Hi I am looking for a 18'' rear (18''140 80 to be exact and 21'' F) like a tourance or Anakee but these are not avaliable in 18'' rear. This is for overland so I don't want a pure road tyre. But long life is very important. I have had a Avon distanzer before and did't like it so would like another choice. so some ideas please!

Thanks George

Have a look at the Heidenau K60. Deep tread, dualsport pattern, long lasting (I'm told) and CHEAP!!! I get my pair next Friday!

Search for your sizes here.

__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

Hey yes I like the look of them but prohaps too off road orienated, what sort of life are we talking? (I wear my tyres down to the bitter end)

George

I have seen them in the flesh, and although they have a chunky tread they probably have more contact patch than a TKC80. Mileage speaking I have heard rears reaching 10,000 km, so about 6000 miles, and that was on an R1100GS that is both relatively heavy and relatively powerful.

Not bad in my opinion.

Back to the tread question. Admittedly the compound may not be as advanced as a bridgestone, but do you want a track tyre or a touring the back roads tyre. They are apparently fine in the dry, but should be ridden with reserve in the wet: common sense on any tyre in my opinion...

If I were to buy a trail style tyre, other than the K60, I'd prbably go for the Bridgeston Trailwing, or the Continental TKC80s, but we are still talking 20-75% more expensive at a guess...

Admittedly, tourances are said to last eons, but they are VERY expensive IIRR, and I did not feel very confident on them on my old GS: I ended up riding Michelin Pilot Roads.....

__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

George- 'have heard' or 'are said' - are comments that sadly too often can mislead you into buying the wrong stuff- (sorry warthog! but it is true!)
My personal preference is for a tyre that's 70% road and 30% off road- to enable me to get places then find trails- Mud plugging is not for me! I have not checked sizes you need-
I have used TKC's on my 1200GS and they are great but on loaded travel bikes- they wear down too fast - last time I did 3600 miles and the rear was in pretty bad shape- the front lasted another 1800 before I took it off. I do not run my tyres right down having had a bad experience with a worn tyre that burst on me-

I used to run on Michelin Siracs on my F650Dakar and they were excellent- as are the Pirelli MT21's I went to Africa with - The rear on that lasted 4000 miles, the front 6000. I have now switched to the Mitas E07 - which I prefer-

As for my 1200GS I have now fitted the most elusive tyre so far! the Heidenau K60 finally in the right size-
I cannot comment on them as yet as I have just fitted them. I am hoping it will perform as good as the Mitas.
I did previous run on Tourances and took them off at just under 7600 miles- the back was not destroyed but it was time to change it- the front could have done a bit more.

this is the Mitas E07


and this is the Heidenau K60