Tire options for gs1300

[tomtom1200]

Looking for some advice on tires on a GS1300

I have had 2 sets of the tourance next 2's, they seem more than fine. Generally I like metzerler tires, I had a few sets of the roadtec 01's on a GS1200 . Also looking to try something else just to compare the difference.

I did a tour of the alps on tourance next 2 last year and was very impressed, if I have an issue I would say they are not great under 10 degrees, certainly compared to the roadtec's. I really liked the roadtec 01 on the GS1200, only negative is they were sensitive to pressure when temperature was over 25 ish degrees, I also thought the profile was ideal for the GS. I ended up running a few psi lower than normal on the twisty roads. I am only looking for 100% tarmac tires. I am moving to france so these will be run in the summer so cold warmup isn't the biggest issue.

Options I am looking at, please suggest some others, or your opinions

• Metzeler
  • tourance next 2
  • roadtec 01se
  • roadtec 02
• dunlop
  • roadsmart 5
• contiental
  • road attack 4
• pirelli
  • scorpion trail 3
• michelin
  • only seem to be anakees, had the ankee 1 which was awful

 

[leadfarmer]

I will certainly be be going for Road Attack 4 when I change mine

I’ve had Road attack 3 and Trail attack 3 on my last 1200, most people will say get the Trail attack but personally I think I prefer the Road attack

There’s several tyre threads on the subject on the forum

 

[tomtom1200]

I will certainly be be going for Road Attack 4 when I change mine

I’ve had Road attack 3 and Trail attack 3 on my last 1200, most people will say get the Trail attack but personally I think I prefer the Road attack

There’s several tyre threads on the subject on the forum

I would be the same, looking for something that has more grip and happy to change them a bit more often. Thanks

 

[J biker]

My 1300 came with Anakee Adventure, they will be getting removed very soon and replaced with full road tyres. Cant stand the noise from them for one thing.
I am a fan of the Conti Road Attack and have used many pairs of the 3s. Cant see any reason why I will not go with the 4s going forward.
Did try the Michelin Road 6 on my last GS, slightly different feel but think my preference is still the Conti. The Michelin also have a very slight pull to the left when new. I experienced this on my last set. No idea why it happens.

Only time I had any negative with the Road Attack 3s was on a 1290 Superduke. They were starting to become greasy and ripping up on the edge. It was very hot though and I was pushing it on the Eiffel roads. The tyre pressures were also probably too high, as I used to run them at the bog standard 36/42…….probably should have been dropped substantially.
The ROad Attack 4s now have more rubber at the very edge of the tyre, this imo will be better when really pushing, with less ‘lifting’ of the tread at the edge after hard use.

 

[tomtom1200]

I will certainly be be going for Road Attack 4 when I change mine

I’ve had Road attack 3 and Trail attack 3 on my last 1200, most people will say get the Trail attack but personally I think I prefer the Road attack

There’s several tyre threads on the subject on the forum

I did also check the search but couldn't quite find anything that grouped different tires together in the same thread. Apologies in advance if there is one I missed.

 

[J biker]

It is worth noting that the Conti Road Attack hold their shape and grip to end of tread life. Unlike many other tyres. Some will say they get 8k and more out of x, y or z, but the tyre will be completely flat in profile with abysmal handling as a result. In my mind pointless having one of the best bikes out there if not running decent tyres.

 

[siddo]

Michelin road 6. Brilliant tyres.

 

[roundincircles]

I only ride on Tarmac and use Michelin Road 6. Upsides: brilliant in the wet, great feedback, do not square off. You can thrash them all day without any discernable change in performance. Plus, they warm up quickly. Downsides: £362 a pair fitted to bike.

 

[tomtom1200]

interesting on the points about squaring off. my tournance next 2 have squared off badly now but they only have 1mm of grip above the bar, I would say they kept an acceptable shape for 75% of their life. Riding in the mountains I did actually manage to wear the side wear bar off before the central on a metzler roadtec 01

I am leaning towards the road attack as I haven't run them before

 

[tomtom1200]

My 1300 came with Anakee Adventure, they will be getting removed very soon and replaced with full road tyres. Cant stand the noise from them for one thing.
I am a fan of the Conti Road Attack and have used many pairs of the 3s. Cant see any reason why I will not go with the 4s going forward.
Did try the Michelin Road 6 on my last GS, slightly different feel but think my preference is still the Conti. The Michelin also have a very slight pull to the left when new. I experienced this on my last set. No idea why it happens.

Only time I had any negative with the Road Attack 3s was on a 1290 Superduke. They were starting to become greasy and ripping up on the edge. It was very hot though and I was pushing it on the Eiffel roads. The tyre pressures were also probably too high, as I used to run them at the bog standard 36/42…….probably should have been dropped substantially.
The ROad Attack 4s now have more rubber at the very edge of the tyre, this imo will be better when really pushing, with less ‘lifting’ of the tread at the edge after hard use.

had this same experience on the metzelers, I started to set my pressures after lunch as this felt like a more representative balance. I once set them in the morning and checked them after lunch at they were way over, like 5-6 psi, and felt horrible, but it was prob 15 degrees hotter so no surprise. Pump them back up for any motorway though.

