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15 Mar 2011
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
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What are the "best" tyres for touring Southern Africa
Ok people. I KNOW this is a personal decision and it all depends on where I'm going, what type of roads I expect to come across and how I ride. BUT I'd just like some opinions on what tyres to use (and possibly avoid)
I'm on a BMW 1200GS currently I have Avon Distanzia tyres which I intend to use as I ride around South Africa (mainly on tar). Then I think I'll get some new tyres to use as I head up Namibia and across Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi towards Tans. and Kenya. Again, mainly on tar but obvioulsy not always.
I'm thinking of Michelen Anakee tyres, but could go for Metzeler Tourance or TKC 80. I believe Anakee's are very good and slightly better that Tourance as Metzeler have a reputation of being really good but hard to get on or off.
I'm also assuming I'll get about 8-10,000 miles out of a new set of Anakee (Obviously depends on road tyre but is this a good guess) and more from the front. So as I expect to do 6-10,000 miles getting to Nairobi I only need one spare rear and no spare front tyre.
To those in the know - does this all make sense?
Cheers (as ever)
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15 Mar 2011
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Join Date: Jul 2005
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Anakees are great on ta but not much else..
I'd recommend some TC80s, K60's, Sahara 3 etc ! You will at least have a decent chance when the tar ends !
Even if you stay on tar roads all the way, camp sites or hostels are usually down sand tracks or gravel roads
Ted
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15 Mar 2011
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It wouldn't be Tourance for me. Too slippery on the dirt.
Sahara 3 rear and TKC80 front is what I'm considering for my BM658. I've run this combination on a KTM640 and it was fine up to 120kmhr. I would even think about more off road ability for touring Africa.
Sure, there are tar roads but there's lots of places that tar is nominal and has great big holes in it, let alone all the roadwork teams, rain, sandstorms and those other things nature throws at you.
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16 Mar 2011
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Location: Canada
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Hey Dom,
I was about to write a rambling answer to your query when I remembered that the same question was asked recently by an intrepid traveller in Africa...and when I looked it up, it was asked by you
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...554#post324461
Same answer mate, K60. Happy riding.
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16 Mar 2011
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Tyres
I use Heidanaus K60 I do not think TKC's last very long at all, and would steer
well away from them. But others have give them a rap. 
Cheers
Paul
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16 Mar 2011
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K60 again and again and again
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