What tire not to use off road

This thread is cut/pasted and edited from my local District 37 thread I started a few years back. I figure to put it here in the Super Tenere forum in hopes that even one guy might read this and take heed. This is a serious thing that should NEVER EVER be done on any motorcycle that sees dirt. I'm not sharing this to start a nasty tire argument. This is a safety warning. Keep in mind this is not what tire to use but what not to use.

So I was all hyping up my new Kenda 90/10 tires that I have been doing pavement/fireroad blasts the last few rides. Was even thinking of doing the Pediatric Ride For Kids with them. DON'T DO IT!!!!! These are the most ill handling tire ever when doing any kind of sand washes, rocky/slippery hills, or pretty much anything other than pavement or smooth fireroad. I even dropped the pressure to 8psi front and 6psi rear. They still handled like crap.

I have a whole new respect (and at the same time bewildered) for the guys that ride these huge adventure bikes with this style tire. So after riding out to Old Willies grave at Landers, crashing hard twice (once at speed) and pulling a hamstring, the tires (and 15/45 gearing) came off and were replaced with real knobbies. No matter how good of a rider you think you are, it's only a matter of time before the front end steps out and you crash hard.

I figure this would be a good thread to start. Now you guys know where I'm coming from when I disagree on tire choices. For me it's minimum a full blown "big block style" knobby only for anything other than pavement. As far as lifespan, I can care less as long as it's a safe tire. There is nowhere in the United States that I can't get a tire delivered to spoon on as needed during a long trip.

Here it is ready to ride:


I somehow managed to make it here without crashing. I have ridden this area for years on knobby tires. My riding buddy told me my bike was weaving like a snake the whole way up:


Here is the outcome. No warning whatsoever. One second I'm standing up on the pegs centered on the bike letting it move under me in the sand wash. Next thing I know the front end tucks at over 40mph. I fly over the bars and do a rag doll across the desert. My leg went behind my head. I lifted my bike up with my one good leg and somehow managed to make it out with only one other fall. This is the worst crash I've had since desert racing in my early 40's. I actually went back to work the next day. I was limping around for over a month.



And yes I do a lot of tire testing. I have since given away the 90/10 tires and all my trials tires. Trials tires were a big fad 10 years ago. No longer. I'm back to good old knobby tires. Even on the street I know what to expect. I like the fact I can feel them moving under me with ample warning before I push them too far.


Something to think about is if 90/10 tires handle so bad offroad on a 325 lb Beta, how to you think you are going to do on a Super Tenere at twice the weight? I hope this post will help someone in making a smart decision when getting a set of tires.

When my OEM tires come off the Super Tenere will live it's life out on Knobbies for anything that put's me in the dirt. I figure I should be able to get the rear tires to last 2,500-4,000 miles and fronts 5,000-8,000 miles. I can live with that. Even if it means 90% street/10% dirt.

Uh....wasn't it you that started a facetious thread a while back? I'm thinking this is another one? Because I know NOTHING about dirt riding....except that you need dirt tires. Especially when your ride is 600lbs. To me, a 90/10 tires is pavement and gravel/fire roads. And, with your experience, I'm sure you know this. So....I'm thinking this is another "dry humor" thread?

Sierra1 said:

Uh....wasn't it you that started a facetious thread a while back? I'm thinking this is another one? Because I know NOTHING about dirt riding....except that you need dirt tires. Especially when your ride is 600lbs. To me, a 90/10 tires is pavement and gravel/fire roads. And, with your experience, I'm sure you know this. So....I'm thinking this is another "dry humor" thread?

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I do remember commenting on not running smooth tires in the dirt. And yes guilty as charged for starting or making "facetious" comments on occasion. However, I'm being very serious about this though. No humor intended. In fact it was a very dumb move on my part for even thinking I could run these tires beyond their intended purpose. I see so many guys on adventure bikes showing them off in pictures and videos with tires that are flat out dangerous for the terrain they are using them for.

Chances are, if you see mine further "off road" than the aforementioned gravel/fire roads....it will likely be laying on it's side....or me. I would love to be able to throw her around in the dirt and sand. But, I know my limitations; and my limitations keep me on the pavement. Someday, maybe....

Sierra1 said:

Chances are, if you see mine further "off road" than the aforementioned gravel/fire roads....it will likely be laying on it's side....or me. I would love to be able to throw her around in the dirt and sand. But, I know my limitations; and my limitations keep me on the pavement. Someday, maybe....

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I'm with you sir! All these huge bikes demand respect when hitting the dirt. That's why I'm so apprehensive to take mine off the highway even with knobbies.

ballisticexchris said:

That's why I'm so apprehensive to take mine off the highway even with knobbies.

