DRZ400S - tyre choice for S. America?

[Steve Pickford]

I'm in the middle of prepping my partners bike for a trp she'll be starting in early September 2010. Route will be BA - Arica - Santiago - Ushuaia - BA.

I'm wondering what tyres will be best suited for the trip? I think there'll be a lot of hard packed dirt & gravel but hopefully not too much mud? I'm thinking that Pirelli MT21's might be a good all-round choice unless anyone has another option that's available in the UK? Looking for decent mileage without sacrificing too much grip on the un-paved sections.

Trips due to be completed mid-December in BA where the bike may well be for sale. I'll advertise it nearer the time if that's the case. It's a 2004 DRZ400S on 2,700 miles, expected mileage at journeys end will be nearer 9-10,000 miles. It will be fitted with steel tube pannier frames & rear rack for soft luggage, Clarke 14.8 litre tank + 5 litre reserve fuel canister incorporated in to the pannier frames, Tooltube, bashplate, DEP silencer, Talon lowering link, headlight guard, slightly lowered seat foam, H/D tubes, hex headed brake pad retaining pins rather than the crap stock part. There may also be some spares available.