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

[Ixion]

Ah-ha! And I just looked up the rim size for the Transalp. Guess what. Yep, 2.5 inch rear .

[NordieBoy]

Nordie hit the nail square on the head re rim size and its relation to the "squareness/knife edge feeling" relating to the E-07's, and I'm certain a similar square profile will happen with the E-09.

The Scrambler rear rim is a 3.50". I measured the bead width of the old Metz Sahara, (which was an excellent tyre), it has a width of 3.50".
I then measured the TKC thats waiting in the wings, it has a bead width of 3.50".

Next, I checked the E-09 that is ready for winter. 3.00". The E-07 had a 3.00" bead width, was a bitch to fit. (lifted skin off my knuckles just trying to feed the tube in, and locate the stem), and needed a heap of soap, and high pressure(100psi) with a high flow to Bead out.
This explains the piss poor handling, and the squarish appearance to the profile.

Cheers Nordie. Bling to you sir.

Check the bead width on the 140 width E-07 then.

[tri boy]

Might do that through winter. In the mean time I've got to wear out:
1x New TKC.
1x 1/2 worn Sahara.
1x 1/2 worn Trail Wing.
Decide what to do with a brand new E-09, and a 90% new E-07.


More rubber than at a swingers night sitting here.

[marks]

the 21" front tire on the DT230 is just about done. I was thinking about putting a TKC80 on it.

Is the fact the the DT is quite light (120 odd kg) going to make any difference in tire choice?

The DT will be my 'adventure bike' until I have earned enough brownie points by redoing our bathroom sometime this year

cheers

Mark

[NordieBoy]

the 21" front tire on the DT230 is just about done. I was thinking about putting a TKC80 on it.

Is the fact the the DT is quite light (120 odd kg) going to make any difference in tire choice?

The DT will be my 'adventure bike' until I have earned enough brownie points by redoing our bathroom sometime this year

I'd go for something with smaller knobs for the lighter bike.
Try a Shinko 244 from CycleTreads for about $50.

[warewolf]

I'd go for something with smaller knobs for the lighter bike.

The TKC80 in 21" has smaller knobs and a tighter spacing that the 19" jobs.

[tri boy]

the TKC 19" on the fr of "Fatty" is taking its time to wear out. (8k and 60% worn), so on the DT I would think it will last for freeking yonks.
Expensive, but could be great value in the long run.

I know nothing about Shinko's, lesbian love, Elephant hearing, Hindu marriage ceremonies, Platypus habitat choice............

[Motu]

Is the fact the the DT is quite light (120 odd kg) going to make any difference in tire choice?

The DT230 is not a light bike for what it is - a 225cc 2 stroke.But it's a 2 stroke and that makes a bigger difference to the front wheel than weight - when you shut the throttle on a 2 stroke it doesn't weight and load up the front wheel like a thumper.You can come into soft,thick and loose stuff with the throttle shut and the front will just roll over top,a thumper will sink in and you will fight it.So yeah,a TKC80 would do nicely.....I just can't stomach the price.

[tri boy]

Right. The Mitas E-07 has been removed from Fatty, (scramblers new nickname), and the new TKC80 is fitted up.
The Sth Isld ride early next month will be a great test of it's durability under all road conditions, plus I will be quite loaded up at times, so handling will be interesting also.
First important point I have noted, is it's ease to Bead Out.(30-40psi), and it ease to fit. These points are almost worth the cost alone. The Mitas took a bit of effort to break the bead by hand/levers.
The other point is that the side wall actually feels softer/more pliable than the E-09 that sat next to it.
13500km was the fitted milage, and 10.0mm cntr tread depth.

The new fr TKC will be fitted next weekish.

[emaN]

...The Mitas took a bit of effort to break the bead by hand/levers....

dude, you're making me feel bad now

[tri boy]

dude, you're making me feel bad now

Alls good mate. Had a similar hold up changing, and beading the tyres on kanny's Volty.
Would love a decent bead breaker at home.
Can't have everything I guess.

Pic of the Mitas heading your way.

[emaN]

just finished.
she's all gassed up, oil&filter done, almost new rear tyre (big ups to tri boy!) lookin' nice & shiny, just waiting for her rightful owner to go ticky-touring around NZ...again.
if ya see a greeny XT with an older chap cruising around, say g'day to him...proper good sort!
i'll take a pic of him & the bike when he gets here and post it up.

[warewolf]

Has anyone used a Pirelli MT21 and Mitas E-09 on the same bike? Can you give me an indication of the relative durability of them, please?

The E-09 costs more than the MT21 at my local shop.

[Transalper]

I can tell you that the E09 lasts a little longer that a D606 if that's any help. The E09 grips the seal better IMO but isn't quite as good in the dirt as the D606.

If you can compare the D606 with the MT21 then you may be able to work it out.

[warewolf]

Thanks Carl. From what I've read previously the MT21 and D606 are pretty much equal in many respects. I was hoping the E-09 would have more grip in the dirt (mud, actually), so if it's less I'll give it a miss.