Hi all, to help choose a tyre I’ve categorised the three types as listed in the heading.

Or more precisely I’ve illustrated each category on one image so you can compare similar tread patterns easily without getting lost on the internet.

Not all may agree with my categories and choices but I find, especially for all-roading, that tread is an early factor in choosing a tyre before seeing if it’s any good, available, fits and is cheap.

Full sized images here: Road - All Road - Off Road

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

Tnx Chris, nice initiative!

I'm still not sure which tire to put om my 650 strom for my trip to Kenia. My preferred tire so far is the heidenau k60 scout for now because of its longevity. All suggestions are welcome though.

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Luc

Glad it's useful.

K60 Scout would be my choice too - or maybe non Scout K60 (middle category above, 3rd row, #1) if you potentially want more off road grip.
But without the central block support I wonder if it may not last as long on a heavy bike.

Or any of the other long-lasting 'East European' options.

Last trip (only Morocco) I used Mitas E07 - no complaints. Came back half worn.
Next trip - same place, new bike - I'll use a K60 front that's been lying around for years - and a similar looking Golden Tyre GT201 (all-road category - pic below) on the back, thought actually another Heidi would be cheaper.
'Golden Tyre' sounds like cheap Chinese - but is actually made in Italy.

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

Mefo Sport MFE99 Explorer.

My new favourites. Little chunkier than the K60 and almost TWICE the tread depth.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

From Serbia to Vladivostok on Heidi K60 Scout 20.000km changed rear for Korean brand and as I was going to South Korea hoped that I can purchase front tyre but ...oh boy vat a surprise no way Joseeee,,,contacted some shops as I was in Busan but they he'd to order from Soul...so I continue to Japan with K60 on the front and come back to Serbia with it.
Just purchased new set of K60 Scout for my S.American tour.

Safe ride

Mefo Sport MFE99 Explorer looks as a nice tire! I read that the longevity is also not bad:

www.KLR650.cc <p> <font color=red>MEFO MFE 99 Sport Explorer Tires </font>

I think the k60 scout has proven itself as a lasting tire so it will be a close finish between those two.

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Luc

I'm running a Mitas 644 Army at the front. Looks (on an internet picture) much like the Mitas E-09 front but the E-09 is pretty useless in any other conditions than dry roads and well packed gravel roads.
The 644 Army is less than perfect in the wet (on road) but offers surprising grip for a proper knobbly tire. Off road it is the Swiss Army knife in tires as far as I can tell. It last a long time but even as the knobs are getting round off it stille does most things you'll ask of it.
This goes only for the front tire ! The rear is downright dangerous on wet roads and even in the dry it locks up very very quickly offering very little in slowing you down.
For the rear I like the Mitas E09. Again, does it all and goes a looooong way and it's decently prized as well

The Pirelli MT21 is not the best as it starts cupping fairly quickly, less useful in loose sand as directional stability could be better, plus it doesn't seem to grip the rim as well as the Mitas does (hence two torn out valves...) so fit a rim lock with these (at the front)

Ta, Ard

P.s. Used the Heidenau K60 a lot and really like them, it's just that the Mitas are better off-road.

I have used the rear E 09, front MT21 combination for a while now on both the GS and 690 and it works well for me. But I do agree that the MT21 wears oddly but nothing like as badly as the TKC 80.

I don't rate the TKC at all - poor mileage and poor handling when half worn.

I've had GREAT experience with the TKC 80 ... but only ever used the front tire.
They do cup, but not until 7 or 8000 miles on my DR650.

The best part is how well the bike performed on paved roads, running fast through corners. Very good grip and feel for a knobby tire.

I've used MT21, D606 and Bridgestone "Gritty" up front and find the TKC the best of that small group ... mostly for its paved road performance. The "Gritty" is best in Baja, SUPER tough in bad rocks at speed. (protects rims)

I've not used the Eastern EU tires on my bike but ridden a few bikes with them. Not impressed with wet road grip ... but no denying their longevity. But for US riders price puts many off .... including me.

One tire brand that's become VERY popular in USA last few years is Shinko (Korean). Shinko is made in the Yokohama factory. They are cheap and work well. (around $60 to $65 in USA)

Both the 50/50 244 and 80/20 E705 are both popular around here. The E705 displaces more expensive tires like Tourance, Distanzia, Scorpion and others as a mostly ON road tire at half the price with about 80% of the wear of competition.

But in the end comes down to how and where you ride. Bike type also a factor. Also, what tires can you source once on the road? I don't buy the East EU/German tires because they're too much money here in USA. (over $100 each or more for Mitas, Mefo or Heidenau) I know they're cheaper in EU, what about Asia, S. America, Russia?

