Need tires!

ucvro1 · 10-13-2011, 08:09 PM

My wife just bought herself her first motorcycle, a used GZ250. I ride a VS800 Intruder, but even I like this little GZ. It's a really fun ride!

She has been practicing, taken a safety course, more practicing, and I am going to put on the 16T front sprocket for her. I got her a windshield and the bike looks real good, especially after taking off that silly rear seat!

But, she needs new tires...I don't trust the 5 year old ones. The bike has only 2500 miles on it, but those skins are old and dry and cracked.

The problem is, everywhere I but my tires for my Intruder from don't have tires to fit this GZ. Can someone tell me where to look, and what sizes would fit the original wheels if I can't get the spec sizes? We live in Florida.

My info says 110/90-16 front and 130/90-15 rear, but I am flexible. And yes, price IS an issue!

Thanks,

Grant

JWR · 10-13-2011, 08:38 PM

Kenda at Motorcycle Superstore.

100/90/16 and 130/90/15.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/3/ ... -Tire.aspx

68.99 and 73.99 free shipping.

blaine · 10-13-2011, 08:47 PM

They are the tires I always used.Reasonable priced,good handling,and wear.
:cool:

Water Warrior 2 · 10-13-2011, 09:58 PM

Jake Wilson in the PNW also sells tires at a reasonable price. Got an awesome deal on the Vstrom tires last year.

Gz Rider · 10-13-2011, 10:05 PM

...

ucvro1 · 10-14-2011, 07:40 AM

Thank you. I was looking for 110/90-16 (spec front?) and couldn't find any. I use the Kenda Kruz on my Intruder and down here in the Florida Keys, they work well...

**jonathan180iq** · 10-14-2011, 08:48 AM

Modifying the GZ - What's Available? 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

ucvro1 · 10-16-2011, 11:48 AM

Great info, thanks all. I use the Kenda Kruz on my Intruder, with inner tubes. I am going to get the the Kenda Cruisers for her GZ, as I am very happy with the Kenda product on my bike, and she likes the look of them. I assume we use inner tubes on these GZ's as with my Intruder?

mrlmd1 · 10-16-2011, 12:34 PM

If the wheels have spokes you need inner tubes to keep the air inside the tire. Don't forget that maybe you should replace the rim strips too (inside the wheel to protect the tubes from the ends of the spokes).

FLAJIM · 10-17-2011, 07:57 AM

Grant, I also just bought the wife a GZ250, same story. Right now we are in Key Largo and heading down to Key West but the bikes are on the trailer...thank God with this storm. I see you live in the Keys, As we ride down often, hopefully some day (dry) we can meet up

Be Safe JIM

10-13-2011, 08:09 PM	#1
ucvro1 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Florida Keys Posts: 16	Need tires! My wife just bought herself her first motorcycle, a used GZ250. I ride a VS800 Intruder, but even I like this little GZ. It's a really fun ride! She has been practicing, taken a safety course, more practicing, and I am going to put on the 16T front sprocket for her. I got her a windshield and the bike looks real good, especially after taking off that silly rear seat! But, she needs new tires...I don't trust the 5 year old ones. The bike has only 2500 miles on it, but those skins are old and dry and cracked. The problem is, everywhere I but my tires for my Intruder from don't have tires to fit this GZ. Can someone tell me where to look, and what sizes would fit the original wheels if I can't get the spec sizes? We live in Florida. My info says 110/90-16 front and 130/90-15 rear, but I am flexible. And yes, price IS an issue! Thanks, Grant Login or Register to Remove Ads
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10-13-2011, 08:38 PM	#2
JWR Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Louisville, TN Posts: 1,413	Re: Need tires! Kenda at Motorcycle Superstore. 100/90/16 and 130/90/15. http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/3/ ... -Tire.aspx 68.99 and 73.99 free shipping. __________________ Jerry Truth is there are lots of great bikes available and not nearly as many good riders out there riding them... "A man's got to know his limitations..."
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10-13-2011, 08:47 PM	#3
blaine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: P.E.I. Canada Posts: 3,784	Re: Need tires! They are the tires I always used.Reasonable priced,good handling,and wear. :cool: __________________ If at first you do succeed, try not to look surprised. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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10-13-2011, 09:58 PM	#4
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	Re: Need tires! Jake Wilson in the PNW also sells tires at a reasonable price. Got an awesome deal on the Vstrom tires last year.
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10-13-2011, 10:05 PM	#5
Gz Rider Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 852	Re: Need tires! ... __________________ *Alert - This person is a douche. Use these comments and advice at your own risk* Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

10-14-2011, 07:40 AM	#6
ucvro1 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Florida Keys Posts: 16	Re: Need tires! Thank you. I was looking for 110/90-16 (spec front?) and couldn't find any. I use the Kenda Kruz on my Intruder and down here in the Florida Keys, they work well...
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10-14-2011, 08:48 AM	#7
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	Re: Need tires! Modifying the GZ - What's Available? 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
	0

10-16-2011, 11:48 AM	#8
ucvro1 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Florida Keys Posts: 16	Re: Need tires! Great info, thanks all. I use the Kenda Kruz on my Intruder, with inner tubes. I am going to get the the Kenda Cruisers for her GZ, as I am very happy with the Kenda product on my bike, and she likes the look of them. I assume we use inner tubes on these GZ's as with my Intruder?
	0

10-16-2011, 12:34 PM	#9
mrlmd1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Crawfordville, Florida Posts: 2,853	Re: Need tires! If the wheels have spokes you need inner tubes to keep the air inside the tire. Don't forget that maybe you should replace the rim strips too (inside the wheel to protect the tubes from the ends of the spokes).
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10-17-2011, 07:57 AM	#10
FLAJIM Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Daytona Beach Posts: 87	Re: Need tires! Grant, I also just bought the wife a GZ250, same story. Right now we are in Key Largo and heading down to Key West but the bikes are on the trailer...thank God with this storm. I see you live in the Keys, As we ride down often, hopefully some day (dry) we can meet up Be Safe JIM
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