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

[NordieBoy]

are they tubeless Nordie?

The 241 (tube type) is the dual purpose one (http://www.shinkotireusa.com/product/product.php?id=60) and is really narrow, 3" for 17" and 3.5" for 18".
The 255 (probably tube type) (http://www.shinkotireusa.com/product/product.php?id=75) is available in 110 width for 18 and 19" rears - no fronts.

Both are DOT.

[_Shrek_]

The 255 (probably tube type) (http://www.shinkotireusa.com/product/product.php?id=75) is available in 110 width for 18 and 19" rears - no fronts.

cheers may just have to try this on the front some time as it's the same size

[NordieBoy]

cheers may just have to try this on the front some time as it's the same size

Velly soft though.

[george formby]

110 - 18"? That might pull tubby up on wet clay.

[Waipukbiker]

Went into freedom Suzuki in Palmy Nth today found these on the tyre racks , Very interesting Ya?

http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?imgur...QEwAQ&dur=2636

[cooneyr]

Went into freedom Suzuki in Palmy Nth today found these on the tyre racks , Very interesting Ya?

http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?imgur...QEwAQ&dur=2636

Couple of fellas on KTM 950 Super Enduro's were running these are the Long Way Around ride. They really rate them and next to E07's (another two 950 SE's - yes there were 4 SE's in the garage at the house) the look like they have more bite. Deeper tread, bigger gaps, bigger blocks.

[vegeman]

Went into freedom Suzuki in Palmy Nth today found these on the tyre racks , Very interesting Ya?

I had E07's and then replaced that with the K60. The K60's do everything pretty well, the only downside for me was that the sidewalls are so bloody stiff the don't flex enough off road when you need to maximize the grip. I found the E07 flexed better and have got through some gnarly shit...just by dropping the pressure...BUT on the flip side, you could ride the K60 with no air pressure and might not even know you had a flatty (which I did on my 690). I did the East coast safari on them, plus rode from Wellington to gisborne and the mileage/wear was as good as E07. The K60 also did better on wet roads, whereas I've had the E07 lose traction in the wet while traveling at highways speeds i.e. aqua planing (but that was in severe rain, and perhaps the tyre was more worn than I thought)

The K60 is a real bastard to fit and remove my yourself, again those sidewalls - but the big boy bikes i.e. >180KG's probably make the tyre work as they intended, I think the light bikes wouldn't work them very well.

I've just taken the K60 off and now thinking about what tyre next...If the trip was gravel/dirt and distance either tyre would work and Id probably go with the K60 again. If I knew that I would have mud/grass on the trip, I think I would prefer the E07. If it was going to be more hardcore I'd go MT21. I'll never ride TKC80's again.

[Gremlin]

Went into freedom Suzuki in Palmy Nth today found these on the tyre racks , Very interesting Ya?

Linky didn't work for me, but I'm assuming you're talking about the Heidenau K60. Bear in mind there are 3-4 different rear patterns, depending on what size you order. I'm currently trying a set of K60 for the big bikes, 110/80/19 and 150/70/17. Basically I reckon it's the best option between road biased and off road biased (Karoo and TKC et al).

[Waipukbiker]

Wasnt aware that the patterns changed depending on tyre size but it was the first time I had seen them. I had a Shinko 700 on the back of my little old 250 on the long way round and it worked great on and off road, no traction issues anywhere. How the 700 would work on a bigger and heavier bike I dont know. I plan to apgrade my bike soon to a 350 or 400 but as to what tyres I have no idea yet.

The safety aspect of having stiff sidewalls in the case of a puncture, especially on the highway appeals.

[TangoCharlie]

What to replace my Tyres on the DR which I used mainly on Shingle Road / Tracks etc, and only ride it on the seal to "get there". If more than a few 100kms Of seal, I tend to trailer the DR to the start point!

Have tried Kenda K760 and currently have Dunlop D606, both have worn very rapidly!

Can't desire what to try next? Looking at Pirelli M21, Michellin T63, Mitas E09 or maybe a D605...

Any advise greatly accepted.....

[dino3310]

yep any one of those, i'll throw the AC10 in there aswell. work ya way through the list till you find what suits you. im useing up my supply of second hand mx tyres at the moment getting a couple of thousand k out of them

[cooneyr]

What to replace my Tyres on the DR which I used mainly on Shingle Road / Tracks etc, and only ride it on the seal to "get there". If more than a few 100kms Of seal, I tend to trailer the DR to the start point!

Have tried Kenda K760 and currently have Dunlop D606, both have worn very rapidly!

Can't desire what to try next? Looking at Pirelli M21, Michellin T63, Mitas E09 or maybe a D605...

Any advise greatly accepted.....

Trick to getting D606's to last is pressure. I shreded one in 2000km when at 24psi but got about 6000km at 30psi (or was that a bit more - too long ago to remember). I hate MT21's, especially on the rear, never tried T63 and rate the E09. Ran an E09 on my Super Tenere (the real one - XTZ750) and it lasted and gripped well as a compromise tyre. D605 is much less aggressive and I'd put an E07 in that mix.

[dino3310]

oh yeah like cooneyr sez watch those tyre pressures, ive seen tkc, t63 and e09's end life prematurely with to low a pressure on the seal. ie: get to the offroad gravel/track what ever and drop the pressure to 18r 20f (or what ever) and forget to raise them back up to recommended psi for the ride home, i did this with a TKC a few years ago and it chewed the f&%k out of it.

[Woodman]

Tried e09, t63, mt21 and a tkc80. None of them last very long. In fact the smooth fullbore i got on now will be lucky to see 6k. Must be the immense power of the klr.

E09 = good grip but has no side grip. is scary traversing hills and is exciting and unpredictable when powering out of corners. Ok on road

T63= very good all round. ok on road. My favourite.

MT21= Good tyre ok on road. Longest lasting so far.

TKC80= Melted.

[Gremlin]

The safety aspect of having stiff sidewalls in the case of a puncture, especially on the highway appeals.

For those that change their own, it's a negative, along with able to take off on the side of the trail to fix punctures etc. Depends what you require I guess...