS, yet. Haven't really found a good reason. The Tourances are lasting me over 12K, and I keep the pressure at 42/40. They handle great and last a long time. No problems sith scallopint, either.

[kenhaggett]

I haven't tried the Tourances, maybe that should be my next set. I have had many sets of the Michelins that were the stock tire on the 95 (don't remember the model number) and I just tried a Dunlap dual sport which was worse yet. Neither one worked off road so I figured if I can't go off road I might as well use a road tire. I would like to be able to do more fire road type riding but was afraid I'd loose performance on the road.

[rmoody]

I run Tourances on my '95 GS. I ride in Southwest NM and TX in extremes of weather, temps., and road surfaces with no problems. :thumb

[PacWestGS]

Ken,

Take a look at the Pirelli MT90 Scorpion S/T. It's the most street (off-pavement) tire I could find. I'm real happy with them, Second choice would be going back to the Tourance (by Metzeler).

[JKERSH1]

More than you may want to know from the UK GSers:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32096

[tiginbna]

I use the Tourance as well. Northeast almost all road riding. 2nd set, I dont have a reason to change...yet.

Tig

[PETDOC]

Just put my second set of Tourances on '04 GS, but all I got from rear was 8,000 miles. Kept them inflated to factor spec of 32/36. Solo riding about 3/4 side roads, 1/4 interstate. I'd like to know what others are getting on Tourances. Great tires dry or wet.

[Kaltzg]

I use Tourances on my GS. I always get 10,000 mi out of them. Sometimes when no long distance trips are scheduled, I'll run them to 12,000 with no problems. I run the TP at the higher end of the range. Living here in Florida we have a lot of oyster shell roads that are both abrasive when dry and slippery as all get out when wet. The Tourances hold up well and stick tight to the wet pavement.

Gail

[kenhaggett]

Thanks for the words of advice. The link to UKGSers was especially helpful, great reviews on various tire options. The ones I have used are the Michelin T66, four or five sets of those. I thought they handled fine but with gradual scalloping which made the bike fall of center pretty hard. I was always amazed at how well the bike handled when I got a new set put on. I generally only got 4-5,000 miles between change overs. This last time I tried the Dunlap Trail Max. Did a two up 2,000 mile trip to Nova Scotia starting out with around 1,000 miles on these tires and they were trashed when I got home at 3,000. Same sort of wear problems on the front, the back is bald around the middle of the tire. I guess I should expect less miles riding two up with large parts highway but 3,000 seems awfully low. I was running 38 front and 41 rear. From what I gathered on the UKGSers site it might be time to try the Tourance.