In S. America seems one of the most "available" tires is the Pirelli MT60, a terrible tire unless you're doing wet riding on paved road or race track. (remember, the MT60 is designed principally as a Road Race Wet tire). It wears out quick and Blows off road .. yet many have ridden half of S. America using them. They Suck!

Not sure what is available in other parts of the world. I'd love to see a thread about this. What tires can you get in far off places? And at what price? Sizes?
Size is always an issue as most of the world are on 125's or smaller.

The Golden Tire is one tire I've not seen much in USA. Assuming it's either Korean or Chinese ?? ... and I've heard of travelers finding it in Asia. Reviews? Sizes? Prices?

Most of the big name brands may not be available outside the 1st or 2nd world cities. Not many Michelin, Metzeler, Avon or Dunlop. Pirelli yes, because of the huge factory in Brazil. I know some BMW and KTM dealers carry some of these brands but your "average" bike shop ? Probably not.

interesting thread..
Of course here ( in France ) you would find a lot of Michelins , which have a great range of tyres , like the various " pilots " very good on race or sport bikes.
The desert and the baja were developed for the races . They are supposed to last long enough on pavement ( ? ) and rocks but not be so good on sand . Never tested by me !
Long time ago , I had Dunlop and Continental on mid-size road bikes .

Next time ? I dont know yet , probably a 50/50 or more .
lasting 10 Mkm if possible .

Tyres must be a quite subjective topic I suppose.

Many riders seem to love tyres like Heidenau K60 scout while I found them the worst tyre I ever have had on my bike bike (Tenere 660 post 2008) No feedback, not very good grip, especially nit on wet surface, hard to lean over when cornering and the only tyre I have had that give me noise of a kind that I react upon. And at 12 k kms they had huge cracks around the knobbies and I took em off and put them in the vastebin.

And when reading that an experienced and sensible guy like Mollydog said that the Pirelli MT60 is a terrible tyre "that sucks" - I got a little surprised. Its the best tyre I have had on any bike I have had so far. Exellent grip on wet and dry tarmac, ok on gravel, very good feedback, extremely easy to lay over in corners. My bike have never rolled so easy as with those tyres. And I got 15,5 k kms out of them.
Shinko 705 - ok tyres in general, but I only got 9,5 k kms out them.
Anakee 2 and 3 both in general good tyres, but of course not well suited for heavy off roading.
The original tyres on the bike, cant remember what is was - Trailwing or something like that was terrible tyres.

I now run Sava Invaders which in general seems quite average when it comes to grip, feedback, handling and wear. Have 5,5 k kms on them now but they wont last more than max 10 k kms.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Weird about your K60s. I had them on my DRZ through Africa. I was sweeping around wet mountain hairpins and they were great. They were also okay off-road. Good enough that I never crashed anyway. The front was still legal when I sold the bike 20,000 miles later ..

The Scout is different though isn't it..

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

This thread is well timed - thanks Chris.

Im doing the east route, Cape to Cairo on a KLR starting june 2016. I suspect most will be tarmac, but am doing the west route through Tanzania, riding the parks in Uganda and will (unavoidably) be doing Ethiopia in the rainy season, including a trip into the mountains near Arba Minch and the usual northern circuit.

I want to fit a tyre in Cape Town and not change on route - expect to ride 16-17k kms.

I used and liked Anakees on my DL1000 for years (but not on any meaningful off road stuff) and use Pirelli MT43s on my Freeride. Beyond that i am truly ignorant on tyres!

The bike currently has Dunlop K750s on it. I was, based upon Chris' advice in the AMH, leaning towards either the MITAS E-07 or Heidenau K60.

I'd appreciate views on which make and which variant? I think Chris you preferred the MITAS?

Will both do the distance?


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About the K60 ( which I had never tested so this 100% thinking and experience ont other tyres/bikes and so ) ant the MT21 stuff

I know that the DRZ is lighter than the ten' , hade both : make a différence
surely .

SO at this point for my case ,
either the K60 ( can someone explain the difference withe the scout stuff ? )
ot the MT 21 .
I was not so confident about Pirelli on the mv, riding so long with the mich' ..but these are fantastic ( sport tyres ) even on a bit slidy roads .

or again the baja

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"In a car you're always in a compartment, and because you're used to it you don't realize that through that car window everything you see is just more TV." R. Pirsig

Wow! I should qualify my comments. The MT60 I actually rode on was an OLD tire. (in storage 5 years) So could have been hardened? It IS a good wet paved road tire. Rode DRZ400SM on race track with MT60. Good!

One problem for me is how easy the MT60 fills with mud and becomes a "Mud Slick" off road. Tread not deep enough for muddy road. For simple dirt or gravel, probably fine.

I certainly respect your experience and I'm sure you have done MORE km than I on this tire Friends ran them on bigger bikes (Vstrom) and the rear tire did not last long doing FAST road riding. (about 3 or 4K miles only)

Tires are a HARD choice.