Suzuki GS500E (89-)

(updated September 99)

Rim Stock Size Original Tyre
Front 3.00 110/70H17 Bridgestone G547
Rear 3.50 130/70H17 Bridgestone G550

Manufacturers' Recommendations

Manufacturer Front size Rear size
Avon
(no data)
Bridgestone G547 110/70H17 G550 130/70H17
BT35 110/70H17 BT35 130/70H17
BT45 110/70H17 BT45 130/70H17
BT90 110/70HR17 BT90 140/70HR17
Dunlop
(no data)
Metzeler (U.S.)
(incorrect data)
Metzeler (Germany) ME-1 Racing 110/70V-17 ME-55A 150/70VB17
ME-1 Racing 110/70V-17 ME-1 CompK 140/80VB17
ME-1 110/70H-17 ME-1 130/70H-17
Michelin Macadam 50 110/70H17 Macadam 50 130/70H17
Pirelli (U.S.)
(incorrect data)
Pirelli (Germany) MT09 110/80V-17 MT08 150/70VB17
MT75 110/70H-17 MT75 130/70H-17

Martyn's Opinion

General Comments

The GS500E suffers from a severe lack of available tyres.  Although the chassis is fully capable of handling a good sport-touring radial combination, nothing is really available in a suitable matched pair, even when looking at a wider 140/70-17.  Also, most of the tyres are very similar in terms of cost, which means that there is little point in trying to select with price as a consideration.  This means that there is, essentially, just one outstanding choice for this bike:

The Best Selection

Brand Model Size MAW
Front Bridgestone BT45 Sports Mileage 110/70H-17 $81
Rear Bridgestone BT45 Sports Mileage 130/70H-17 $89

These BT45's are the successor to the earlier BT35's, which have a history of working very well on this machine.  These newer dual-compound tyres give improved wet and dry tractions, and are the obvious choice for the GS500E.  Now that the price has come down, there's little reason to fit anything else.

Martyn's Choice

Brand Model Size MAW
Front Bridgestone BT45 Sports Mileage 110/70H-17 $81
Rear Bridgestone BT45 Sports Mileage 130/70H-17 $89

This one's a clear and obvious choice.

The Full List

(from MAW and manufacturer web pages)

Exact matched pairs

Brand Front size MAW Rear size MAW
Bridgestone BT35 Sports Mileage 110/70H-17 BT35 Sports Mileage 130/70H-17
BT45 Sports Mileage 110/70H-17 $81 BT45 Sports Mileage 130/70H-17 $89
IRC Durotour RS-310 110/70H-17 Durotour RS-310 130/70H-17
Metzeler ME-1 110/70H-17 ME-1 130/70H-17
Michelin Macadam 50 110/70H-17 $88 Macadam 50 130/70H-17 $109
Pirelli MT75 110/70H-17 MT75 130/70H-17

Listing by Manufacturer

Avon

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
AV27 110/70ZR17 exact AV281 140/70-R17 wide
Azaro AV35 110/70ZR17 $133 exact

Bridgestone

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
BT35 Sports Mileage 110/70H-17 exact BT35 Sports Mileage 130/70H-17 exact
BT45 Sports Mileage 110/70H-17 $81 exact BT45 Sports Mileage 130/70H-17 $89 exact
BT50 Sports Perform. 110/70ZR17 exact
BT54 Sports Touring 120/70ZR17 $102 wide
BT56 Ultra Sports Perf 120/60ZR17 wide
BT56 Ultra Sports Perf 120/70ZR17 wide
BT56SS Extreme Sp/Perf 110/70ZR17 $109 exact
BT57 Sports Perform. 110/70ZR17 exact
BT92 Sports Mileage 110/70HR17 exact

Continental

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Sport 2000 110/80V-17 $72 tall
Sport 2000 120/70V-17 $76 wide
Sport 2000 Radial 120/60ZR17 $132 wide
Sport 2000 Radial 120/70ZR17 wide

Dunlop

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
D204 Sportmax II ZR 120/60ZR17 $92 wide
D204 Sportmax II ZR 120/70ZR17 wide
D205 Sport/Touring 110/80ZR17 $88 tall
D205 Sport/Touring 120/60ZR17 $90 wide
D205 Sport/Touring 120/70ZR17 $93 wide
D207 Sportmax 120/60ZR17 $107 wide
D207 Sportmax 120/70ZR17 $111 wide
K455 Radial 120/70VR17 wide
K505 110/80V-17 $92 tall K505 140/70H-17 wide
K510 110/70HR17 $85 exact
K591 Sport Touring 110/80V-17 tall K591 Sport Touring 140/70VB17 wide

IRC

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Carapace RS-320 110/70H-17 $69 exact Carapace RS-320 140/70H-17 $84 wide
Durotour RS-310 110/70H-17 exact Durotour RS-310 130/70H-17 exact

Metzeler

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
ME-1 110/70H-17 exact ME-1 130/70H-17 exact
ME-33 Laser 110/80H-17 tall
ME-33 Laser 110/80V-17 $86 tall
ME-33 Laser 120/70V-17 $90 wide
ME-880 Marathon 120/70VR17 $103 wide
ME-Z1 110/70ZR17 exact
ME-Z2 110/80ZR17 $107 tall
ME-Z3 110/70ZR17 $110 exact
ME-Z4 120/60ZR17 wide
ME-Z4 120/70ZR17 $115 wide

Michelin

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Hi-Sport TX15 110/70ZR17 $145 exact
Macadam 50 110/70H-17 $88 exact Macadam 50 130/70H-17 $109 exact
Macadam 90X 110/70ZR17 $84 exact

Pirelli

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Dragon GT MTR03 110/80ZR17 $98 tall
Dragon GT MTR03 120/60ZR17 $100 wide
Dragon GT MTR03 120/70ZR17 $101 wide
Dragon GTS MTR23 120/60ZR17 $106 wide
Dragon GTS MTR23 120/70ZR17 $106 wide
Dragon MTR01 110/70ZR17 $108 exact
MT75 110/70H-17 exact MT75 130/70H-17 exact
Match MT09 110/80V-17 $90 tall
Match MT09 120/70VB17 $96 wide

Key:

Exact Precisely matches original spec
Excellent Precisely matches a recommended alternate
Good An exact or alternate in a different sizing system
Short Exact or excellent width, lower profile.  Consider these both ends to lower the bike
Soft Similar diameter by using a taller profile and narrower width; used on the rear only
Tall Taller profile, stock width; similar in effect to "soft", but for the front only
Wide Same profile, wider tyre.  This MAY NOT FIT your rim.  BE CAREFUL!!!