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

[warewolf]

I know guys who buy car tyres years in advance. As long as they are kept out of sunlight, the theory is that the rubber hardens, and gives better wear.
...
Don't know if this means shit for knobbly bike tyres though.

... at the expense of grip. Personally I would rather buy a new tyre with specific grip/wear characteristics, than attempt to modify the tyres' durability, and goodness knows what else, by letting them age. It is entirely relevant to bike tyres.

Doesn't mean I won't have tyres sitting around waiting to be used (got ~30 in the shed now ) but I'm not deluding myself that like a fine wine, they're getting better with age. As they get older, they lose flexibility and grip. Fortunately (??) I go through knobbies at a fairly rapid rate so this lot should be burned up before they "go off".

I've got one very old tyre that is as hard as a brick despite near-new tread. It's a great reminder that tyres deteriorate if left to sit (it won't ever go on a bike again).

[bart]

I kind of figured as much. There had to be a trade off somewhere, as the factory would already 'age' or 'cure' them so they were at there optimum when you purchase the tyre.

[Taz]

The tyre on the rear of my Guzzi is over 10 years old....... It's still gripping fine.

[junkmanjoe]

i fitted some new shoes last night..
front went on no trouble,,,but the rear was a different story,, took ages to brake the old bead,on the scorp, that center stand works a treat... have to remember that if im out in the wap waps some where..
any ways, ive brougt a Michelin desert, and t63 front, i all ready had a set of mitas tubes.. so we see how they go.
mitas tires not due in for a couple months..
NOW LETS GO FIND SOME GRAVEL AND TRY THEM OUT................
JMJ

[bart]

Shit Joe, that's a big back tyre. How wide is that thing?

[Fluffy Cat]

Velly interesting Mr Bond....You will have to let us know how they go. They certainly look the business, wonder how they will hold up in the rain?.

[junkmanjoe]

Velly interesting Mr Bond....You will have to let us know how they go. They certainly look the business, wonder how they will hold up in the rain?.

they look and did the job just fine today, i had to catch up with chap in woodville.
so while i was there, i decided to do the loop down west coast to welly, and catch up with eddieb.

had dry roads, road works, so a bit of gravel, and rain, wet roads, Rimutakas was very wet, no trouble up there, and there is plenty of paint on that road.
front is great, backs a little bit of road noise, other wise there good.

time will tell how long they last,,

JMJ

[junkmanjoe]

Shit Joe, that's a big back tyre. How wide is that thing?

Hi bart, its a 140-80-18.

[bart]

Hi bart, its a 140-80-18.

Looks wider than that. I had a 140 on the DR650 recently. I actually found it too wide. As the tread wore in the middle it left large knobs on the edges, which made handling very interesting on the seal. looks like this tyre of yours isn't too aggressive on the edges though, so should be fine.

[cooneyr]

Looks wider than that. I had a 140 on the DR650 recently. I actually found it too wide. As the tread wore in the middle it left large knobs on the edges, which made handling very interesting on the seal. looks like this tyre of yours isn't too aggressive on the edges though, so should be fine.

The desert is a very square profile tyre compared to most tyres. Makes them look at lot bigger than most but they aren't.

Keen to hear how it lasts JMJ.

Cheers R

[junkmanjoe]

have had it over to with in 5mill of out edge knobs,,,, on the rear,,, just need to forget whats on there and go for it.... possibly wouldn't do that in the wet...

JMJ

[Woodman]

Ok tyre report after the dusty. 2500k riding.

The new t63 performed like a trooper, but is now pretty much worn to the point where I replace the last one.

D606 front looks a bit wornerer too, and will stay on and will be replaced with another d606 as it is very confidence inspiring and is the best tyre I have ever had on the klr. Noisy though.

[cynna]

i was happy with my t63 as well but it did wear quite quickly over the 1500 k i did

did you get your puncture in the front or the back??

[Woodman]

i was happy with my t63 as well but it did wear quite quickly over the 1500 k i did

did you get your puncture in the front or the back??

back tyre, picked up a nail. Jeez did I ever get paranoid about getting another puncture after that?

Just looking at the tyre before, and it has pretty much ripped off a centre knob too. Sharp rock?

[JATZ]

Our 2 T63's look to be about half worn but still holding good shape, I was impressed with the grip they have, really had to work to get the back to spin, even on the Maruia saddle sandy road surface. The new MT21 was less than perfect over the w/end, several times the front would wash out which didn't inspire confidence and kept cornering slow.
The boy got good wear out of his AC110 on the little bike, and it seemed to handle well