What tyre for Tarawera?

[Brainflex]

What tyres did you guys use for tarawera last year and how were they?
Thanks

[Henk]

S12s worked fine last time I did it (about 5 years ago)

[B0000M]

S12s seem popular, tho apparently michilen have changed their numbers and its now called a ms12 (so im told)

ive just gone and got a MH12 (harder rubber) and used it last week in soft conditions and found it very good, hopefully will last longer nailing it on the gravel bits, which there is a bit of at tarawera

[scott411]

i tend to run intermediate tyres down there, like a bridgestone m402, or a michelin MH3, i find the grave roads really tear up the s12's and ther mud tyres

[barty5]

dont run a d739 unless you want no control over the rear end worst tyre ever had time for new one.

[cheese]

I ran a S12 last year, probably go for a M12 this time. The S12 I was pretty happy with. Mind you I don't give it handfulls on the gravel.....meow.....

[Henk]

S12s seem popular, tho apparently michilen have changed their numbers and its now called a ms12 (so im told)

ive just gone and got a MH12 (harder rubber) and used it last week in soft conditions and found it very good, hopefully will last longer nailing it on the gravel bits, which there is a bit of at tarawera

S12 is S12. MS2 is known as MS3. Did you get MH3?

Oh, and a harder tyre is more likely to tear itself to bits on the gravel sections.

[barty5]

i ran the ms3 on my 426 no probs not on this race but did a lot of other rides allwways had good grip even when worn ill be get one very soon for the 450

[B0000M]

Oh, and a harder tyre is more likely to tear itself to bits on the gravel sections.

that defies my logic,

if you rub a tomato over gravel it minces it

if you rub an avacado over gravel it minces it, but nowhere near as much


if the knobs are larger and arent bending over heaps under stress, why would they break off?

[Brainflex]

Thanks for the replies peeps. Been a big help.

[4stroke]

bridgestone m402 would be my choice.

[mattwood]

dont run a d739 unless you want no control over the rear end worst tyre ever had time for new one.


aww shit u serious? i just got some of them :bash: got given them tho, so not so bad..

[barty5]

aww shit u serious? i just got some of them :bash: got given them tho, so not so bad..

save them for summer useless in the wet stuff just ask 4stroke he was watchin and cracking up over my lines problem was he kept following my shit lines was wonderibg what the fuck i was doin.

[4stroke]

save them for summer useless in the wet stuff just ask 4stroke he was watchin and cracking up over my lines problem was he kept following my shit lines was wonderibg what the fuck i was doin.

damm right, was funny watchn him trying to go round a slipery corner with no power on, all it wanted to do was go arse about face, think he would have had more grip from a slick road tyre.

[mattwood]

damm right, was funny watchn him trying to go round a slipery corner with no power on, all it wanted to do was go arse about face, think he would have had more grip from a slick road tyre.


haha damn, it'll make me even slower then i already am then!! :shit: well, the fronts a D739 and the backs a D756 i think..? off a friends new YZ125, just got used to run the bike in for 5mins.

[marks]

anyone used BFGoodrich Crossengo's

any opinions?

[camchain]

Haven't done it yet but I think (from reading reports) T100 is mainly softish volanic ash, and gets a bit whooped out/chopped up, but has some gravel?? I spent my early riding in and around Turangi still volcanic plateau but a lot of hard pumice down there.

Just tried a couple of cheapies. Kenda Millville (Supposedly directional - soft/intermediate) which has suffered badly with knobs torn off, parts of tyre has 5 or six in a row gone in about 25hrs use.

Before that had tried Crossengo which lasted better. Hard to judge performance difference between the two.

Best tyre recently was Pirelli Extra. MX training tyre (mid) but harder compound so lasted well and seemed to perform well espec when new. Ran this tyre at 8psi for Paparimu trail ride (v v slippery) and cords came apart from inside of tyre though. Tube had bad snake bite. Might try a couple of MT32s next.

Didn't think much of the S12. Prob best tyre for soft and sand but no good on hard. Chunked badly on gravel. Have noticed new S12s (Thailand) seem to have a harder case than previous made in Spain(?) jobs. I think S12's flexy case is big part of why so good in the soft. Note rotated side knob on S12 front. Good for penetration on soft ground but I reckon no turning grip on harder stuff. I'm a bit dubious about S12 rears on hard wet clay (plenty of that about in 'soft' NZ winter riding). Not enough contact area with those skinny wide spaced knobs. Current front is Michellin MS3 which I really like. Front before was MH2 (Med/Hard) which often seemed to wash out a lot when cornering.

When comparing tread patterns at shop I use two fingers between knobs (rears). More space = better mud clearing. Less space and bigger knobs = more ground contact on harder surface. The other thing to remember is a so called 'hard' tyre actually should be of softer compound for better bite. 'Soft' tyre is harder compound to penetrate soft ground.

Uh oh. sorry for the wordy post, but tyres are an interesting/important subject.

[A&R]

Now here's a question I wondering if you tyre techs can tell me - can i turn the tyre round on the wheel so all the worn edges of the knobs are facing backwards and i've got the nice sharp little unworn edges facing the front?:clap:

I'm presently running a S12, which has got a bit worn over the last few rides, and rather than buy a new tyre as all the knobs are basically intact was thinking I can save some dosh here :banana:by just turning the tyre round.

[camchain]

Yeah, guys do reverse tires. I've never done it because mine always seem pretty worn on the braking (back) edge of the knob as well. The odd tire has one way tread pattern like M12(?) rear - has a paddle shape.

I reckon one to watch for wear are the knobs on rows at 10 to 2 position on your front tire (edge that faces inward) as this knob does most of the work on hard turning. Once that edge starts to round off, front starts to push. Good front tires keep you upright.