Tires for GL1800

[Lloyd]

Ok its tire time. Ok I bought my GW new and it came with Dunlop 250’s on it…what a pile of crap those were. Went to Metz 880’s and have done something in the area of 38,000 Km’s on them and its time for new tires now. I am torn between going with Metz 880’s again or going with Bridge Stones what is it 704 / 709’s….something like that.

When I had my Honda Shadow…I had the Bridge stones on it…loved them. But now I have a GW and wonder if I will get the same ride and so on with them on a wing.

Can someone give me some input on what they know about the Bridge Stones. I love the Metz 880’s too….just harder to find and I can get the Bridge Stones easier.

Email is: LBLAZS ( at ) shaw.ca

[cbx4evr]

I don't own an 1800 but have heard good things from others about the Bridgestone's. You could also consider the Avon Cobra's.

I see you are in Canada. I bought my last set of tires here:

http://www.canadasmotorcycle.ca/

[bamadave]

Stones were on my '03 when I bought it in 2010, not sure how many miles and front tire was cupping. I put Stones back on and after 8K miles thread wear looked good and no cupping running 36F/41R.
Currently almost 6K on the Stones on the '06 I bought March 2012 with good ride and thread.

[thrasherg]

Have Avons on my wing and love them, currently covered 7000 miles, no cupping and look good for another 3000 miles before worn out, might be worth considering. I loved the stones on my R1, but have always liked Avons for touring type bikes.

Gary

[artgrantz]

Have Avons on my wing and love them, currently covered 7000 miles, no cupping and look good for another 3000 miles before worn out, might be worth considering. I loved the stones on my R1, but have always liked Avons for touring type bikes.

Gary

My 08 has the 250's. If they are the original tires they have 18K on them. I just bought the bike 2 weeks ago and don't know it's history. I don't like the 250s, they are too squirrely on grooved pavement and grated metal bridges.
Are they the Cobras you have on your wing? I am having them put on next week before I head to California. That will be about a 7,000 mile RT. I'll Let you know what I think of them after I come home in early October.

[Lloyd]

My 08 has the 250's. If they are the original tires they have 18K on them. I just bought the bike 2 weeks ago and don't know it's history. I don't like the 250s, they are too squirrely on grooved pavement and grated metal bridges.
Are they the Cobras you have on your wing? I am having them put on next week before I head to California. That will be about a 7,000 mile RT. I'll Let you know what I think of them after I come home in early October.

My 2010 can new...OEM...with the dunflop 250's. What a pile of S#!T those were. It was my first GoldWing to boot and with those tires on it I was really seriouly wondering to meself...." I paid how much $$$$$ for this bike and it ride and handles like this....? " Mine got cupped in about 4,000 Km's and got worse and worse with ever few 100 Km's I put on it... In my view Honda made the BIGGEST mistake of all time...by putting those tires on it.

When someone cames in and wanted to test ride a gold wing you want to IMPRESS them...not turn them off..! And those tires sure as hell did not impress me in the least.

[joe c]

Nothing wrong with a set of Bridgestones........I've had Dunlop 250's, Bridgestones, Dunlope E-3's and Metzlers on my '02 1800. I like the Bridgestones and Metzlers best of all. It would come down to the cost of each brand for me to make a choice. The quality in both tires is excellent.

[Sally]

I run M880 metz. with out any problem But this time I switched to Avon same great traction as Metz. really like them so far about 2500 mile look new still.. Sally

[snackpak]

Like my stones. Has anyone heard their stones sing on curves after about 6000 miles. Still have good tread but seems like I only hear it on curves.

[FlyBoy2121]

Avon Cobra the best

FlyBoy2121

[Viking]

Like my stones. Has anyone heard their stones sing on curves after about 6000 miles. Still have good tread but seems like I only hear it on curves.

My Cobra's do that. I have about 10K on the Cobra's and they are doing fine. I got 25K from the original D250 Dunlops, even though they showed cupping quite early. I caught it quick and upped the front tire pressure to 40, and that eliminated the cupping, and gave me a decent tire life. When I was at Wing Ding in Knoxville TN in 2011, there was a bike store selling the Bridgestone 704/09 combos at a really decent price, and they were flogging them by the bunch. They had a Bridgestone rep there, who said the tires had just been reformulated for the weight of the GL1800s as the older ones did not stand up. So, anyone have two year old Bridgestones that can give a report of what they do or do not like about the ones they have, as any older reports would not be on the same tires.