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so why bother with such topic then? it's the rider not the bike, or tyres as you can see in "who takes off-road tenere" thread.
Also just knobbies do not guarantee anything, because conditions matters. E.g. so popular continental tkc 80 while acceptable on dry
dirt are horrible on wet, mud or grass conditions. So practice your skills and tyres won't matter that much, well unless you're racing
In real life nobody gonna change tyres during trip just because it started raining, or because some sand on pavement, compromise is needed.
For dual sport I ended up using rally tyres used e.g. on Dakar like Michelin Desert Race, Pirelli Scorpion Rally etc. There are expensive but tough, good on all sort of conditions. BTW crashes off-road are inevitable regardless of bike, skills or gear so get used to it, it's part of the game

The whole point of using the proper tire off road is to prevent crashes. Even with good skills, you are are testing fate by using round tires in the dirt. I actually think this is a great topic to discuss. I truly believe being apprehensive, using the proper tools (tires and skills being a few of them), and exercising caution will go a long way to keeping the rubber planted and bike upright.

In real life I will and have changed tires for different conditions during a trip. Death valley is a prime example. I put my paddle and sand tire on for the dunes one day. For the next day I put my Kenda Big Blocks on for exploring Death Valley the rest of the trip.









As far as the Super Tenere goes I know the limitation of knobbies on the pavement and for me they are a much safer tire. I'm a pretty mellow rider as it is so the big blocks are more than sufficient and safe for all conditions I ride in. Only downfall is tire life which really does not matter to me. I can always spoon on another tire or 2 during a long ride. It's no biggie.

Interesting thread. I personally don't think of the Super Tenere as a dirt bike at all. It is just too heavy for my skills. Gravel roads, well that is a different story and it that case an "adventure" tire will work just fine. For most of us I believe our S10's will be used more on pavement and the consequences of a tire related crash on pavement may be even more serious than you experienced on the sand. I have used Michelin PR4's on a very long distance ride with lots of rain and they worked very well. Even good on some very slick/snotty wet gravel roads. My current Mitas E-07's have been good overall also. Very nice on the gravel but not so good on the twisty dry pavement in NW Arkansas. Once again these are my experiences, but for me an non-dirt rider with the S10 the PR4's may be best.

ballisticexchris said:

In real life I will and have changed tires for different conditions during a trip. Death valley is a prime example. I put my paddle and sand tire on for the dunes one day. For the next day I put my Kenda Big Blocks on for exploring Death Valley the rest of the trip.

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we're talking about adventure riding here, not driving a truck full of tyres and a bike for Sunday afternoon riding trip...
You're long way from home, bike loaded with luggage so good luck with taking tyres set for each conditions LOL
good luck also taking ST to the dunes... Are you sure you're posting on the right forum?

Tires can make a huge difference both on road as well as off. I would love to hear others experience as it might save me some grief and money. I just changed the stock Battle Wings out for Kenda Big Blocks. While not a “true” dirt knobby these are much more aggressive compared to the BW tire.

I change my own tires and with the big blocks being less than $175 for the pair, i want to give them a try. I have a ride coming up in Death Valley in March and will be trucking my bike in.

At 3300 miles the rear BW is starting to square off. I am seriously thinking for a long touring multi day trip I would darkside my rear tire. I have done this on another bike I own and for the riding I do it has worked really well. My .02$

robson said:

we're talking about adventure riding here, not driving a truck full of tyres and a bike for Sunday afternoon riding trip...
You're long way from home, bike loaded with luggage so good luck with taking tyres set for each conditions LOL
good luck also taking ST to the dunes... Are you sure you're posting on the right forum?

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This was a three day trip we are talking. If I'm a long way from home loaded down, I just stop at a motorcycle shop or have my tires shipped to a planned place during my trip. Taking a ST in the dunes would be brutal. In the middle picture above I was truly stuck. I had a hell of a time getting that bike out of there. And those were the small dunes on a 325lb bike!!

Mak10 said:

Tires can make a huge difference both on road as well as off. I would love to hear others experience as it might save me some grief and money. I just changed the stock Battle Wings out for Kenda Big Blocks. While not a “true” dirt knobby these are much more aggressive compared to the BW tire.

I change my own tires and with the big blocks being less than $175 for the pair, i want to give them a try. I have a ride coming up in Death Valley in March and will be trucking my bike in.

