Let us know what tyres you all use on your travels (not regular riding).


I'll start the ball rolling -
Last trip Sahara - XR650L
Front: Mich Desert, Rear Mich T63.
Verdict - great on sand, rock and dry tarmac (but not wintertime Europe...)
Sold @ 6000km before worn out.

Next trip: (mostly highway, some dirt roads) will try TKC80s

If this manages to keep on topic it may become a useful database for adv tyres.

Chris S

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

IRC 110. good on road yet get decant traction off road. I have about 1500 miles on mine with plenty of tread left. DR-Z400S I have used them in sand a little mud, gravel roads, pavement.

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John

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John

Started with Michelin Siracs put on in Oz.

Around 18,000kms I changed both in Kyrgystan.
Rear Very Bald and puncture prone at this stage, front about 2/3 rds gone.

Front replaced with a Heidenau trail tyre bought in Estonia. It was almost bald by Iran and changed in Italy.

Rear replaced with Metzeler Enduro2 given to me by Iris and Trui in Belgium. This tyre is still on the bike after 18,000 kms but there is no tread whatsoever down the centre.

The Metzeler Enduro 1 front put on the bike in Italy for the remainder of the trip ( given to me by the Padova G/S ers ..hi guys) has done whatever it is between Italy and southern Spain in a round about way plus 4000kms and is still looking pretty good!

I found that the Siracs were quite good on the road and gravel but awful in Russian mud.

The front Heidenau was excellent on the twisting dirt roads in Kygystan especially as I was two up but wore out quickly because it was very soft.

The Enduro 2 rear has lasted well and was good alround but the tyre cracked around the tread blocks on the snow in Turkey. That said its still on the bike doing the commute to work..&^%

Ran very high tyre pressures..45 plus and rode slowly. One puncture with the rear sirac when very worn and two up, 2 or 3 punctures on the rear Enduro 2 while two up. No puncture solo.

I ran heavy duty tubes but not the Desert style ones, as I was told they heat up and increase tyre wear when riding for extended periods, I have no idea wether it makes any difference.

I have freinds that have only got 6000kms from Siracs on KLR 650's.

alec

http://users.netlink.com.au/~asimpson



[This message has been edited by simmo (edited 06 July 2004).]

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Close to Antarctica and a long way from reality

hi all
well after million mile couier work here is my findings
on the k100 used for work conti tkv11 on the front and tk17 on the rear run at 36 psi and 46 psi last 20,000 miles
On my r100gs enduro 4 's great on road evil on mud last about 8,000 miles
tkc80's great rock,mud ,roads last about 8,000 miles
off to india in july and taking bridgestone trailwings and we will see how they go

cheers nobby

Nobby,

My bike came with trail wings stock. People call them death wings due to poor performance on anything but paved road. On road they perform very well.

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John

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John

Worth noting there are over 30 different types of Bridgestone Trail Wings listed.
I reckon TW52 and TW42 look OK or better still TW302 and 301 which I think we used in Yukon on KLRs and were an OK trail tyre (ie, road biased).

Keep them coming...

Chris

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

My 2 cents,

Last trip --> Bishkek
Front+rear ... Metzeler Sahara

Quite sufficient in all kinds of hard surface. Not so good on gravel. Lasted for almost 12,000 km..

Aaah Chris,

Thought you would never ask. Based on your advice in the Handbook we had Pirelli MT21's front and rear for Europe - Cape Town. Indeed, they are good on tarmac, even wet, and in the dry dirt. But, the compound is very soft making them wear too fast for any serious travelling.
Now I use Mich T63 that are very good on wet tarmac and dry dirt. And they last!

For sharp stones, there's only two choices: Deserts or Deserts. The rest wont work.

Auke

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Auke
http://aukemarieke.blogspot.com

I used trail wing 41 and 42. All that used them were unhappy with anything but on road performance. Can't say anything about the other trail wings. For more info go to thumpertalk.com in the DR-Z 400 section and search trail wing or death wing. Lots of info there.

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John

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John

Avon Distanzia's - excellent on-road in wet or dry, lots of grip and very long wearing (20,000kms). Pants off-road (as you would expect given the tread). Ted Simon used these on his last trip and rated them well.

