2 x Yamaha XT600E 1999/2001 - Tyres!

Time for a tyre change. My existing Michelin SIRAC's are just fine but I rather fancy these - Trellesport - Enduro Competiton MotorcycleTyres, Army Special Tyre

This one looks like a Continental TCK80 - Mitas E-10 Adventure Rear

The British Army has just choosen Trelleborg tyres for their R Sigs and RMP bikes. If it's good enough for our brave boys then it's surely good enough for the likes of us.

I rather like the look of the Army Special.

I want something 50% onroad 50% offroad. My Sirac's are 70% onroad 30% offroad.

Guys - Your thoughts/comments very welcomed on BOTH tyres (Michelin SIRAC's and Trelleborg Army Specials)...

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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).

On SibirskyExtreme, with my F650GS-D, I 'took over' a part worn rear Trelleborg from Kenichi, a UK Hubber we met in Irkutsk, and carried it to Mirny/Lensk where I put it on.
I am pretty sure it was the Army XT-644

The Plus points-
- its long, long life both on and off road. This tyre had ridden across Turkey and on to Irkutsk (Lake Baikal, eastern Siberia). At the changeover point it looked hardly worn when compared with the unused spare one Kenichi had been carrying.
I carried it to Lensk/Mirny where I put it on. It took me through the Viluysky Trakt to Irkutsk. Then the Kolyma Highway (Road of Bones) to Magadan - the fastest for this according to Wikipedia (Fame indeed!). This was all off road, mostly dry gravel/dirt.
After shipping to Vladivostock it took me on tarmac (cautiously!) to our Khabarovsk tyre drop where I had Metzler Karoos waiting. I left the Trelleborg with local bikers for anyone with a use for it. It still had some tread left - but not enough to even think about the BAM.

- soft or loose beading. I had a legendry number of flat tyres (I lost count at 15) but that was because I was still using the original BMW standard issue tubes. This tyre was the easiest I have ever known to get off and on the rim. The only 'tool' reqired to put it back on was my boot heel!
After getting heavy duty tubes at the tyre drop I only had one more flat all the way back to UK including both East and West sections of the BAM

- off road performance was as good as any other rear I have used on the bike. It gripped well on dirt, rocks and mud and very controllable in fast slides/drifts coming out of loose corners.

- low cost

Now the MINUS point, and a BIG one -
- tarmac grip. UGH!
There was only about 300 metres of tarmac from putting it on in Mirny to where the dirt started. As we slowly rode out of town, twice on bends it failed to grip the dry tarmac, quite alarmingly. Although new to my bike it was not a case of new rubber - it had already ridden from Turkey to Irkutsk, mainly tarmac so was well 'scrubbed in'.

I have used Siracs off road. They performed well on dirt trails in southern Russia and the North Caucuses mountains. These were dry packed earth tracks or gravel/dirt routes. They were a good tyre on tarmac

Of the two, for pure off road, I would go for the Trelleborgs. But I would only consider them for greater than 80%+ off road use on the basis the other 20% was only relaxed 'transport and recovery' sections.
Not a tyre for town courier work!

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Vitim Bridge Clubwww.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=533442
www.sibirskyextreme.com

Sirac and Army Special are two completely different tires. I would say Sirac is 80% tarmac and Army Special is 80% offroad.

That said I would select Army Special instead of Sirac any day but it requires that you take it easier on the tarmac.

Army Special is also used by the army in Norway. I think the main reason is that it works pretty good in snow.
As far as I know Army Special will get a Mefo-name soon. Mefo has a lot of interesting tires.


Sirac in mud is not okay!




Army special is better:

Yeah I realise the SIRAC is mainly designed for tarmac and occasional light offroad trails (70% tarmac / 30% LIGHT (gravel) trails in my humble opinion).

The Trellborg range of tyres look very interesting to me in terms of looks, cost and performance. The British Army has choosen Trellborg tyres for it's Special Forces & Royal Signals and Military Police bikes. I guess that they have tested the tyres to destruction.

The Norway Army also uses these tyres on their own bikes.

The Trellborg Mitas E10 tyre really does look like a Continental TCK80! It would be interesting to compare both together as the E10 is much cheaper.

Perhaps I should be looking towards fitting SIRAC's again because most of my riding is on tarmac. Mine have lasted pretty well too... For £120 (front and rear) fitted, I think it's superb value compared to most other premium makes of tyres sold in the UK.

I suppose I just prefer a more agricultural looking tyre on a trail bike!

In my experience most things that originate from Norway (and Scandinavian countries in general) nearly always = quality and good value.

I wonder if anyone has compared the E10 to a TCK80?

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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).

Go with Sirac`s again, i had them on my Tenere & i choses them spicifically for the conditions i was going to be using them for (mainly tarmac) they don't have that nice chunky look about them but horses for courses.

Mezo.

Interesting that the army special is classed as a 'trail' tyre - very aggressive tread which I imagine would feel horrible on tarmac but does apparently give good mileage due to a hard compound.

The Sirac is a road tyre with trail fitment (available in 21"). Would be OK on gravel like most road tyres and does give reasonable mileage.

The Mitas E-09 and E-10 look like good choices. The E-10 is as you say like the TKC but, I believe, harder wearing.

The 'cats paw' tyres are very popular (Heidenau K60, Mefo Explorer etc) are popular choices for travelling giving a bit bit more usability off road than a Sirac but feel OK and last well on the road.