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

**Kokopelli** · 10th October 2009, 21:05

Yes, it's the same tyre size. The tyre had 5000km on it, but looked like it could easily double this amount. The wear was also distributed quite evenly, with no obvious flat spot.

I had and still have an Anakee on the front. The last one lasted up to 16000km, but had a pronounced saw-tooth pattern by then. This bike is my main form of transport, so I needed a new tyre immediately.

I am usually not picky when it comes to tyres. I used to run Tourance, but they've become too expensive. I found the Anakee to be good tyres, but it's always possible that there are better ones available.

I liked the Shinko 705 because the tread pattern worked really well on gravel and they seemed to stick well enough on the road, wet or dry.

Even though my tyres were mismatched with a radial on the front and a cross-ply on the rear I got confident enough to run it to the edge. Having said that, getting to the edge of the Shinko seems to be harder than reaching the edge of an Anakee.

Chances are this was just a fluke. I know I could pick up a nail anytime and deflate the tyre with a similar result. But seeing the tyre in this state has certainly spooked me.

When I just got the tyre I queried the tyre pressure with Shinko. Their response wasn't really satisfactory. I know that 33psi is the maximum allowable tyre pressure, but is this the ideal pressure for a 250kg bike?

The TKC80 is also a cross-ply and from memory (I may be wrong here) it has a mximum pressure of 42psi. BMW recommends 36 psi for the rear tyre.

Maybe the tyre was fine, but is just not suitable for my heavy bike, or it was just a manufacturing fluke. As you have said, this can happen. Mind you, I know stuff-all about how they do quality control on tyres.

Maybe it's: round, check, black, check Ok, good to go?

I certainly hope it was just a fluke. Because I thought these tyres had a good potential.

**Howie** · 10th October 2009, 21:24

On the subject of Shinko tyres I've had a shinko E700 on the back of my KLR for the last 4500-5000km and would have put another one on except none in the country in the right size untill late November. I used it as a all around tyre lots of gravel roads, a few 4WD roads, and probably about 50% sealed roads in all conditions, had no problems at all with it.
Have just brought a Michelin T63 to put on soon, as that is what I am running on the front.

**oldrider** · 10th October 2009, 21:27

I have an E-mail address for a Shinko rep that replied to my enquiries, would you like it?

I will PM it to you if you like!

You might get a better run from this guy if you tell him what happened and quote the details off the wall of the tyre!

**Kokopelli** · 11th October 2009, 07:43

Originally Posted by oldrider

I have an E-mail address for a Shinko rep that replied to my enquiries, would you like it?

I will PM it to you if you like!

You might get a better run from this guy if you tell him what happened and quote the details off the wall of the tyre!

Is it a NZ Rep.? Because the American Shinko tyre specialist I contacted initially told me to run the tyres at 40psi and up to 46psi. He'd gotten the info from the Korean Shinko website, which was of course incorrect. They have since changed it.

For the record, I've never put in more than 33psi and also had to remind the tyre fitter to do the same. I no longer have the tyre, as it will be sent back to the importer. I hope they won't just replace it with another one.

Howie, I have T63 front and rear on my R80GS. These a great tyres and go well on the road to and from rides. However, I prefer the M21 on the front. It's more aggressive and handles just as well on the road. The T63 front has puny little knobbies. The next set will be D606's. It's my adventure bike, so it really on gets used when the going is likely to get tough.

**NordieBoy** · 12th October 2009, 18:05

The Shinko 244 is a good value rear and I get about 8000km from the rear on the 650 so on the little Kwakka I'd expect even better mileage.

Not too sure on the current price difference between it and the TW302 though.

**klxmerida** · 12th October 2009, 18:09

Where in Nelson do you get them from? Its not a brand I have heard of before, but any local shop should be able to order them in right? The TW302 has a RRP of $100 according CycleTreads.

**NordieBoy** · 12th October 2009, 19:09

From Clive (CycleTreads) or anywhere really.

**motorcyclesonline.net** · 13th October 2009, 13:14

Hello
You state that the maximum allowable tyre pressure for the front tyre is 33psi

This pressure is based on a maximum load of 243kg as shown on the tyre

The rear tyre is rated at 640lbs at 41psi

Can I suggest that you should never run a pressure less than that recommended by the motorcycle manufacturer and if you are loading up the machine, to increase pressure accordingly

As acceleration & braking forces are applied, you will exceed this load rating and need to increase the pressure to allow for this

My comments are based on 40yrs automotive experience and seeing taxis achieve 80 - 100000km from a set of tyres simply by utilising correct tyre pressures - this is particularly so with radials which require the pressure to give the sidewalls rigidity

Hope this helps

Bill

Originally Posted by Kokopelli

Yes, it's the same tyre size. The tyre had 5000km on it, but looked like it could easily double this amount. The wear was also distributed quite evenly, with no obvious flat spot.

