Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB

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-   -   Tyre Survey - please contribute (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/equipping-bike-whats-best-gear/tyre-survey-please-contribute-4624)

AnteK 16 Oct 2006 17:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by pierresas
Merritt and I are adamant that:

Result:
- Michelin Desert for Africa (except during the rain season)
- TKC80 for the rest of the world (unless you stick to asphalt all the time, in which case, the Michelin Sirac ...

As I can see, most of non-europe riders are not tasted Michelin T63. With T63, there are no problems on wet asphalt and similar conditions, that is absolutely BEST dualsport tyre I have riden so far. Forget about Sirac - that is a piece of a shit, especialy on bad gravel. The worse tyre I had so far.
Best regards,
AnteK, XTZ 660 Tenere

kbikey 16 Oct 2006 19:12

tires
 
I've gotten allmost 10,000 miles from a Avon Distanzia rear including the Cambell Hwy. in the rain.Works like street tire on pavement,cause that's what it is. In gravel it's O.K. too for me because I don't mind a little dancing. In mud it sucks to the point of being dangerous, cause it's a street tire.

jakeyboy 4 Nov 2006 06:07

In china what tire rear for ktm990 please??
 
:thumbup1: I am curently in china and wore out my pirreli scorpion now on metzler karro but its not that great on tarmac(wearing fast) do you know of a chinese tyre that i could swa for my karro so i can save it for laos 150/70/18 many thanks jake..
Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Scott
Rubbery greetings. I would be interested to know what tyres you all use on your travels (not regular riding). Could not find anything similar on the HUBB but may have missed it (269 docs with 'which tyres'...)

I'll start the ball rolling -
Last trip Sahara - XR650L
Front: Mich Desert, Rear Mich T63.
Verdict - great on sand, rock and dry tarmac (but not wintertime Europe...)
Sold @ 6000km before worn out.

Next trip: (mostly highway, some dirt roads) will try TKC80s

If this manages to keep on topic it may become a useful database for adv tyres.

Chris S



------------------
Author of Sahara Overland and the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, among other things

http://www.sahara-overland.com and http://www.adventure-motorcycling.com


AnteK 4 Nov 2006 08:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by pierresas
Merritt and I are adamant that:
- Michelin Desert is the best tire for really tough off-road,
- TKC80 is the best all-around tire for RTW travelers who don't stick to asphalt all the time.
We praise both equally for their purpose.

When the going gets tough and the stuff gets loose (like sand or loose rocks), nothing beats the Michelin Desert. The front tire cuts its way through while the rear tire plows like a caterpillar: really impressive. Besides, it's almost indestructible. In some places like the Atlas, the Sahara and Ethiopia, everyday we were so grateful to have these things mounted.

However the Michelin Desert is tricky for long-distance or RTW travelers because....
1) Sooner or later, you are going to hit some rain and the thing is *extremely* dangerous on wet asphalt, especially in third-world countries where you have very slick asphalt and slippery stuff like oil, residues, mud, cow pies, horse dung...
2) You should not drive it at more than 90 km/h over long distances, first because it's dangerous (beyond 100, it vibrates like crazy and the front wheel looses grip; and above that, it doesn't take much to loose control), second because you kill the tire *much quicker* at higher speeds.

The TKC80 doesn't have these problems and it behaves almost as well as the Desert on normal off-road conditions. When it comes to longevity, both tires are excellent as long as you keep the speed in check.

Result:
- Michelin Desert for Africa (except during the rain season)
- TKC80 for the rest of the world (unless you stick to asphalt all the time, in which case, the Michelin Sirac or Metzeler Tourance are just fine).

Pierre (& Merritt too)
http://www.photobiker.com

Pierre, try to use Michelin T63 - very similar pattern as Desert, and
fantastic tyre onroad including wet conditions, no vibrates and very
good control.
Best Regards

beddhist 4 Nov 2006 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by beddhist
Rear has been replaced after 22000km, front is still fitted after 20000km, will probably last another 2-5000.

OK, have gone through another Mitas tyre, rear lasted again more than 20000km, front 29000km.

Unfortunately, due to a stuff-up by the Turkish dealer I now have a Metzeler Tourance. Looks more like a road tyre to me and the bike oversteers a little, which I don't like. My friend Mesut assures me that this tyre should last even longer. Time will tell...

*Touring Ted* 4 Jul 2007 18:05

Im using Metzeler Sahara 3's on my XT600E.

Good grip on dry roads but they do feel rather "buzzy".

They feel slippy and dont give me any confidence in the wet though.

Were very good on muddy fields, firetrack and gravel.

For road only there is no point, for dirt biast though, the TCK80's are better.

