BMW R1300GS Tyre Size
The new GS runs the same tyre sizes as the outgoing 1250 and later 1200 models. It has a 120/70/19 front tyre and a 170/60/17 rear tyre.
Those are the same tyre sizes used by the BMW R 1250 GS and several earlier liquid-cooled GS models, so there is an excellent choice of compatible tyres.
The best option depends on how you use the bike. Some R 1300 GS owners want maximum road grip and wet-weather confidence, while others need additional durability, gravel-road ability or genuine off-road traction. This guide explains the differences and recommends the strongest options for each type of riding.
BMW R1300GS History
Introduced at the tail end of 2023, the R1300GS has a tough act to follow; the outgoing R1250GS has dominated the sales charts ever since it was introduced.
The new BMW R1300GS, is the lightest, punchiest, most compact, and most powerful GS ever made. The well-liked adventure bike now comes with an electronic ride height device, semi-active suspension with adjustable spring rates, and a collision warning system that will apply the brakes for you in an emergency. It also has a fresh look and a confusing variety of available options. The list is endless and includes additional features like extended travel off-road suspension, screens, levers, front and rear seat options, and more.
BMW R1300GS OEM tyres
Metzeler Tourance Next 2 tyres were selected as original equipment for the R 1300 GS, with Metzeler Karoo 4 tyres available as a more off-road-oriented factory option.
The Tourance Next 2 is primarily a road-focused adventure tyre. It is well suited to everyday road riding, touring and occasional use on well-maintained gravel tracks. The Karoo 4 sacrifices some road refinement and longevity in exchange for considerably more traction on loose surfaces.
BMW R1300GSÂ Best Tyres
Below are our recommendations for the best tyres for the R1300GS. This is based on customer feedback plus what is being fitted to these bikes and similar bikes with the same tyre sizes.
Road riding:
If you never – or very rarely – head off road, these are the tyres to go for.
Light off-road:
Either you do a bit of green-laning or you can’t face buying an Adventure bike and not having tyre that looks slightly rugged.
Proper off-road:
Decent off-road tyres that are road legal and OK on the road. Not recommended if 90% of your miles are on tarmac.
Or Kenda Big Block if you’re on a budget.
Trackdays
Yes some GS owners do ’em! A well-ridden 1300GS will stick with plenty of Sportsbikes on shorter tracks.
BMW R1300GSÂ Tyre Pressures
BMW recommends the following pressures for normal road use:
- Front: 2.5 bar / 36 psi
- Rear: 2.9 bar / 42 psi
Check the pressures when the tyres are cold. BMW’s tyre-pressure monitoring display is temperature-compensated to 20°C, so its reading may differ from a conventional pressure gauge when the tyres are hot.
These road pressures should not automatically be used as off-road pressures. Reducing pressure can improve traction on loose surfaces, but going too low increases the risk of rim damage, tyre movement and loss of air. The appropriate pressure depends on the tyre, load, terrain, speed and wheel type.
About Two Tyres
Our mission is to ensure we listen to every customer’s needs and ensure they’re riding on the right tyre. Out of the showroom, your motorbike is a compromise, designed to suit a huge range of riders and riding conditions. To get the best out of your bike in terms of handling, performance and safety, tyres make all the difference. In fact we think it’s the most cost-effective performance enhancement you can make!
We are based in London where we supply and fit motorcycle tyres and consumables in our workshop. We also mail order motorcycle tyres around the UK, across Europe and even to places as far-flung as the USA, Canada and Japan.
Need help choosing the best tyres?
Choosing tyres can be tricky. We’re here to help. We hold direct accounts with every motorcycle tyre manufacturer, so we’re well placed to give comprehensive and honest advice to help you choose the best tyres. If you can’t quite make your mind up, give us a call on 0207 205 2205 and we’ll help you narrow down your choices.
We are motorcycle and scooter tyre specialists, with over 25 years in the trade. Between us we fit 10 pairs of tyres a day in our workshop, so we have good real-world experience of what works and what doesn’t.
We ride to work, we ride for fun, we race and ride off-road. If it’s got two wheels, we’re into it.
Give us a call or drop into our London motorcycle workshop and we’ll do our best to help you.
We built a pressure gauge we wanted to use ourselves
After years of using tyre pressure gauges that were inaccurate, poorly made or awkward to fit without losing pressure, we decided enough was enough.
We worked with a manufacturer to produce a motorcycle tyre pressure gauge that met our own workshop standards. The result is a gauge that’s accurate. It’s even been featured in RiDE magazine.
We’re so confident in its quality that every gauge comes with a 3-year, no-nonsense money-back guarantee.
Whether you prefer the instant accuracy of a digital tyre pressure gauge or the simplicity of a traditional analogue gauge, we’ve got the perfect tool for the job.
Correct tyre pressures are the cheapest performance upgrade you can make. They improve grip, handling, tyre life and fuel economy—and they take less than a minute to check.
Here at Two Tyres, we stock more than just tyres. Take a look at some of our essentials for any biker.
Motorcycle puncture repair kit – Our top-rated kit includes everything you need to carry out a roadside repair and get back up and running.
Motorcycle tyre pressure gauge – Our tyre pressure gauge has been rated in RiDE magazine and features a clever design to make it easy to get accurate readings.
Motorcycle first aid kit – a DIN-rated first aid kit that’s compact and also includes extras that are handy for any biker. A must-carry in some EU countries.
HyperCharge battery charger – The HyperCharge is a smart charger that can charge lead-acid and lithium batteries and it’ll charge bike and car batteries too.
Cordless tyre pump – Small enough to fit in your luggage, this tyre pump doubles as a powerbank, so you’ll never have a flat tyre or phone battery again!
All of these products have been well tested and are top-rated by our customers.
