Hi all,

Next year I am off to Mongolia. Amongst all the other considerations I've been looking at tyre choices for the trip.

I'm pretty much settled on Heidenau K60's for the leg to the Russian/Mongolian border where I plan to change to offroad tyres. I was pretty much settled on TKC80's for this.

However, my other bike is an XR250 which I use for green laning. On this I use Mitas CO2's. It has recntly struck me that these are pretty much like Deserts- hard wearing, rugged, with the largest blocks I have seen on a road legal trail tyre, and that they would possibly be pretty good for use on my trip.

My question is this- does anyone have any experience of using these over an extended period or on an overland trip? How long do they last? I figure I need the tyres that I use to last for at least 4,000 miles.

All feedback much appreciated.

Dan

I use Mitas CO2 a lot, I am familiar with it.
I think it can do a good job for not more than 2 weeks of hard riding.
When travelling, your riding is nicer, so it can last for not more than 3-4 weeks of (almost) all day (8-10 hours) riding.

Mongolian trails and roads are 98% of hard rocky surface. To me CO 2 is bit to open and vulnerably for those surfaces where you are going.
K 60 is much better choice so keep it that.

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...You know it's a bit windy when you get passed by your own dust...

That's very helpfull, thanks.

Great pictures on the websites!

Dan

You well come

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...You know it's a bit windy when you get passed by your own dust...

If you need any help throw mail.....

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...You know it's a bit windy when you get passed by your own dust...

Thanks, I may well be in touch!

Going back to the tyres, would you recomend K60's rather than TKC80's for Mongolia? As I said above I had planned to change to TKC80's for that leg of my trip.

Dan

Hi Dan,

Haidenau K 60 is much safer choice.
It's not so open between knobbies than TKC 80.
Most of the trails and roads are stones and sharp rocks.
TKC problem is that it's wide open to sharp rocks what will cut or penetrate in to your tyre.

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...You know it's a bit windy when you get passed by your own dust...

I'm testing a Mitas C18 (red stripe to the right for mud) and I have to say I'm really impressed. It's the best tire for mud I have ever used and it looks like it wears slow (compare to similar tires). Mitas also have the best tires for the winter and I think I will try some other Mitas-tires next year to see if something works for travel/gravel.
Personally I'm not a fan of the K60 but I have just tested them briefly.

I've got a K60 on the back of my XT600 at the moment, I think its a great tyre and will do well on "trails", but was thinking I may need someting more off-roady for Mongolia. It would seem that may not be the case and that I should stick with the K60. I have heard stories off them being hard wearing and lasting up to 10,000 miles.

I am also a fan off Mitas tyres, another I was looking at was the E-09 Dakar. They are also it would seem a hard wearing tyre, though of a more open pattern akin to Michellin Deserts or T63's, though from what has been said here the open pattern is a bit vulnerable in the rocky conditions found in Mongolia.

Hi all
I run Mitas on my TTR600 for many years.If we talk about street legal tires:E 08 almost 100% street tire (patern like Anakee)
E 09 decent enduro tire (like T 63),for even more off take EF 05
E 07 somwhere in between.Looks like copy of Enduro 3 Sahara.Decent
on tarmac and gravel and can make a lot of Kms.
Don't forget to check the tire payload.

I've used T63 and MT21 a lot in rocky conditions and have never had problems. The Deserts are even more solid and I think they have proved what they are up to in numerous Paris-Dakar rallies. Personally I have used MT21 from Nairobi to Oslo and then a few months in Oslo, that's a bit more then 10.000 miles.

But I see the point, if you don't need an open tire K60 will probably give you better mileage.

There will as many opinions as individuals but you are the one who is using it on the road so it's your conclusion what you wear... "bikinis or overalls or some combination" and is it you who suffers or enjoys

Testing is the key word if you have time and conditions to do it !!!

I'm not Guru or Lord of the Rings of anything but I try to based my opinions on facts what I have find out on testing.

Telling lies to yourself it's like peeing your pants it will be warm some minutes but ****ing lot colder aftermath......

I have used all tyres mentioned above. They are good on conditions they are designed to use.

1. What kind of road surface ?
2. How long tyres must last ?
3. Riding speed ?
4. Weight of the bike loaded ?

18" rear is much better choice than 17". First you have more alternatives on tyres. Diameter is bigger > last longer.

If you are using your XT 600 take K 60 140/80-18" and it'll last + 10000 mile

That photo above of K 60 I use it from Finland - Ullan Baatar - Gobi - Almaty and there was still 3 mm to use. I had other K 60 with me so I changed it for Pamir Highway because I know it'll last rest of the journey.

Keep that clear in your mind and you'll do fine.


Mitas E 09
I use on soft sand and mud also E 02 is good ...


Kuzomen desert Kola peninsula

Haidenau K 60 when I need long lasting all-round.


Gobi desert Mongolia

Michelin Dessert on my Rally bike they last up to 2000 km. Okay they are designed to last one day in Dakar what is less than 680 km.


KTM 660 Rally 1000km on 24 hour on gravel Finland 2011

Pirelli MT 21 also good all-round


Aastingin hauta Swamp Lapland

AVON Distances on Alps and tarmac. Also Metzler Tourance is okay


Passo del Dosso Alto Italia

Trelleborg and Kings on winter with studs


ICE BUTT 2011 Nordkapp - Joroinen 1000 mile / 24 hour 10 -11 Feb 2011

On Iceroad racing DURO with studs is the best.


Finnish Championship series Järvenpää

Supermoto Michelin or Maxxsis


Practice in Rapla Estonia

IT's NOT EASY TASK :confused1:

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...You know it's a bit windy when you get passed by your own dust...

My route will be the same as yours Capo but the other way round, at the Baltic states I will turn left and head back to the UK through Poland and Germany.

The plan is to change tyres in Barnaul then carry on into Mongolia, taking the southern route to Ulaanbatar. The more I think about it the more I change my mind on tyre choices. As you say, there are as many opinions as there are people, though the name that keeps popping up is "K60". At least three people have recomended them now. I think I may stick with them all the way through, either carrying a rear or changing both for a set sent to Barnaul.

Dan

You can dispatch tyres to Barnaul I have some contacts there if your need and change them before or after Mongolia.
What size you have on your mind?

140 have 2,2mm more to wear than 130.
140 is also more rugged.

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...You know it's a bit windy when you get passed by your own dust...