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

[Taz]

The V rubber VRM 147 is a fantastic tyre. Really good on the road and in the wet. Much better in the wet than the cheng shin C858.

[marks]

I put a set of D606's on a couple of months ago and after 3000-3300k the rear has about 1-2 mm left on the middle and the front is 2/3 worn and needs the pressure dropped to 20ish to bite into gravel. I ran both tires at 30-32psi on the road (and most of the time off road as well). I'm a little disappointed with the tire life (although very happy with their performance on and off road)

I've owned the bike for 3 months and done 4500km so assume I do 18000km this year. Thats 6 rears @ $155 plus $20 fitting = $1050 and 4 fronts at $148 plus $20 fitting = $672

Total tire cost = $1722 or $30 per week
Tire cost will not be far off petrol cost

I might try an E09 on the rear and a MT21 on the front and see how they last

I think knobbyish tires are right for the sort of 'soft off road' riding I prefer.

any thoughts (and no I don't want to change my own tires - I hate doing that) or suggestions on reducing ongoing cost while not compromising off road performance?

[warewolf]

Tire cost will not be far off petrol cost

That doesn't surprise me. Costs for me (last time I worked it out) was 1/3 each for petrol, tyres, and everything else (rego, insurance, servicing).

Total tire cost = $1722 or $30 per week

Or $3.73/100km for the front tyre, and $5.83/100km for the rear... getting up there alright. The rear tops even the $TKC80$ rear I ran 4 years ago. Those tyre prices are a lot higher than I've been paying, but I haven't bought a tyre for 12 months and I know the prices have climbed sharply.

Going to a MT21/T63/E-09 would increase your tyre life for a small traction loss. Other than shopping for a better price on the D606, can't suggest any different. Except; suck it up and change the tyres yourself, but invest in some really good tools that make the job so easy you won't hate it. $20 per tyre adds up.

For the type of varied riding & touring you do, you're stuck between a rock and a hard place.

[cooneyr]

....I might try an E09 on the rear and a MT21 on the front and see how they last

I think knobbyish tires are right for the sort of 'soft off road' riding I prefer.....

I really liked the D606 but managed to destroy them in about the same distance. I was paying about $135 each for the rears and about $120 for the fronts with no fitting so definatly shop around.

In saying this the E-09 on the back of the XTZ is lasting really well compared to the D606. So far it's done about 3500kms with a lot of that two up at speed on seal. It got a good thrasing on Sunday (first time it's actually started to look like its had to put power down) and it is still at about 1/2 tread depth. The E-09 tends to step out more comming out of a gravel corner under power but if you learn to control this and ride accordingly it seems to be pretty much as good everywhere else. Can't hurt to give one a spin with the KM's your doing. The impressions so far has made this the prefered tyre for the XTZ - but then again it is pretty much the only knobbie in 140/80-17!

[Oscar]

I put a set of D606's on a couple of months ago and after 3000-3300k the rear has about 1-2 mm left on the middle and the front is 2/3 worn and needs the pressure dropped to 20ish to bite into gravel. I ran both tires at 30-32psi on the road (and most of the time off road as well). I'm a little disappointed with the tire life (although very happy with their performance on and off road)

I've owned the bike for 3 months and done 4500km so assume I do 18000km this year. Thats 6 rears @ $155 plus $20 fitting = $1050 and 4 fronts at $148 plus $20 fitting = $672

Total tire cost = $1722 or $30 per week
Tire cost will not be far off petrol cost

I might try an E09 on the rear and a MT21 on the front and see how they last

I think knobbyish tires are right for the sort of 'soft off road' riding I prefer.

any thoughts (and no I don't want to change my own tires - I hate doing that) or suggestions on reducing ongoing cost while not compromising off road performance?

I dream about getting 3,500km out of a rear knobbly

[Woodman]

Marks, i really think you need to ride more conservatively, you need to stop wheelspin completely and stick to the speed limit when on tar, but seriously 3500k to 4000k is about what my e09 rear will get too.
Please can you not do a costing exercise like that again, and spend the time changing your own tyres

[junkmanjoe]

hi chaps
if any one is interested.
im selling a set of E-07's
traveled aprox 800kms from new.
front 90-90-21
rear 130-80-17

possably have a E-09 rear for sale traveled aprox 1.700kms,
may keep as a spare.....twist my arm maybe....

can view on tardme
auction-216113741

or pm myself.

cheers.
JMJ

[Underground]

E07 , I think Ive found the everlasting adv tyre for those on a budget.
after 8000 odd k's in the last few weeks mine's only worn down to that band around the middle ,I normaly only get 4 to 5000 k to completely bald out of other tyres .
No bad habits ,only had to be assisted up one slippery slope on the KCR
Had it step out a couple of times on those on those discusting shameful NI sealed roads in the wet but it gripped up and came back into line nicely when I buttoned off (probably only spun up due to the awesome power of the @)

[NordieBoy]

I only got about 3,000 more out of mine once I hit that band

[clint640]

I only got about 3,000 more out of mine once I hit that band

Is there a 140-17 EO-7 available for the DR? I tried a 130-18 on the 640 for Oz & it's down to the band now after 8500km. The 140-18 I had on before didn't have the band & therefore had a touch more traction & was warrantable for a little longer, so I think I'll go back to the 140 EO-7 next.

On the front I tried a D605 for the 1st time from Port Augusta on, it seemed to work pretty well, if it wears OK & survives some more rigorous testing it may even replace the TKC80 as front tyre of choice as they're a good bit cheaper.

Cheers
Clint

[NordieBoy]

Is there a 140-17 EO-7 available for the DR? I tried a 130-18 on the 640 for Oz & it's down to the band now after 8500km. The 140-18 I had on before didn't have the band & therefore had a touch more traction & was warrantable for a little longer, so I think I'll go back to the 140 EO-7 next.

On the front I tried a D605 for the 1st time from Port Augusta on, it seemed to work pretty well, if it wears OK & survives some more rigorous testing it may even replace the TKC80 as front tyre of choice as they're a good bit cheaper.

Cheers
Clint

They do the 140 for the 17" but it seems to be a different compound.

The stock rear on the DR is a 120 anyway.

[Willdat?]

Is there anywhere else that we can buy Avon's?

http://www.dold.co.nz/Products/Avon/...istanzia).aspx

I see Quasi likes 'em...

[junkmanjoe]

do these different brands of road nobby tires have speed rateings on them.

[Woodman]

Fitted me new Mich t63 this arvo. Bit of a pain really as the bead was that squashed in it was impossible to put the tube in and get the valve thru the ole.

Ended up putting one side of the tyre on the rim and putting the tube hrough the fitted side so the valve would locate in the hole, then had to fit the other side of the tyre then take the tyre off the rim on the other side again so the rest of the tube could be fitted. Sounds awkward but it was the only way, the mitas was way easier and quicker to fit.

[Paladin]

D606's on the beach!!!!