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

[NordieBoy]

Just wanted a 2nd opinion on these tires, done about 11,000km and they started to feel unstable at tarmac speeds, not sure if it is just tire pressure.

Anyway, they still have some tread left, so keep them? or bin em and move on?

I'd keep them. You can still see tread in the middle.

[dino3310]

what are they? they look a lot like the IRC ive got on the front of mine, if so then mine are about worn the same but im not noticing any loss in traction except for the metal, so i'll be up grading to more aggressive offroad soon.
the photo looks like theyl need replacing soon, if you replace them now with that amount of tread on i'll be keen for them

[Waihou Thumper]

to do a fair bit of riding south, put new ones on and save these for the return or flick them off to Dino...
Go south with new tyres, piece of mind. By the time you get to the Dusty, they'll have scrubbed in nicely and you can abuse them on the metal roads down there.
As they are, you aint gonna get much grip down south...Change 'em

[.chris]

what are they? they look a lot like the IRC ive got on the front of mine, if so then mine are about worn the same but im not noticing any loss in traction except for the metal, so i'll be up grading to more aggressive offroad soon.
the photo looks like theyl need replacing soon, if you replace them now with that amount of tread on i'll be keen for them

It is a Metz Sahara 3, I have the rear which still has a bit of tread left on it, I was thinking of keeping them till I do a road based trip and run them to the ground, but switching tires around just seems too hard.

I think I might just replace it, heading away on the bike for about 2 months and I do not really want to have to bother with tire troubles.

NZKTM, you are right, I had planned to change my front when I made it to Fairlie (Dad's workshop/brother doing the change would be easy) but since cycletreads charge shit all for a tire change, might as well get it done.

And just found they have a nice Karoo 90/90 21 in stock, so I am going with that one.

It is about $40 cheaper than a TKC80 front, so I figure its worth a shot.

[warewolf]

to do a fair bit of riding south, put new ones on and save these for the return or flick them off to Dino...
Go south with new tyres, piece of mind.

Wot 'e said. I don't change front tyres at the tread depth limits, but sooner when they get out of shape and start handling poorly. If you are questioning the handling, then definitely biff it regardless of remaining tread depth. You've done well out of them, nearly double the kays I got on the 640A.

Why have a nice bike like the 690 then handicap it with lousy worn-out tyres??

switching tires around just seems too hard.
...
And just found they have a nice Karoo 90/90 21 in stock, so I am going with that one.

Learn to change tyres if you want to maximise wear, so you can have a selection and fit the one most appropriate for the riding at hand.

Let us know how that front Karoo goes. The rears are renowned for good grip but the tread just evaporates.

[bart]

Just threw one of these on the back for a laugh. $120 of Vee Rubber awesomeness for the summer. Not bad around town. Can't wait to see how it goes on gravel. Doughnut city.

[Kokopelli]

Just so I can post here as well :-). What the consensus on D606 tyres? Would they survive the ride from AKL to Wellington in reasonable shape? Otherwise I'll got with T63 again, maybe with an MT21 front. I really like that combination.

[Box'a'bits]

Just so I can post here as well :-). What the consensus on D606 tyres? Would they survive the ride from AKL to Wellington in reasonable shape? Otherwise I'll got with T63 again, maybe with an MT21 front. I really like that combination.

Calling MarkS to the courtesy phone, MarkS to the courtesy phone
(he runs D606's on the KLR all the time).

I like the MT21 front T63 rear combo too. Wear is better from the T63 than the MT21 rear & much better grip in gravel.

[cooneyr]

Just so I can post here as well :-). What the consensus on D606 tyres? Would they survive the ride from AKL to Wellington in reasonable shape? Otherwise I'll got with T63 again, maybe with an MT21 front. I really like that combination.

I am a big fan of D606's but they dont come in the right size for current bike. Only thing is you need to keep the pressures at around 30psi to get more than about 2500/3000kms out of them. At 24psi I almost killed a set doing the Dust Butt (1000kms) but at 30 psi I got 5000kms no worries. Never tried the T63 rear but I rate the D606 front over the MT21 front and still use it as my preferred front tyre. The D606s are softer and grip better both on and off seal and have a better life at the right pressures compared with the MT21's which I find very "plasticy".

Cheers R

[marks]

I've chewed through 2 x d606 fronts and 2 x d606 rears on the klr this year.

Absolutely love them. Under very hard braking the front gets a bit squiggly but otherwise they are great on the road (they do howl though - removing your baffle fixes this). What Ryan says about tire pressures is spot on. I get 5000k out of a front and 3500 out of a rear.

I've also been using up various half worn rear tires this year and the off road grip of the rear D606 is better than an E09 and vastly better than my current trail wing - particularly under braking on loose surfaces.

[rogerh]

Been through 2 of these on the back of a 640E. Cannot agree about the pressures thing enough. One of them only lasted about 800km, due to having to ride it back from Kawhia to Hamilton at trail pressure (about 16 - 17 psi) one day. This trip alone used about 2/3 of the tyre . Via a scenic route though, and not being shy with the gas.

The other one got about 1700k by keeping the pressure right (30ish) when on road, with about a third off road. On road, they actually last reasonably well at low speed, but higher speed and any abuse chews them up pretty quick, and possibly the best equal tyre I have had off road. (liked the Michelin S12 too). Good predictable tyre under all conditions, even when it gets to the end of its life, but as with any knobbly care required in the wet (especially on those white lines!) on road. Can break loose, but at least predictably.

[cold comfort]

Don't like the 244 front. Didn't really do anything wrong but didn't inspire confidence.

I do like the 244 rear though. Slides predictably and good everywhere.

The Mitas E-07 rear is better virtually everywhere though

Just put an E-07 on the rear today in the hope of doing the Dusty Butt (or at least the civilised, pipe and slippers, 2 day version)

[Padmei]

Just put an E-07 on the rear today in the hope of doing the Dusty Butt (or at least the civilised, pipe and slippers, 2 day version)

Lt us know what you think. I've found the 07 the best rear so far on the KLR but will try others when it runs out

[cynna]

im putting a michalin t63 on for the dusty butt to see how that lasts. got around 4000k out of my mitas c02.

[drbandit]

im putting a michalin t63 on for the dusty butt to see how that lasts. got around 4000k out of my mitas c02.

T63 Did 6000km on rear of Dr650.. Thought it was 3/4 worn after south island trip at 3000km but it just kept going and going... keep pressure up for road ( 32psi) though as you can overheat easily and destroy tyre.