john1652 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:11:


IRC are the stock tire. I went with Dunlops and so far I am pleased.

I got a Promaxx by Maxiss to replace the stock(slick as snot from day 1 that wore out in 5,ooo miles.) & was so happy with it that I replaced front & rear when the first Maxiss wore out at 12,000. I ride the crud out of this bike. My footpegs are worn off 5/16ths from draggin them around corners & the back tire shows wear all the way to the edge, though that is slight since the tire only has 1000 miles on it. I got them from Motorcycle Superstore & paid no freight.I got 3 tubes & tire ballancing wieghts & rim strips all for about $180.00. You can look for local dealers for the Maxiss tires. They are all over the place I found out after I got these. I don't push it in the wet, but when I do ride it in the wet I am satisfied. There may well be better & I intend to try the other tires the folks with the most experience riding suggest, too. I would say you will be very happy with the Maxiss & for the price it is a winner in my book.

Fan of the metzler me880's here - not sure you can wear out a front one and rear seems to go over 15k

in principle I agree with the recommendation for metzler ME880s, but decided to go with a Dunlop 404 & am very pleased with it. less $$ than metzler (which I agree are great tires - just question if not overkill on Savage - have metzler brand tires on my other more powerful bike). the Dunlop is a good price & much better than stock/crap IRC.

can't recall where purchased on internet but google them to check on prices - how I did ti - offers change all the time.

we have dunlops on both HDs and the suzuki, the savage had a k555 on the rear and the origional irc on the front when we bought it, i added a d404 front a week later, because the 10 year old rubber was hard, weathered, and slid around like a greased pig. i've got 12,000 miles on the dunlops on my HD (fxrp a sport/touring type), the rear is showing a little flattening in the center, but they still stick well, and i'm putting plenty of horsepower to them i dont have ANY idea how they work in the rain, we dont get that nasty stuff out here  my buddy went to metzlers on his HDs and is very pleased with their performance. they are very sticky, his bagger has 103" screaming eagle motor and wheelies after a short burn out. his fxr is turbo'd and putting 117 hp/ 117 ftlb torque to the ground, and will nearly launch itself into the the air when the rear tire gets sticky . he said dunlops would simply burn and smoke  

john1652 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:11:


I went with the 140/90-15 last time and I definately want to try a smaller, fatter tire next time.

So I was riding my '97 LS650  in the rain on Monday, gently accelerated through a wide right turn, and the rear tire lost all traction, I skidded, wobbled, and ended up lodged on the median, but still upright.
I've skidded before in the rain, and later that day, I was turning at 3 mph in a parking lot, and I guess I hit an oil patch, because I felt the rear tire slide a couple inches.

The tires are just the factory installed tires with plenty of tread left on them.

Am I sliding around just because it's a light bike on city streets, or do I just have bad tires?