I had and still have an Anakee on the front. The last one lasted up to 16000km, but had a pronounced saw-tooth pattern by then. This bike is my main form of transport, so I needed a new tyre immediately.

I am usually not picky when it comes to tyres. I used to run Tourance, but they've become too expensive. I found the Anakee to be good tyres, but it's always possible that there are better ones available.

I liked the Shinko 705 because the tread pattern worked really well on gravel and they seemed to stick well enough on the road, wet or dry.

Even though my tyres were mismatched with a radial on the front and a cross-ply on the rear I got confident enough to run it to the edge. Having said that, getting to the edge of the Shinko seems to be harder than reaching the edge of an Anakee.

Chances are this was just a fluke. I know I could pick up a nail anytime and deflate the tyre with a similar result. But seeing the tyre in this state has certainly spooked me.

When I just got the tyre I queried the tyre pressure with Shinko. Their response wasn't really satisfactory. I know that 33psi is the maximum allowable tyre pressure, but is this the ideal pressure for a 250kg bike?

The TKC80 is also a cross-ply and from memory (I may be wrong here) it has a mximum pressure of 42psi. BMW recommends 36 psi for the rear tyre.

Maybe the tyre was fine, but is just not suitable for my heavy bike, or it was just a manufacturing fluke. As you have said, this can happen. Mind you, I know stuff-all about how they do quality control on tyres.

Maybe it's: round, check, black, check Ok, good to go?

I certainly hope it was just a fluke. Because I thought these tyres had a good potential.

**oldrider** · 13th October 2009, 15:10

Originally Posted by motorcyclesonline.net

Hello
You state that the maximum allowable tyre pressure for the front tyre is 33psi

This pressure is based on a maximum load of 243kg as shown on the tyre

The rear tyre is rated at 640lbs at 41psi

Can I suggest that you should never run a pressure less than that recommended by the motorcycle manufacturer and if you are loading up the machine, to increase pressure accordingly

As acceleration & braking forces are applied, you will exceed this load rating and need to increase the pressure to allow for this

My comments are based on 40yrs automotive experience and seeing taxis achieve 80 - 100000km from a set of tyres simply by utilising correct tyre pressures - this is particularly so with radials which require the pressure to give the sidewalls rigidity

Hope this helps

Bill

Hey there Bill, not really disputing your logic but..........

Don't you really mean, the tyre manufacturer? Unless you are running the tyres "recommended" by the motorcycle manufacturer!

The tyres being discussed are not brands and types recommended by the motorcycle manufacturer!

Also:

The tyres we are discussing here are not radials, they are, stiff walled Bias ply tyres! (whatever that actually means, cross-ply maybe)

The rear tyre is rated at 717lbs @ 33 psi max. (the one in question by Kokopelli) It is a, "Shinko, Trail Master E 705".

The front tyre is rated at 536lbs @ 33 psi max.

These tyres are designed and marketed for 75% road - 25% off road use.

What we are trying to establish is whether or not these tyres can become a suitable, reliable, economic and safe substitution for the recommended tyres!

I am currently trialling a set of these on my (06) Triumph Tiger 955i, they seem OK so far (in most conditions) but very early days yet! (311-mixed miles)

**NordieBoy** · 13th October 2009, 20:57

From the Whites page...

Originally Posted by Whites

NEW FOR 2009! SHINKO 705 DUAL SPORT TYRE

New from Shinko, the 705 is a DOT approved dual sport tyre designed for 75% street and 25% trail riding. An aggressive tread pattern provides excellent wet and dry weather adhesion and the compound resists tearing while riding off road. 4-ply Nylon construction.
Available: H Rated (230 KPH) EXCEPT FOR 4.10-18 which is P Rated (150 KPH).

**oldrider** · 14th October 2009, 07:35

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

From the Whites page...

True but the bigger tyres are "Q" rated!

**clint640** · 14th October 2009, 10:51

Originally Posted by motorcyclesonline.net

Can I suggest that you should never run a pressure less than that recommended by the motorcycle manufacturer

You can. But I'm still going to let my tyres down to much less than that for offroad situations as would most who are reading this forum

Cheers
Clint

**umopom** · 14th October 2009, 12:20

Always a compromise but............... I have been running a Mitas E-07 on the rear for the last 2000kms and like the balance - good traction in most conditions and wearing well.

http://www.mitas.cz/index.php?strank...&thread=&size=