Tyre choice for adventure riding? (Mixing road and off-road)

**NordieBoy** · 4th September 2007, 21:36

The MT60 is a totally different tyre.
What are they thinking?

**Transalper** · 4th September 2007, 22:18

I can't see that written anywhere on that site. Can you put a more specific link up?

**warewolf** · 4th September 2007, 23:33

Pirelli MT90 A/T Scorpion Rear, Pirelli MT90 A/T Scorpion Front

Really I don't think they are that different. By all accounts the MT60 is a highly-rated tyre. Some sizing issues, maybe. That site doesn't list an MT60 to suit the 640 Adventure (140/80-18) but the MT90 A/T is available in that size and more. There used to be an MT60 (bias ply) and MT60R (17" radial) but even the pirelli site lists only a couple of sizes - nothing useful for an adventure rider.

Maybe if they do re-vamp the range they will update the site 12 months afterwards... typical.

**NordieBoy** · 5th September 2007, 08:47

Looks like the MT90 would be more suited to Adv bikes.
Nice ridge around the centre and bigger knobs with more depth.
I'm a wuss and I only got 2000km out of an MT60 Corsa rear.
Was nice up 'till then though.

**Transalper** · 5th September 2007, 09:54

Looks like another stay the heck away from the dirt when it starts to get wet tire..

**Wolf** · 5th September 2007, 13:55

Originally Posted by Transalper

Looks like another stay the heck away from the dirt when it starts to get wet tire..

It is that - it's shyte on mud. Dry dirt, gravel, tarmac (dry or wet) are all fine.

**warewolf** · 5th September 2007, 14:07

Originally Posted by Wolf

it's shyte on mud. Dry dirt, gravel, tarmac (dry or wet) are all fine.

Yebbut so is the MT90 A/T. Compared to something like the MT21, the MT60 and MT90 A/T would be so close it's not worth arguing the poofteenths between them. Which is probably some of the reasoning behind Pirelli's decision to drop one of them.

**Wolf** · 5th September 2007, 17:16

Originally Posted by warewolf

Yebbut so is the MT90 A/T.

Heh, I thought he was talking about the MT90 A/T. Hence my comments - I run MT90 A/Ts on the XT225. Good in some areas, crap in others.

**warewolf** · 5th September 2007, 17:50

Originally Posted by Wolf

Heh, I thought he was talking about the MT90 A/T. Hence my comments

Ah, confusion...which only really goes to emphasize my point, that the 60 and 90 are pretty same-ish!

And on re-reading the original quote, it could be that the MT60 line is being revamped.

**Wolf** · 5th September 2007, 19:51

Originally Posted by warewolf

Ah, confusion...which only really goes to emphasize my point, that the 60 and 90 are pretty same-ish!

And on re-reading the original quote, it could be that the MT60 line is being revamped.

From NordieBoy's comparison pic, they do look very same-ish.

**NordieBoy** · 5th September 2007, 20:00

I'd say the MT90 looks to be harder wearing with deeper grooves and I like that joined up centre section.

**clint640** · 7th September 2007, 13:15

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

I'd say the MT90 looks to be harder wearing with deeper grooves and I like that joined up centre section.

I had an MT90 140/18 on the back of the 640 for a while, got about 9000km out of it IIRC. Pretty good on road, It was OK on gravel when new, but got a bit sketchy when it wore a bit, I prefer the MT70 rear for it's extra grip in the dirt & gravel, but they do only last about 6000km. I'll probably be doing a fair bit of commuting over summer (you should see the roads on the way to my work

) so I might even thow an MT90 back on for that.

The front TKC80 continues to be tha shizz.

Cheers
Clint

**NordieBoy** · 7th September 2007, 17:36

Got a Shinko 244 rear on the way.
Half the price of the Kenda 270 and the IRC GP1 isn't available.
RRP of $70
Only one way to find out if it's any good...

**cooneyr** · 7th September 2007, 18:21

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Got a Shinko 244 rear on the way.
Half the price of the Kenda 270 and the IRC GP1 isn't available.
RRP of $70
Only one way to find out if it's any good...

Not a bad tyre. Plug has been through two of them - got about 6k out of one when being rough on it and about 9k out of the other IIRC. Ive got about a 1/2 worn one in the shed but am using knoblies at the moment. I'd use them all the time except want the extra traction off road at the moment.

Until you get to the bottom of the holes in the centre of the blocks they wear relatively rapidly but after that they dont wear very fast. I had a fresh one on for the first attempt at the DB and by the end of the 720km it was almost at the bottom of the block holes.

Cheers R