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Barry
3AJ Tenere

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Barry
XT600Z 3AJ Tenere (rebuild in progress)
SRX600

I use avon "sidecar triple duty" tires on my /7 hack and got 20,000 mi. out of my last front, although it was completly shot.
Pirelli MT21's on my KTM adventure, like the rugged tread and handling was great on pavement or dirt but only got about 1800 -2200 mi. out of them doing dempster and dalton hwy.
currently using mezteler karoo dot knobbies on my KLR but am looking for a less agressive and more mileage set of tires. will probably try some tkc 80's before I leave for south america.
olee

My favorite long distance tire is the Metzeler Tourance, my last set has 11,000 miles and looks good for another 2 or 3. Good grip on asphalt, wet or dry. I have used Michelin Siracs, which, IMO, vibrate more on the road, but do offer marginally more grip off road without giving up good street performance. Siracs got nearly the milage of the Tourance. Both these are almost pure street tires though.

What mileage do people get with the Karoo's?. Would they last 3,000 miles on the highway, at least? They are cheap enough.

The original Bridgestone on my KLR was shot at 3500.


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Andy Tiegs
www.tiegs.com

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Andy Tiegs
https://new.horizonsunlimited.com/ts...lsouth-america

I've used the MT21's on my KLR: When newer they are amazingly good on pavement and fantastic off. Problem is they don't last, especially on the pavement: 5,000 miles. Kinda rules them out for long distance traveling for me....

Another thread mentioned the Conti TKC80's and some amazing miliage, like 12K miles. Anyone second that?

I am hard on tires and I tend to toss about 1000 miles early.

TKC 80 - BMW GS Adv. 5500miles good all around
SAHARA ENDURO(3 sets) Elefant 3800 pave ok dirt fair
KAROOS- KTM 950S 2500miles good both(mostly Pave)
TKC 80- KTM 950S 3200 mi. great pave and dirt
no experience in wet or mud.
MICH DESERTS(3 Rears) Elefants 3600 bad pave great dirt (hate fronts I use 606's)
TOURANCE - BMW GS 8000 miles Road only(they will flip you on sand roads in China and break your wife's foot!!)
DUNLOP TRAILMAX(5 sets) Elefants 3000-4000 Not really made anymore, my favorite adventure tire. (mileage poor but good on pave and fair in dirt, not too great in mud but okay)
T-63 Mich - KTM Rallye 3500 miles Good all around tire, not too avail. in USA. Just like Desert but softer compound.

I normally ride 2-up, full luggage and on all kinds of terrain. Karoos above were swapped early because I couldn't wait to try TKC 80's on the KTM. Keep in mind most will get much more mileage than I, only because everyone seems to always do so!!
Allen.

I tend to switch tires before they are truely dead, so my mileage estimates are probably a bit light from the people who like to ride them till they are totally bald. Also I use the heavy duty inner tubes, and really love them. Worth their weight in gold on a long trip.

On a KLR650:

IRC GP 110 (My favorite all round tire, other than I wish it got more mileage on the rear):
Front - 11,000 miles, still had wear, but was cupping
Rear - 4,000 miles, probably had a bit longer
Off road: Good
On road: Good
Wet road: Good
Wet dirt: Good
Remarks: They howl a bit in the corners, but they stick fine.

Avon Gripsters
No good mileage estimates as I took them off long before they were dead.
Off road: Poor (especially in sand)
On Road: Very Good
Wet Road: Good
Wet dirt: No experience

Kenda K761
No mileage estimates yet:
On Road: Causes the motorcycle to weave at 85mph plus speeds, am looking at a fork brace to counteract.
Off road: No experience
Wet: No experience
Remarks: Very cheap, $110 for front and rear, and they are speed rated.

Kenda K270
On Road: Very poor. Causes the rear wheel to quirm and feel unstable. Got rid of the tire after two days, after killing it due to high speeds (100mph +), topes, and my license plate taking chunks out of it.

[This message has been edited by TerryMoto (edited 12 July 2004).]

[This message has been edited by TerryMoto (edited 12 July 2004).]

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--Terry