Tire for GL1500 in 2023

[wanna becco]

Hello Team,
Thank you for checking this out. I have a new to me 2000 gl1500 and I need a rear tire. I have read the forums and Is it true the austone in no longer made? The dunlop E3 no longer made. The local tire shop only has a shinko for 200 ish bucks.

If you could just point me to a tire (darkside or otherwise, I don't care) I will just buy it. I had a blow out and was gonna patch but there is a defect in the tire. I need the rear, but not opposed to getting a set.

BTW the forums and choices seem to be running out for the 1500. I am so shocked because there are about a billion of these still on the road. So what tire can I get now?

[Rambozo]

The Dunlop Elite 4 is a popular choice, there are also Metzlers, Avon Cobras, Continentals, and others. The Austones are still made, just no longer imported to the US. There are several darkside topics that list various brands and sizes. Fitment isn't always ideal. It seems that when a great tire is found, it gets discontinued shortly after.

[offcenter]

Go to Universal Tire and search for Maxxis. It's a perfect rear car tire for the 1500
It's 175/16

[Riley1841]

I just put Dunlop e-4s on front and rear. Really ride smooth, also used the Countract beads for balancing. Can't say about longevity only been about 3 weeks.

[Happytrails]

Avon Cobras have been pretty nice tires, wishing they still made the Venoms. Can't really find these now. Will probably go with the E4's when its time for new.

[wanna becco]

Go to Universal Tire and search for Maxxis. It's a perfect rear car tire for the 1500
It's 175/16

Page not found error when I look.

https://www.universaltire.com/175r16-ma ... kwall.html

[Rambozo]

Page not found error when I look.

https://www.universaltire.com/175r16-ma ... kwall.html

Like so many before it, looks like the Maxxis is gone. Might be worth calling to see if that is temporary or gone for good.

[offcenter]

No, it's there:
https://www.universaltire.com/catalog_f ... ize=175R16
Maxxis 175/16.

[wanna becco]

No, it's there:
https://www.universaltire.com/catalog_f ... ize=175R16
Maxxis 175/16.

nah... click on the tire and you will see what I mean. Where is the best place to buy the dunlap?

[wanna becco]

Just got off the phone with Mike from universal... great guy, but they do not imagine ever getting that tire back.

[Rambozo]

Just got off the phone with Mike from universal... great guy, but they do not imagine ever getting that tire back.

The 1500 seems to be cursed with this problem. Every good tire is always a flash in the pan.

[offcenter]

No, it's there:
https://www.universaltire.com/catalog_f ... ize=175R16
Maxxis 175/16.

nah... click on the tire and you will see what I mean. Where is the best place to buy the dunlap?

Well that sucks.

[pocketchange]

Scott (the fearless leader & director of this site) was putting together a bulk buy for the taxi tire.. pc

BTW, eBay did have the taxi tire available but, don't know if it's still. pc

[wanna becco]

Having hear no real good news I ordered Dunlap 4's from cyclegear. Now I can't get my bike back together. I did the "flip up the trunk" method. It seems find but... I can not get the 2 bolts inside the saddlebags back in the holes. (the hole in the crash bar and the side of the frame?) I can't and I have been fighting it forever. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Rambozo]

Many of the folks that try that method say it takes two people to get it back down and lined up.
You can always just take it all apart and do it the way the service manual describes.

[wanna becco]

Yeh, I finally got it... with my buddy "jiggling" the trunk and frame and stuff. I got replied to by Delboys Garage on YT and he said when he does that "flip up" method you do not take the bolts all the way out. Only out of the threaded portion and then lift. The whole process is a butt clencher. Tires are on and I rode about 1 mile. I have been riding my helix since I am currently carless. Man.. I forgot how to ride my wing. I am having my knee replaced tuesday with a bionic one... Maybe buying the wing right now wasn't the best Idea. Plus, my seller lied his ass off to me too. LOL. Anyway, the Wing is a lot heavier than the helix. I thought the Helix was a PITA to work on, I will never say that again. Getting "anything" to line up right on the wing was..... disconcerting. I did enjoy it once it was all done though.

[Rambozo]

The older I get, the less I take "short cuts". They just take too long, and are too aggravating.

[wanna becco]

The older I get, the less I take "short cuts". They just take too long, and are too aggravating.

Very true!!! but taking apart 23yo plastics is fraught with peril. I was at the point where I thought about taking it apart, to get it "back together". As I was trying to unscew the first screw of the four under the top box, it was feeling like it was stripping... I thought... oh.. it's got to be JIS. So I got my Jissy screw driver out and was stripping it further. Before I ruined that without having any replacements on hand that late at night, I just worked the problem a bit more. You have to weigh the potential issues and make a choice. YT makes everything look easy!

[pocketchange]

Imperial Tire has a 175/16 that is on sale for less than $50.. if you can find one.
The tire looks like Michelin Winter Studable.
I believe the best way to get one would be to order it.. if you can locate a dealer. pc