Excellent summary on tires edde!

High ambient temp plus high speed = fast wear. Add heavy bike, rough Mex. roads (Baja pavement is like a cheese grater) and wear increases more.

Changing conditions certainly requires pressure adjustments but that's not always practical or posible. With group dual sport rides sometimes we are switching from paved to dirt 3 or 4 time before lunch. And NOBODY is waiting around while you fiddle around with tires. If you know the way and are fast, you can stop to do this and ride alone all day. (which some prefer)

In these cases I go with compromised pressures. On my DR I go with 18 front / 20 rear (stock pressurers are 22/25). On the DL1000 about 24 front / 28 rear. (stock is ? 34/36 ? )

On the DR this works OK, but on the heavier Vstrom the tires really heat up hitting paved twisties at speed. A compromise for sure and faster wear is the result.

Going solo I can take more time to change pressures if needed. But if I have only a short dirt section I'll leave the stock pressures and ride accordingly.
(slow and careful with the front brake)

I didn't think about the TKC's being two-ply...a worrying point for certain.

In my enduro days we went with 4 ply knobbies, usually Metzelers or Pirelli's
that have (or had?) 4 ply and even 6 ply tires back then. These were like ISDE tires I believe. Not sure what's available now...but man ...these suckers
are TOUGH....nearly impossible to wear out a front dirt riding and the rears lasted well unless you were doing serious rocks at speed. Impossible to change in the field. (for me) Not good motocrossers though. (too stiff)

I'm hoping HD tubes will mitigate some of this 2-Ply worry. They should resist pinching better. Also, I won't be attacking the rocks too hard fully loaded,
just keeping a good pace and trying to avoid the worst hazards.

Half of survival off road is reading the trail and good vision. Most novice riders look about 10 ft. ahead. A huge and basic mistake. They also sit. Standing, breathing and looking about 50 yds. up the trail is the difference between picking your way along like a Burro and flying. Ask any desert racer.

It's true, tires are very complex. I've been lucky enough to have attended several tire intros with the engineers with all the charts, graphs and power point shows. The Metzeler guys do an excellent job with this. Dunlop are a bit arrogant, Avon are great and just say...."get on the race track and we'll talk later...and don't forget your bag of free swag!" Gotta love that.

Did you guys know the TKC is made in Korea? Probably made in the same
factory with Duro's, Kenda's, Maxxis !

Patrick

__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

As long as they aren't subbed out to the factory that makes Ching Shens...

Hi Bonfireboy,
Did you put TKC'c on yer bike? if so how are you getting on with them, I'm thinking of putting them on mine and have been quoted £125 per set fitted to loose wheels. If you can get them cheaper let me know, it may be a good excuse for a ride down to Bognor !
Cheers Mike

I've got some spare TKCs for Africa Twins which are left over from the preparation for our trip to Africa. Send me a message and I'll send the sizes.

__________________
Find out details of my 2011 trip to Siberia on a lightweight dirtbike:
www.brighton2expeditions.co.uk

Hi,
TKC 80 - Continentals
front - 90/90-21 54S
rear - 120/90 - 17 64S

Would be interested (depending on price and where you are )
Feel free to email me mike.carson@hotmail.co.uk

cheers Mike

Not fitted the TKC's yet they will be going on as soon as I wear the last bit of tread off my current back tyre. Going to check this week on a price fitted will get back to you!

Africa twin tyres are..[below] only selling as a pair.

front tyres 90/90 21
rear tyres 140/80 17

laters,
Ed

__________________
Find out details of my 2011 trip to Siberia on a lightweight dirtbike:
www.brighton2expeditions.co.uk

Iv ridden with TKC80's and Anarkee's.

TKC's are a great tyre if you want to regularly ride the rough stuff but if your riding is mostly tarmac then think again.

I currently use anakees as I ride about 80% tarmac. They are fantastic on the road where the TKC's are sketchy on wet tarmac.

The anarkee's are fine on dry grass, unfinished roads and hard packed soil but not really any good on gravel or harsher offroad riding.

Think Anakee for mainly road with light off roading or TCK's for a 50:50 road/ta combo.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

For a 70% tarmac 30% light trail tyre go for a Michelin SIRAC.

It has a nice agricultural look.

Also long lasting.

__________________
Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).

If anyone is thinking of a TKC 80 the best price I've found is £55 (for a front) from Cheap Car Tyres Online » FREE DELIVERY » Oponeo.co.uk

Jack

I personally cannot recommend TKC 80s for yamaha xt600. The weave is alarming compared to Trailwings or Pirelli MT21s.