Offroad tyre pressure?
 

Hi,
what tyre pressures do you recommend for offroad on gravel and stony road sections?
I always keep pressure around 2 bar on asphalt riding, but that is too much off the beaten tracks. KTM recommend pressure around 1.2 bar for stones/gravel, and not more than 1.0 bar for sand or mud. Any expiriences are welcome. Tnx,
AnteK, XTZ 660

Hello Ante,
first of all, don't compare an XTZ660 with a KTM.
My experience is that on our bikes on hard surface it is no use to lower the tyre pressure substantially. Only in deep sand it helps to go down to about 1,5 bar so the tyre can flex and really grab the sand. Since we have no tyre clamp I think you should not go lower. Also when you have a chance to encounter stones, don't go lower than 2 bar unless you have Michelin Desert tyres.

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Fred, XTZ660, Holland.

Hi Fred,
tnx for an info. I know basic difference between KTM & Yami, just need some advice of more expirienced riders. My bike is fitted with Michelin Sirac tyres at the moment; good on wet surface, a bit slipery over gravel or stones, but altogether ok compromise for normal everyday use. What is your expirience of dual-purpose tyres? I have change a lot of diferent tyres from different manufactures, and have had a very good but also very bad moments.
Regards,
AnteK

I have experience with Michelin T66 which are very good on dry road, but dangerous on wet road. Even after a few years with different tyres I am still too careful when wet.
Now I have Dunlop Trailmax for summer which are very good overall, even off-road as long as it's dry or gravel etc. like in the Alps and Pyrenees.
For winter and off-road and mud/sand I have Michelin T63 which are very good, also on-road.
For desert I have Michelin Desert which are the best for stones and sand. No punctures and last very long compared to other tyres.

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Fred, XTZ660, Holland.

For Strictly off road I will leave it to others.
"For desert I have Michelin Desert which are the best for stones and sand. No punctures and last very long compared to other tyres."

For dual purpose I use Pirelli AT Scorpions on my Tenere. Very nice on the road and when the black top ran out last very predictable on stone and gravel.

Hi

In the manual of the xt, it says 18 psi (both tires) for off road

cheers

[This message has been edited by xt performer (edited 21 January 2004).]

Hi,
I have changed many types of tyres; Metzeler Enduro 3, Dunlop Trailmax, Pirelli MT 60, Michelin Sirac, Bridgestone Trailwing, Michelin T66. Trailmax and Sirac seems the best alaround combination, due to good grip and reasonable wearing resistance, and T66 are very dangerous tyre in wet conditions.
AnteK

Hi,

From my experience, the pressure issue depends on the type of tyre, terrain and front/back wheel.

Using Trials tyres (Michelin MT43) and an 18inch rear wheel on my XT600, I happily run the back at 10psi (0.69 bar) and the front at 18psi (1.24) - the thing grips like glue on the trail and is safe up to ~ 100kmh on the road, both wheels obviously have rimlocks fitted. For extended road sections I'll blow up the rear to 20psi (1.4 bar). The trials tyres are extremely high profile and are therefore not prone to pinch flats. I get ~1600kmh out of a rear trials tyre, but as my riding is mainly offroad it's definitely worth it.

On more 'roady' trips with a 17inch rear and Metzeler Enduro 3, Trailwings or Continental Twinduro's I've a run higher pressures of ~18psi (1.24bar) both ends with no problem - on an XT600 it doesn't seem to make much difference on the road handling.

On extremely rocky sections the most critical thing seems to be a high enough front tyre pressure - too low and a pinch flat puncture is easy to pick up, as XT's aren't exactly a light weight!

Cheers
Bish