Having said I like my Cobras, there have been some reports of internal belt seperation on them. I have not seen it, and it appears to have happened from riding in the really hot states, so perhaps they cannot take excessive heat.

[thrasherg]

Like my stones. Has anyone heard their stones sing on curves after about 6000 miles. Still have good tread but seems like I only hear it on curves.

My Cobra's do that. I have about 10K on the Cobra's and they are doing fine. I got 25K from the original D250 Dunlops, even though they showed cupping quite early. I caught it quick and upped the front tire pressure to 40, and that eliminated the cupping, and gave me a decent tire life. When I was at Wing Ding in Knoxville TN in 2011, there was a bike store selling the Bridgestone 704/09 combos at a really decent price, and they were flogging them by the bunch. They had a Bridgestone rep there, who said the tires had just been reformulated for the weight of the GL1800s as the older ones did not stand up. So, anyone have two year old Bridgestones that can give a report of what they do or do not like about the ones they have, as any older reports would not be on the same tires.

Having said I like my Cobras, there have been some reports of internal belt seperation on them. I have not seen it, and it appears to have happened from riding in the really hot states, so perhaps they cannot take excessive heat.

I lived in Texas and put over 11K miles on my Avons down there and never had any problem (Never heard of the belt issue) but I do like my Avons..

Gary

[Red Ron]

Stones are great tires, I liked them better than the Dunlop. I went another route after the stones. I currently have about 25K on my rear and it has another 6 or 7K left on it. My front has 9K but probably has about 15K left on it.

[BVL123]

I personally have used the Bridgestone tires after poor wear characteristics with the Dunlops. I also have high praise for the new Bridgestones not deflating during a serious impact with a piece of exposed steel bridge expansion joint that ruined my front rim, but never deflated or exploded on impact. I would use nothing but Bridgestones after riding away from that scary impact. I use the DynaBeads to balance the tires. After the impact deformed the aluminum rim the DynaBeads balanced the tire and I was able to ride the bike to a service area safely. The mechanic could not believe the damage to the rim and the tire was still inflated. Bridgestones are very good tires.

[g2loq]

Hello,

It is al about personnal perception, experience and driving conditions. Mine would confirm that the latest product is always better, nowadays in paticular and at the speed the technology and the materials evolve, when compared to another product designed some years earlier.
For Info, the Metzeler M888 we discussed in this topic viewtopic.php?f=7&t=29201&p=168651&hili ... 88#p168651 are now available in your country This link refers: http://www.metzeler.com/site/us/product ... logue.html

Kind regards,

[Red Ron]

If I am figuring right 38,000 km would be about 23,000 miles. If you are satisfied with the way they handle and preform and they are lasting that long, you might want to stick with them.

[Lambchop]

I run Pirelli night dragons on my '05 wing I've only done about 6000k so far they've been good wet and dry 38front and 40rear

[john1952]

Frist mile on my new 8's were wow, a dream feel. Bridges scalloped by way of MAYBE not enough air pressure or too soft rubber.

[crock4]

OEM on my 01 were Bridgestone, next set I tried Avons, very bad wear on them back to the stones. They work for me, and the price is right. JMO. Tires are like oil brands. Everyone has their own preferences. Try a few different brands, use whichever works best for you.
Bob

[WingAdmin]

OEM on my 01 were Bridgestone, next set I tried Avons, very bad wear on them back to the stones. They work for me, and the price is right. JMO. Tires are like oil brands. Everyone has their own preferences. Try a few different brands, use whichever works best for you.
Bob

It's more than it is like oil - for the most part, any oil that is of the correct weight and type will work. Different tires have different characteristics, and what might work great for one rider may be terrible for another rider. One rider might spend most of his time on superslab freeways, another rider may spend almost all his time at lower speed powering through twisty curves. A tire that is perfect for one may be terrible for the other, and vice versa.