Arrived in CT from London yesterday after +- 23000km on a KTM Adventure 640. I have found the best combo to be a Mich Desert for the rear and Metzeler Karoo for the front.

The Mich desert front gives great performance on the piste but wears very quickly on tarmac stretches. The Karoo gives almost as much grip on the loose stuff but lasts far longer.

On the rear I found a Desert lasts very well (easily 12000km and problably much more), much longer than Pirreli MT21.

I started the trip (Spain & Morroco) on a set of Metzler Sahara's, with a set of Deserts tied on the back, and ditched them at the start of the desert piste in Mauritania when I put the deserts on.

I also rate the deserts for their "puncture-proofness". We (2 KTM's) had no punctures for the whole trip except for 2 torn valves because I didn't have a rim lock in the front wheel. Definately use rim locks!

It's worth planning ahead for tires as Deserts are heavy to carry and difficult and expensive to find in Africa. If I was planning the trip again I'd investigate the possibility of paying an overlander truck company a bit to carry a few bits and bobs (spare tires, good oil) for me and then catch up with them when they are needed. I don't imagine they'd charge much and it could end up saving you some cash (I had to fork out over USD 200.00 for a rear Pirelli in Kenya).

( www.tifua.com )