When we started in BA I bought 2 tyres and 2 batteries using blue dollars. Got to Iquiqui and needed to replace another 2 tyres and one battery and was disappointed to find the prices were dearer than in Buenos Aries.

Similar result for Punta Arenas.

As long as the blue dollar differential is so high, I doubt whether Chile would ever be cheaper.

Puerto Montt
Ask for Danilo at the KTM dealer, he'll connect you with the tire guy around the corner who has a goo election including the awesome Pirelli MT21 at very good prices and will fit for you - IF you're nice!

Hi all,

I met some other bikers and they told me impossible to get tires down south, well anywhere but Santiago - not sure they tried everywhere else ahem!

My tires are 18/21, so not exactly exotic, from this thread am I thinking it would be pretty okay to find a Pirelli or Sahara south of Chile or Argentina?

My rear defo needs to go but front has a good 5-8k on her, so reluctant to change now if I can find further south.

Cheers,
RTW

I would buy that new front NOW ... strap it on, carry it until your current front is shot. Unless you are CERTAIN your current front will make the whole trip, I would carry a NEW front on board ... ready when you need it!

That is what I did ... turns out I could have made my trip on my old TKC80 Continental. The good news was I was able to sell the more than half worn tire to a Moto shop guy in La Paz, Baja! And extra $15 in my pocket ... and he mounted my NEW tire for free! DEAL! (the TKC is a $100 tire ... so the shop guy still got the better deal! no worries) :scooter:
http://patricksphotos.smugmug.com/ph...-hTrtLc3-L.jpg

Molly,

I actually went back and bought it as couldn't escape from the gravity of all prior experience telling me to buy while I can, even though I reckon on my projected itinerary I'd have just made it back, but bald.

The MT60 front I reckon can get around 15,000k before it's shot, and I've done around 7,000k on it and my protected intinerary is around another 8,000k or so, but would have been pissed off if I had to change my itinerary for not having enough rubber left.

Do you adhere to the 3mm rule? What's it with tires, is it purely the lack of tread on tire that makes it liable to slip and not function correctly, or do the walls weaken as well and make the tire more likely to fail and possible cause a catastophre? The idea of front blowing out at highway speed whilst overtaking truck complelled me to buy now and not worry later.

Cheers!
Rtw

Yes, this is THE guy. Alejandro Lagos, in Punta Arenas, works closely with MOTOAVENTURA CHILE. I posted latest contact numbers, address elsewhere. I needed tires for my KLR in January. He had 6 (SIX) different brands that fit. Metzler's, Heidenaus, etc etc nothing Chinese. ALL in stock. A pro. First world shop. Irritable, don't let his personality throw you off. He's THE guy.