 

[tspivey]

What about tyre pressure?
This 2.5/2.9 thing appears to be for two up because the suspension adjusts automatically the tyres need to be at the two up pressures. As I’m never two up I lowered mine to 2.3/2.5 and it felt better to me. Plus, running tyres too hard results in premature centre wear (squaring off).
Vertu put them back to 2.5/2.9 at my recent service and I could tell the difference.
Anyone else run them a little lower?

 

[Smartbazza]

Trail attack 3 or Mich Road 6.

I have a pair of Next 2s with 2000miles on you can have for £50 plus post if you like them?

Barry

 

[J biker]

What about tyre pressure?
This 2.5/2.9 thing appears to be for two up because the suspension adjusts automatically the tyres need to be at the two up pressures. As I’m never two up I lowered mine to 2.3/2.5 and it felt better to me. Plus, running tyres too hard results in premature centre wear (squaring off).
Vertu put them back to 2.5/2.9 at my recent service and I could tell the difference.
Anyone else run them a little lower?

Depends on the bike, tyres, temperature and riding.
With the GS, I drop the rear to 38, the front no lower than 34, as the steering gets heavy if dropped lower then changing direction on tight twisty roads becomes hard work. This was with Conti Road Attack on the r1250gs, maybe a more pointy profile you could drop the front a little more.
Would run standard pressure two up, but also would not be riding hard with a passenger.
My Superduke 32/35. Different tyres, different bike.

 

[leadfarmer]

2.5/2.9 for me 1 up or 2 up, sometimes 2.6/3.0

 

[the woodster]

I only ride on Tarmac and use Michelin Road 6. Upsides: brilliant in the wet, great feedback, do not square off. You can thrash them all day without any discernable change in performance. Plus, they warm up quickly. Downsides: £362 a pair fitted to bike.

Also, I have found a bit puncture prone but the pros outweigh the con.

 

[EVskiy]

interesting on the points about squaring off. my tournance next 2 have squared off badly now but they only have 1mm of grip above the bar, I would say they kept an acceptable shape for 75% of their life. Riding in the mountains I did actually manage to wear the side wear bar off before the central on a metzler roadtec 01

I am leaning towards the road attack as I haven't run them before

Great tyres, loved them.

Ordered a Pirelli Scorpion Trail 2 front tyre for the KTM (OEM fitment) this morning, seeing as I had to have a rear fitted last June in France. If wasn’t for the necessity, I would’ve gone with Conti Trail or Road Attack 3 or 4 again. This was my first puncture in a big bike since March 2016 due to hardly any profile left to ride on, a smallest of stones had pierced it. Still I hear that Michelin PR 5 and 6 are puncture magnets.

 

[tomtom1200]

Great tyres, loved them.

Ordered a Pirelli Scorpion Trail 2 front tyre for the KTM (OEM fitment) this morning, seeing as I had to have a rear fitted last June in France. If wasn’t for the necessity, I would’ve gone with Conti Trail or Road Attack 3 or 4 again. This was my first puncture in a big bike since March 2016 due to hardly any profile left to ride on, a smallest of stones had pierced it. Still I hear that Michelin PR 5 and 6 are puncture magnets.

Have ordered some road attack 4's.

I had multiple sets of PR2 & 3's when living in london, they were terrible for punctures.

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

What about tyre pressure?
This 2.5/2.9 thing appears to be for two up because the suspension adjusts automatically the tyres need to be at the two up pressures. As I’m never two up I lowered mine to 2.3/2.5 and it felt better to me. Plus, running tyres too hard results in premature centre wear (squaring off).
Vertu put them back to 2.5/2.9 at my recent service and I could tell the difference.
Anyone else run them a little lower?

Haven't checked my pressures but my bike is also from Vertu and 2.5 2.9 rings a bell from the diagnostics screen, when I first got the bike (ex demo) it was on 3500 miles and the Tourance Next 2 was already badly squared off (it was very noticeable when riding) but tyre lasted another 3000 miles, I put it down to being ridden in a lot in a straight line. went for new tyres at 7k miles (at vertu) Tourance next 2 again, and the handling transformation was massive.

1200 miles in on the next 2 and ive been doing a lot of twisty stuff in the dales and to me (might be my eyes) they look like they might be starting to square off already in the centre part, handling is still great so I could be getting paranoid.

maybe it is down to pressures and riding 1 up. Its obviously a very torquey bike so must be really hard on the back tyre.

 

[TheStammeringBiker]

Had the Tourance Next 2's when I bought it, got 8000 miles out of them and still some tread left :O

Now on the Roadtec 01SE's, love them.

 

[BlueRacer]

Had the Tourance Next 2's on mine from new, got just under 6,500 miles from them.. Still some life in the front, but the back was almost to markers in centre, and noticeably squared off. Went for same again, as really couldn't fault them.
It is a big bike with a load of torque so the rear is always going to get a work out I figured.
Handling is back to amazing on the new set.