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Tires choice. Tires choice.
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Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #1  
Old 28 Apr 2014
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Tires choice.
I have to replace tires this summer, have been running on TKC80 for many years and tires are really good. Now i see price on Michelin T63 is same as TKC, anyone been running on the T63 and are they good?
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  #2  
Old 28 Apr 2014
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Yes I would recommend them to you. I keep them on my bike all year round and ride in all conditions on and off road. Personally I prefer them over the TKC80. Go for it, they'll be fine, but like all the others, they are pretty much done after 4000 miles.
Just at the minute I have Mitas E-09's fitted, very like the T63 and cheaper too, that was why I bought them this time round. They don't really feel any different to the T63's.
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Old 28 Apr 2014
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Ok thanks, yes they wear out pretty fast..But then again they stick to the road on wet days too. Mitas 09 is same price here as MIchelin and Conti and havent got as many stars in the test. Is the T63 better than Tkc in the dirt?
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Old 28 Apr 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xtrock View Post
Ok thanks, yes they wear out pretty fast..But then again they stick to the road on wet days too. Mitas 09 is same price here as MIchelin and Conti and havent got as many stars in the test. Is the T63 better than Tkc in the dirt?
How much do you pay for a set of Michelin T63 in Norway? (front/rear)
In the US, the TKC 80 is nearly double the price of T63. I like BOTH tires, both work well ON and OFF road ... but as you said, do not last too long (rear).

My front TKC 80 will make 5000 miles (8K kms)
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Old 28 Apr 2014
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Yes front last almost twice the rear, do you have problems in fornt with nubs not wear even? Some of mine are not flat anymore, its a pattern in who gets strange wear. If we say one dollar 6Nkr we are at 150dollars for the rear tire 130/80 17. Do you think that they run different in dirt?
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Old 28 Apr 2014
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Too much time ... I used TKC 80 rear used off road 5 years ago? T63 one year ago. Hard to remember. I think both about the same?

130/17 TKC 80 Rear tire: $130 usd / front: $95 usd
130/17 T63 Rear tire: $65 usd / front: $65 usd
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Old 28 Apr 2014
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Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
Too much time ... I used TKC 80 rear used off road 5 years ago? T63 one year ago. Hard to remember. I think both about the same?

130/17 TKC 80 Rear tire: $130 usd / front: $95 usd
130/17 T63 Rear tire: $65 usd / front: $65 usd
Wow thats cheap for the Michelin, yes i see them on bikebandit and they are on sale. To bad shipping is so high and custom..Price will get the same. International Shipping Exclusions

Tires / Chemicals / Batteries / Oversized Items
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Old 28 Apr 2014
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Quote:
Is the T63 better than Tkc in the dirt?
..the best way to put it is that I can follow smaller lighter enduro bikes through Irish bogs on my heavy XTZ660, and it's not got anything to do with my riding ability, so the tyres must be ok. There's not much in it but I always liked the T63's a little better.

Quote:
do you have problems in fornt with nubs not wear even?
Yes always, it doesn't matter what the tyre is.

Quote:
Wow thats cheap for the Michelin
..have you tried online - oponeo or pneus might deliver to Norway.

Good Luck.
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Old 28 Apr 2014
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Thanks for good info! It all depends on the shipping, have to pay 25% tax. Ill try find someone that can ship, what you think shipping is for a tire or two? Was checking the USPS but cant seem to find box that is big enough, i quess you can have a box yourself and ship?
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Old 28 Apr 2014
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t63 are the business.........
I use t63s on all my bikes,seriously sticky on road and hook up well offroad !
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Old 29 Apr 2014
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Im using a T63 front with a Mitas E07 year. The only reason I use the Mitas rear is for liespan as a KTM eats about every other rear tyre. I'm very happy with the T63. I've also used a Karoo 2 on the front. Just as good but cheaper and maybe doesn't last as long. Every knobblie will wear uneven on the front if used on tar. The E07 is not good on wet tar and not as good as a full knobblie in mud, but it is a compromise for tyre life. T63 is my first choice for front.

Im also running TKC80s front and rear on my BMW. Excellent tyre life and a very good tyre, if a bit expensive. But cost doesn't mean much except as cost per km. There is also the aspect of how much you are prepared to pay for improved off road. Better off road performance means reduced tyre life. Like Anakees may give you tyre life and work out cheap, but performance is kak poor on anything but hard packed dirt highway.

Ive also tried a Mitas E-10 rear. not as stable as a TKC and no additional tyre life. Just cheaper. I avoid Mitas front as the bikes don't track well.
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Old 29 Apr 2014
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Good to hear the positive feedback on the T63. I have another set here waiting to be mounted ... or may strap one on the back for next longer tour.

My current TKC80 front is doing OK. I posted a pic of it on another thread asking about uneven TKC wear. My tire below has 2000 miles on it ... about 600 miles off road, rest on road.

It's wearing evenly on my light DR650, but is ridden hard on twisty paved roads but moderately off road, mostly dirt roads, two track, some rocky stuff in Baja. I'm impressed with the even wear and good tire life. It performs really well on pavement ... not bad off road, but needs low pressure to work
on my bike. Cost is the main obstacle. The T63 is half the price here in US.

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Old 30 Apr 2014
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Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
My current TKC80 front is doing OK. I posted a pic of it on another thread asking about uneven TKC wear. My tire below has 2000 miles on it ... about 600 miles off road, rest on road.

It's wearing evenly on my light DR650, but is ridden hard on twisty paved roads but moderately off road, mostly dirt roads, two track, some rocky stuff in Baja. I'm impressed with the even wear and good tire life. It performs really well on pavement ... not bad off road, but needs low pressure to work
on my bike. Cost is the main obstacle. The T63 is half the price here in US.

I find that to get tyre life out of a knobblie I have to inflate the tyre hard on tar. The recommendation for the rear is 2.5-2,6 bar but I run at 2.9 bar on tar. The manufacturers recommendations are also based on averages for raod and off road, and assume a weight of about a 65 or 70 kg rider. Im 95 kg so require a bit higher pressure.

I reduced it down to 2 on sand. It means carrying a small compressor around. Normal gravel road I don't bother dropping the pressure although the tyre will behave better at lower pressure. Just cant be bothered to re-inflate.

The TKC and T63 are ok on wet tar (as far as any knobblie is good on tar). The Mitas has very poor grip on wet tar and requires a more sensitive wrist. That is one reason I never put one on the front.

I think what kills a knobblie on tar is heat, from running too soft and high speed, and hard braking. I once was in a rush to get home after a week on the road and ran a TKC rear at 2.5 bar after coming of soft dirt, with a loaded bike at 160 kmh on a hot day. That tyre was toast aster 3500 km. I could see the difference after that 1 day.
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