Suzuki Savage (LS650)

(updated September 99)

Rim Stock Size Original Tyre
Front 2.15 x 19 100/90H19 IRC GS-18
Rear 2.75 x 15 140/80H15 IRC GS-18

Manufacturers' Recommendations

Manufacturer Front size Rear size
Avon
(no data)
Bridgestone G523 100/90S19 G524 140/90S15
G701 100/90S19 G524 140/90S15
Dunlop K591 Elite SP MM90H19 K591 Elite SP 140/90HB15
Metzeler ME-33 Laser 100/90H19 ME-88 Marathon 140/90HB15
Marathon 100/90H19 Marathon ML2 Plus 140/80HB15
Michelin
No Fitment
Pirelli MT 66 F 100/90H-19 MT 66 140/90H-15

Martyn's Opinion

General Comments

"You didn't really want a rear with that, did you?"

The Savage is severly limited in tyre selection by the rear.  Not only isn't there much to choose from, but clearance is tight as well.  On the other hand, anything is available for the front, from rock-hard OEM styles to sport radials and even a racing bias-ply.

So the actual process of selecting tyres for the Savage is fairly simple: pick a rear you like, and there's sure to be a front to go with it.

The Safe Bet

Brand Model Size MAW
Front IRC GS-18 100/90H-19T $56
Rear IRC GS-18 140/80H-15T $74

The stock OEM IRC's are decent tyres, do well on this bike, and fit.  How much more conservative can you be?

A Tight Budget

Brand Model Size MAW
Front IRC GS-18 100/90H-19T $56
Rear Kenda K657 Sport Challenger 130/90H-15 $54

When the stock tyres are so cheap, the concept of "budget" takes on a whole new meaning.  The Kenda Callenger works very well on the rear, but concerns about highway stability and wet traction would cause me to use a different tyre on the front.  The obvious choice is the OEM stock IRC GS-18.

General Purpose, Touring, Sport-Touring, Sport-Riding

Brand Model Size MAW
Front Metzeler ME-880 Marathon 100/90H-19 $97
Rear Metzeler ME-880 Marathon 140/80HB15 $133

Whatever you're doing with a Savage, the new ME-880 Marathon tyres from Metzeler are the right choice.  The bike doesn't have the chassis to demand any more traction for sporting use, and the touring Metzelers will stick well at any lean angle you can generate.  They're expensive, but they'll last forever and perform very well indeed in all conditions.

Martyn's Choice

Brand Model Size MAW
Front Metzeler ME-880 Marathon 100/90H-19 $97
Rear Metzeler ME-880 Marathon 140/80HB15 $133

The new Metzelers not only promise to be an outstanding tyre, they're also available in the stock size.  Assuming you don't faint at the price, you can't do better than these.  I think they're worth the extra money.

The Full List

(from MAW and manufacturer web pages)

Well-sized matched pairs

This tables lists matched pairs with an exact front.
Brand Front size MAW Rear size MAW match
Dunlop F11 100/90H-19 $56 K627 130/90H-15 $83 soft
K491 Elite II Touring MM90H-19 $60 K177 Touring 140/80HB15 exact
IRC GS-18 100/90H-19T $56 GS-18 140/80H-15T $74 exact
Kenda K657 Sport Challenger 100/90H-19 $47 K657 Sport Challenger 130/90H-15 $54 soft
Metzeler ME-77 100/90H-19 $70 ME-77 130/90S-15T $91 soft
ME-88 Marathon 100/90H-19 $82 ML2 Plus 140/80HB15 $126 exact
ME-880 Marathon 100/90H-19 $97 ME-880 Marathon 140/80HB15 $133 exact

Listing by Manufacturer

Avon

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Roadrunner AM20 100/90H-19 $103 exact
Super Venom AM18 100/90V-19 $94 exact
Super Venom AM20 100/90V-19 $107 exact

Bridgestone

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
BT17 Sports Mileage 100/90V-19 exact
SE11 100/90H-19 $76 exact

Continental

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Avenue 100/90H-19 $95 exact
Blitz TKH-23 110/90H-19 $46 wide
Milestone CM1 100/90H-19 $72 exact
Tour TK-16 100/90H-19 $68 exact

Dunlop

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Cruisemax 100/90--19 $140 exact
D401 Sport Touring 100/90H-19 $63 exact
F11 100/90S-19 exact
F11 100/90H-19 $56 exact K627 130/90H-15 $83 soft
K491 Elite II Touring MM90H-19 $60 exact K177 Touring 140/80HB15 exact
K591 Sport Touring 100/90V-19 $68 exact

Firestone

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
VT-01F 100/90H-19 exact

IRC

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Durotour RS-310 100/90H-19 $47 exact
Durotour RS-410 110/90H-19 $73 wide
GS-18 100/90H-19T $56 exact GS-18 140/80H-15T $74 exact
Road Winner RW-010 100/90HX19 exact
Wildflare WF-920 100/90H-19 $70 exact

Kenda

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
K657 Sport Challenger 100/90H-19 $47 exact K657 Sport Challenger 130/90H-15 $54 soft

Metzeler

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
ME-33 Laser 100/90H-19 exact
ME-33 Laser 100/90V-19 exact
ME-77 100/90H-19 $70 exact ME-77 130/90S-15T $91 soft
ME-88 Marathon 100/90H-19 $79 exact
ME-880 Marathon 100/90H-19 $97 exact ME-880 Marathon 140/80HB15 $133 exact
ML2 Plus 140/80HB15 $120 exact

Michelin

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Commander 100/90H-19 $96 exact
Macadam 50 100/90V-19 $101 exact
Tarmac (old) 100/90H-19 $62 exact

Pirelli

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Match MT09 100/90V-19 $96 exact
Route 66 MT66F 100/90H-19 $74 exact
Strada MT69E 100/90H-19 exact

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!!!