Tyres for Morocco
 

I have just tried to get a Mitchelin desert rear tyre but have been offered a SIRAC instead.
Looking at the Michelin web site the Desert tyre size is 140/90 17 will this fit on my XT that should have 120/90 17 tyres.
If not can any one recomend a tyre to use instead of the Michelin Desert.

Tony

Sirac is a street tyre. Desert is a desert tyre.
If you plan to go off-road in Morocco, do yourself a great favour and take the Deserts. To avoid crashes and flat tyres. Front and rear. The 140/90-17 fits on an XTZ660. What bike do you have?

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Fred, XTZ660, Holland.

Fred
Thanks for the reply.
I have an XT600E. I have been told that the Desert will fit it and am trying to get one but they seem to be hard to get ho;d of at the moment.
I will be going of road in Morocco.
My first choice of tyres is a Continental TKC80 on the front and a Michelin Desert on the back. If I can't get the Desert I will try a T63.

Thanks again
Tony

Forget about the Conti's.
A T63 will last about 1 week in the desert and give you a lot of practice in repairing the tubes.
Take the front Desert too. It looks funny here but once you ride it there you'll appreciate it.

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Fred, XTZ660, Holland.

Another tyre possibility which is a great compromise is the Pirelli MT21. Not as harsh as the Desert but certainly an Off Road knobbly it is far better on tarmac and unlike a desert isnt likely to wash out on wet tarmac.

Desert 95% off road 5% road
MT21 70% off road 30% road

The MT21 should last around 4000-5000 miles 50/50 tarmac/dirt.

But if it has to a 140 Desert will fit on a 600E but you may need to lengthen the chain by a link or two if its new and/or possibly round off the outer knobles slightly to prevent rubbing.

All the best...

Dave

Hey Tony,

My girlfriend (xt350) and I (xt600) went to Morocco last year on Mitas E-07s with no probs what so ever (5000k round trip). Not that I'm recommending them, just that if you're only doing a Morocco trip then imho Deserts are a bit of an overkill. (and thats coming from an overkiller http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif )

MT21's are a cheaper deal which means more money in your pocket http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif Why 140s ?

Have a good one,

XT Aubrey.

Thanks for all the replies
I've decided to go for MT21's s I can't get the Michelin Desert, (Mitchelin UK say they don't import 17" desert tyres into the UK).

Is it best to fit the tyres before we leave home or carry them with us and try to find someone to fit them in Southern Spain.

We will have tools to change tyres with us but I would prefer to only use them if we get a puncture.


Tony

Hi Tony,

Try to fit them yourself first or have someone show you how to by hand (if you haven't tried before that is...). Changing a tire in the middle of the afternoon on a hot desert day is not the most forgiving place to learn. By doing this at home you also see first hand which tools you need to take with you and (just as important) which ones you don't need...

Cheers,

XT Aubrey

Don't waste the new tyres from UK to Morocco.
You can mount them when you are waiting for the boat or when you are coming off the boat waiting for the custom stamps e.g.
Or if you are really lazy and don't want to carry them all the way, order them at a bike shop in the south of Spain and ask them to keep them ready for mounting when you pass by. Maybe you can leave your old tyres there and have them put back on when you return.
I suppose you already have enough practice in changing tyres. If not, indeed practice now and not when your are on the way.

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Fred, XTZ660, Holland.

I would change them in the south of spain a few miles from the port. If you change them in Morocco you will be surrounded by a crowd very quickly. Most people are very honest but a thief could take advantage while you are distracted.
Have a safe trip

I had no trouble getting 17" Deserts last year for my Africa Twin. I got mine from M&P whilst my two mates got both of theirs from National Tyres. I fitted mine in England because I had no room left to carry the buggers. Didn't get a puncture until I'd got home three and a half thousand miles later. Drove over a broken pallet blocking the greenlane at the end of my road and picked up one of the huge nails that hold the blocks on.

I totally agree about not fitting tyres in Morocco. You can't even stop to look at your watch in the north without someone sprinting over to hassle you. I'd do it somewhere on the road into Algeciras as there were plenty of places to pull over and you could always hide your road tyres and get them on the way back. Mind you if they were gone, it wouldn't matter as Deserts are more road friendly when worn out a bit so you could easily ride home on them.

Ian

The real alternative to Michelin Desert are Pirelli MT18 HD (important the HD denomination..MT18 only are soft MX type tyres)
and have also a DOT/road homologation.

If you're riding down through spain dont take your tyres with you. I ordered mine via quick fit in Gibralter. Its only an hours ride from the ferry and the guys there are all massive Sahara bike riders. Whilst you get your tyres changed you get a free cuppa and loads of GPS points for places you'll not find in any guide......

Oh, and it saves riding with tyres strapped to the bike. The guys were so good they even let me keep my old tyres in the store until I returned 6 weeks later and swapped them back for free!!

Hope it all goes well!!!

Dave l

140's for the deserts 'cos I dont think they do 130's (do they?)

17" Deserts come in 140/90 and 140/80.

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Fred, XTZ660, Holland.

Take care with MT21 rear - they have a very soft carcass construction compared to deserts (2ply vs 4 ply in my sizes)- I had a load of bother with MT21 rear in Algeria on a 3AJ. Big hits bottoming out suspension on rocky piste not recommended. MT21 front is a fine compromise though.