Which tires for Kaz + Mongolia
 

Hi

I´m planning a tour this summer to mongolia, through Ukraine Russia Kazackstan, mongolia. And back to Europe through Russia. Ca. 25kkm

I´m not sure about wich tires to use.

I would like to use TKC80´s the hole way. But they kind of wear out pretty fast. I was planning on starting with what ever i have on at that time and bring a fresh pair of Tkc80 on the back. And order a extra pair to be ready for me in Novosibirsk.

The Heidenau K60 is also a option, i would just prefere to have tires that will not limit where I'm going. Fx going down a small forest track to find the perfect camp site.


What's your opinion or experiences ?

I do the same like you.

My plans are, that i drive a K6 Scout or Mitas 07 on my way to Mongolia.
Somewhere in the Altai before Mongolian Border i will change to the TKC80 and still take the old tires with me.

So i have new good Offroad Tires for Mongolia ( and we will need them there ) and still can change back to the old but not bad tires on my way back if i need to.

I personally have switched to karoo 2 front and K60 heidenau for the rear (both bought in Moscow) before the Altai/Mongolia from anakee 2. The karoo 2 was dead after 6000 km the k60 heidenau lasted 17 000 km. Brilliant combo for the offroad of this country.
Both tyres have been through severe punishment and hold quite well.
Fortunately, knowing that the karoo2 wouldn't last, I carried my front anakee 2 until Ulaanbataar.

Now, having done the road, I would suggest a mixt: Tkc80 front and k60 rear,
Why? The Tkc front has a better grip then the k60 but the tkc 80 rear has a poor longevity. Any way, the k60 rear has better grip and longevity then the tkc.

I would advise to NOT carry spare tyres in Mongolia, the road is already pretty hard, you wouldn't want to carry extra weight. With the combo tkc80front/k60rear if you change before Mongolia (ie Barnaul) you will be able to do all Mongolia and get out of it and ride to a place where you can find new tyres... ( I have now changed my k60 rear... in Tokyo...)

Of course a mix is also not a bad idear. Tkc80 front And K60 rear. And then a extra Tkc80 front tire on the back.

I was planning to get a new set of tkc80 in Barnaul before Mongolia and leave the other tires there until we come back on the way home.

We will mostly camp. So we need some kind of tires to sneak around of the track to find a camp spot.

2499,

I got 15,000 kms out of a front TKC 80 on a DR650 2up in South America. With the Heidi K60 rear this is a good conbination, what bike are you riding?

Sounds good, i´m ridding a XT 600 3ds.

My idea was, that i will need a good Offroad tyre when it comes to Mongolian roads ( can we call them roads? )

Thats why i will use the TKC80 Front and Rear for Mongolia.
Because I am staying there 3 weeks, the Tyre will be worn out after that.
Then i return to my old K60 Scout and drive back.

So i will have 2 pairs of worn out tyres, which we need for this ride

Use mitas E-07's. Simple as that. There is nothing in Mongolia or the stans that you cannot ride with those on. They just last for ever, i got 15,000 miles out of my rear and about 10,000 from the front there last summer. Anything else just will not last on the Mongolia roads.

Dan

I rode from Germany, through Russia, Kaz, Kryg, China, Mongolia all on a set of K60s, not problems whatsoever

I clocked up 18,000km, I just replaced the rear in SEA, the Mongolian steppe chewed some extra life out of the rear tyre on the corrugations.

The front K60 is still on there, it has at least another 10,000km in it although it is showing some cupping, but that does not bother me.

Whatever you do, there is no need to carry a spare front.

Cheers
TS

Has said before, the K60 scout rear is as good as the tkc80 for the rear and it will definitively last longer. Really no need to carry extra weight in Mongolia, it will only do thing harder ( lost balance...).

No need to carry tyres at all TBH, Contact DeanRUS on here, he has a network of guys throughout Russia and your tyres would be waiting for you.

I did London > Almaty > Novosibirsk on tourances and then switched to TKC80's in Novosibirsk, rode those through Mongolia and then all the way back to Moscow, at which point i switched back to the Tourances, i probably could have made it back to London on the TKC80's, although they would have been slicks by then.

As others have said in Mongolia they key is lightness..

I agree, i want to be at lightweights as possible.

The idea with tires an the way is the best, if we can work this out it would be my first choice

I also know, that i need good profile for mongolia

Hello
I'm at the same point at the moment.
Once I have sorted out how to get my bike fro SEA to Vladivostok I will look for a set of new tyres.
My plan is TCK80 front and a K60 scout rear, instead of the original 130 size, a 140 or even 150.
I've never tried a K60 scout rear but for the longer life I will accept a little bit less traction.
I had a K60 scout on the front and it lasted for ever.
But, the traction, even of as new, was worse than the one of the previous TCK80 at 18000km with no nobbies left.
With the combo TCK80 front and a K60 scout rear, I should make it till the EU.
Then I can find something else if needed.
sushi

I think I made a decision

I will try to find a place where i can order tires for my bike in Semeypalatinsk ( or a place between there and the Mongolian border, and luckily without Barnaul, because i would like to take a track from Semey to Mongolia which would not lead me through Barnaul )

Has anyone any Idea if there is a way to find a repair or tire shop in this cities where i can order tires?

has anyone any idea about a contact person tho check this there?

Have been in Semey last year, don't think you can get tyres there. Try to send it via DHL. That should work. Otherwise Barnaul if you come via Russia or Almaty if you come through Kazachstan.
In Mongolia try to contact the Oasis Cafe. I'm pretty sure they can organise some tyres there. We'll be in Ulan Bataar in May:clap:
TKC is perfect for Mongolia, all the rest you should use the K60. We travelled through whole Tajikistan with them, even in sand it's ok.