The Best Tires for My Honda Gold Wing

Since the release of their very first motorcycle in 1949, the Honda Motor Company has manufactured more than 400 million bikes.

But success did not come immediately for Honda. The company failed with its initial contract to build piston rings for Toyota. After several failures and lessons learned, Honda achieved its goal of producing piston rings on a large scale by automating the process and learning about quality manufacturing from other factories.

Taking from what they learned about manufacturing for Toyota, Honda began their own venture into building motorcycles. Honda immediately found success, winning its first Grand Prix title in 1961 and went on to become the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world—a title it still holds today.

In this article, Dunlop will examine the history of Honda’s Gold Wing motorcycle, and which tires will best suit your bike depending on the model.

Gold Wing Motorcycles through the Generations

Honda’s Gold Wing series debuted in the mid-1970s as an answer to the rise of long-distance tour rides. This initial entrance into the market gave riders a more affordable option with the GL1000 series which looks more like a modern sports standard than today’s cross-country tourers.

After five years, Honda quickly moved on to the second-generation GL1100 motorcycles of the 1980s. The original GL1100 is best-known for its long-distance capabilities. Honda designed this bike to travel further than its predecessor—or any other competitor bikes, for that matter.

An Argentinian man—Emilio Scotto—holds the Guinness world record for “longest journey by motorcycle,” a trip of more than 450,000 miles on a Gold Wing 1100 series bike. The GL1100 put Honda on the map as a serious contender in the long-distance market segment. With this success, Honda produced the 1200, 1500, and 1800 Gold Wing models in Ohio up until 2009.

After more than a decade without a new series launch, Honda introduced the new GL1800 Gold Wing in the early 2000s. After 2009, Honda’s manufacturing was moved back to Japan. The Gold Wing legacy is characterized by the joy of the cruise—a line of bikes for touring riders who enjoy the journey more than anything else.

Choosing the Right Tires for Your Gold Wing

Gold Wing motorcycles were designed with the open road in mind. Unlike lighter sportbikes which require leaner tires, the GL series vehicles need tires that can handle a heavy motorcycle while being durable enough to withstand high-mileage rides.

Newer GL1800 Series Motorcycles

The GL1800 bike is designed to travel far. It has top-notch wind protection features, 40+ miles per gallon, and around 32 gallons of storage for road trips. You will need a tire worthy of that carrying capacity and distance.

Across the board, the Dunlop Elite 4 tire is an excellent option for any GL1800 model. Elite 4 rear tires are equipped with Multi-Tread technology which uses two unique compounds across the tire profile. The center compound is longer-wearing and can travel the equivalent of 6-cross country US trips. The more durable center compound also promotes more even tire wear but is still silica enriched to offer exceptional tracking in dry and wet conditions offering peace of mind for those longer trips. The tire shoulders are designed for lateral grip which dominates America’s backroads and tight corners.

If you have a GL1800 B/BD/D/DA model, you might also consider the Dunlop D423 tires. The tires were designed for heavier touring motorcycles, were the original equipment on the 2018 Honda Gold Wings, and are great for putting on miles.

Overall, the newer bikes have made improvements in the Gold Wing’s ability to handle slick conditions, but an Elite 4 Dunlop tire will provide even more stability. Not merely for just wet environments, the Elite 4 will improve your GL1800’s overall performance and offer a more reliable, consistent handling experience.

Older GL1100, 1200, and 1500 Series Motorcycles

Older Gold Wing models are still very much alive and relevant, even 40+ years after their initial launch.

A cursory look at these bikes will reveal their slightly less-bulky design. The profile of these bikes reflects a sportier design approach, although they have the same touring features that you would want in the newer models.

For many of the bikes produced in the 1990s and prior, you are going to want the Elite 4 or D404 tires that provide touring and cruiser capabilities. They are the best option for the following models:

• GL650/I
• GL500/I
• GL1100/I
• GL1100/IA
• GL1200I/L/SEI

If you are unsure which tires would best fit for your Gold Wing model you can refer to our sizing guide for help.

The center groove on the Elite 4’s efficiently directs water away from the bike, part of a tire drainage system that performs extremely well. These tires are a quieter option for riders who value cruise comfort over sport handling.

Overall, Gold Wing motorcycles require high-mileage tires that can address changes in weather without sacrificing handling. Dunlop manufactures excellent road trip tires like the Elite 4’s in North America so that you can experience all of America’s backroads as safely and comfortably as possible.

Find a Dealer

Looking to replace your worn or old motorcycle tires? Click here to find your nearest Dunlop motorcycle tire dealer today to begin your order and get your Gold Wing riding as smoothly as possible.