Lone Rider 4 Jul 2007 19:09

Anakee ft/rr, good road tires
Tourance ft/rr, good road tires, long lasting
Scorpion ST ft/rr, good road tires
MT60 rr, a road tire, mileage sux
Levorin Dunas rr, a road tire, mileage sux
TKC80 ft/rr, great all-round tires, ft is long lasting
Mefo Explorer99 rr, reasonably long lasting, good all-round tire
Kenda 270 rr, mileage sux, don't like the feel
MT21 ft, good on and off road, low mileage
D606 rr, good on and off road, low mileage
Trail Wing (big bike design) ft/rr, good road tires
Trail Wing (midsize bike design) ft/rr, good road tires, resonably long lasting
IRC GP110 ft/rr, reasonably long lasting, inexpensive, my favorites all-round tires

Bossies 5 Jul 2007 11:36

I have Trailwings TW301 and TW302 fitted to one of our bikes and I don't see what warrants all the negative publicity. Why "Deathwings". They last longer then MT21's I've been told, they are comfortable on paved roads, they do their job on gravel. Their pattern is not too different to the factory fitted IRC TR8 tyres specificed for our XR250's with a fairly good "knobbliness". Yes they aren't Deserts but hey, we are on small ligth bikes and only going at low speeds.

I just feel for their price they are definelty value for money...feel free to sling insults and correct me in my ways!!!

I have Mitas EO7's fitted to the other bike. Very good on road dry and wet but will be useless in mud as tread to close together although not tested that yet.

FatChance 12 Jul 2007 18:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lone Rider (Post 142058)
IRC GP110 ft/rr, reasonably long lasting, inexpensive, my favorites all-round tires

Bob, there were some worn GP110s on my '00 DR650 when I first got it and I replaced them before I could really give them a valid trial. How do they do in sand and loose gravel? So far, I've been very happy with the D606s we have on the bikes now for a heavier offroad emphasis, but think the GP110 would be a better all-around tire. Would you be happy with them on places like the sandy bottom areas on the White Rim? Thanks!

ade.d 10 Aug 2007 17:45

tt600r tyres
 
bridgestone bt 45 =tarmac wet/dry great,wet mud/grass crap,hardpack/gravel ok.
bridgestone gritty=tarmac crap,mud/wet grass good,gravel/hardpack ok.

palace15 10 Aug 2007 18:51

On my R80gs I used Avon Distanzia's for my 06 trip to follow the Dakar, front was well worn and the back had done 9500miles and less than half worn when I noticed cracking around the blocks (believe there was a bad batch). Not over keen on wet roads but still using distanzia's, on the trip I was carrying a fair bit of gear and I am well overweight! pavement/gravel roads only has I am not prepared to wrestle the bar-steward offroad. The names Ede, not Peter-hansel.

Xander 23 Aug 2007 10:08

2000 Africa twin

TKC 80s front and back.. great on road wet or dry, good on dry dirt, fine on soft deep dirt/sand, passable in deep mud (but then the AT is only passable in deep mud, so is it the tyres?)


Avon distenzia.. worst tyre on the market.. should be :censored: or at least :ban:


xtz600

Pirelli MT21's good on road wet or dry, fine on dry dirt, fine on soft deep dirt, not come across deep mud with them on... drought and all that

Michelin baja ... not good on road
(not grippy and will vibrate your teeth out), dangerous on wet roads, great on dry dirt, bloody excellent on soft deep dirt/sand, good in deep mud..
they claim to be dual sport.. they are more accurately a dirt tyre that you can ride on the road to the dirt tracks....

fuggie 26 Aug 2007 02:36

ive used heidenau k60 enduros so far, they stick like glue to dry roads (had my pillions foot scraping around a round about lol) its a job to loose them in the wet and off road there a fairly competent trail tyre! shame the rears only last about 3-4000km!

BDG 17 Jan 2008 14:45

Can't comment on RTW stuff, but the best combination of tyres i've used for a couple of weeks in Morocco on road, off road, everything from rocks to playing in the big dunes on an XR650R is a Dunlop D908RR rear, with a Pirelli MT21 front.

Works well on and off road and lasts. Good all round compromise for me.

Michelin Deserts dodgy on road, especially if wet, though great off road.

The Dunlop D908RR front is horrible on the road, makes the bike very unstable at speed.

Pirelli MT21 rear wears faster off road than the Dunlop D908RR.

(Michelin T63 on mates bike work pretty good but front not as good as the MT21).

Because the riding is more of 'a mad thrash for a couple of weeks' rather than RTW, off road performance has been higher than ultimate longevity.



Also used TKC80's on a KTM 950 on and off road in Europe and very pleased with them.

Martynbiker 17 Jan 2008 16:59

I use the Heidenau "Catspaw' trail
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by fuggie (Post 148403)
ive used heidenau k60 enduros so far, they stick like glue to dry roads (had my pillions foot scraping around a round about lol) its a job to loose them in the wet and off road there a fairly competent trail tyre! shame the rears only last about 3-4000km!

Like you I LOVE the Heidenau in the DRY....... sticks like Snot to a Hanky!
in the wet, on my XT600 and me weighing 140Kg and not an inexperienced loony, I find them a little, well, 'uneasy', they aren't what I call dangerous, but I wouldn't want to push em too far.....:thumbup1:

Off Road, Rocks, gravel, Dry Tracks Excellent 10/10

Off Road, Mud, grass, slippy stuff 7/10

Off Road,Dry, Plowed field, sandy about a foot deep ( Don't ask) 4/10

On Road, Dry 11/10

On Road, Wet, 6/10


Martyn


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