At 3300 miles the rear BW is starting to square off. I am seriously thinking for a long touring multi day trip I would darkside my rear tire. I have done this on another bike I own and for the riding I do it has worked really well. My .02$

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You are going to really like the Kenda Big Blocks. I have been using them for the last few years on my Beta. I got just over 2500 miles out of the rear on the first set. They were cheap enough to where I just got a new front and rear and am running that set now. They are a perfect tire for Death Valley. Our group did a 350 mile plus ride of mixed dirt, sand, rocks and pavement staging from Little Dumont dunes back in 2015. I then did a 850 mile Death Valley loop from home in 2017 almost all pavement. Both rides were on the on the same set of tires.

I have just over 2,000 miles on my BW's and really want to spoon on these Michelin Wild Anakee tires. I'm still getting used to this bike. I sold my Ninja 650R quite a few years back and have been using my Beta for everything. So jumping on this huge beast is a whole new experience for me.

After thinking about it, the Tenere is like a diesel pick-up 4 x 4. It is "capable" of off road activity, but you're not taking it mudding. But, neither are you going to load up a 250cc two-stroke, and drive it across country. Tires are important, but skill is still the king. I've seen pictures of King Kenny Roberts....in the dirt....on a V-Max....with street tires....power sliding it.

Sometimes, just a bit of determination can get you a long ways, that's me and my Husqvarna on supermoto wheels at the top of the sand hill. I rode it all weekend in the OHV park, had a blast and kept up with my buddies. Was it more prone to losing traction? Absolutely. But I knew that and rode accordingly. That's what you should do if your tires are not ideal for the situation....change your riding style a bit and adapt to the situation.

That almost looks like Blow Sand hill. Bravo and good job. You were lucky.

What's that thing weigh....300lbs? Or less?

ballisticexchris said:

That almost looks like Blow Sand hill. Bravo and good job. You were lucky.

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That's exactly where it was, thanks. I did it a few times, wouldn't say lucky.....determined like I said. I had to open it up and keep momentum more than with the knobbies. I really had fun out there but it was a different experience.

Sierra1 said:

What's that thing weigh....300lbs? Or less?

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Probably a bit less than 300, apples and oranges compared to the Tenere but an example of having the wrong tires and still getting places people say you can't. Running "inappropriate" tires for a situation means that you should slow down, speed up, adapt, whatever....and having the "right" tires doesn't mean you can just ride like an ass either!

tntmo said:

....apples and oranges compared to the Tenere....

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You're right. And that's the issue with the Tenere. People buy the "apple", but expect/want it to handle like the "orange". The Tenere can't be absolutely everything....that being said, it's the closest bike that I have found that almost is. And when you compare the price to others....'nuff said.

tntmo said:

Probably a bit less than 300, apples and oranges compared to the Tenere but an example of having the wrong tires and still getting places people say you can't. Running "inappropriate" tires for a situation means that you should slow down, speed up, adapt, whatever....and having the "right" tires doesn't mean you can just ride like an ass either!

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How true to not ride like an ass!! My experience was just the opposite. I was riding at a mellow pace and without warning the front end folded. I attribute it 100% to tire choice. I had been through the same section on my Beta and KTM 300 at race pace through the years with no issues.

Sierra1 said:

You're right. And that's the issue with the Tenere. People buy the "apple", but expect/want it to handle like the "orange". The Tenere can't be absolutely everything....that being said, it's the closest bike that I have found that almost is. And when you compare the price to others....'nuff said.

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Boy you got that right. The price is fantastic! This the very nicest bike I have ever owned. I had dreams of putting a steering damper on it and riding it in the desert. Not going to happen. Adding knobbies is just a safety precaution. It might even let me continue through a sand section instead of turning around.

I just got myself a set of bridgestone ax-41s (50/50s - Not quite broken in yet) due to a similar incident. 90-10 oem tires, great on road, great on dry dirt - got quite a few dirt miles over the summer and fall. But once the rains started I had a couple of times where a large patch of slippery clay mud or wet grass were just bad. There was one section of about 200 yards clay mud where I found myself on my side or staring at the sky literally in excess of 5 or 6 times my good friend cannabis helped with that one.

The 50/50s seem to have made this problem go away in the mud, although wet downsloping grass is not yet my friend but at least no longer my enemy.

Unfortunately about 90% or my time is commuting and 50% of that spent between lines of traffic (so yes, 50/50s dont really make sense, but I want to do some camping this spring and am pretty sure I will encounter slipperiness, I'll probably switch back to something more road oriented in the fall). I seem to be getting used to it, but the new tires do not stick to the mumps bumps and bots dots nor wide painted lines the way the 90/10s did, definately some slipping I've never had on the road rubber.

I'm planning to do a longer write-up on an appropriate thread when I get to 300-500 and maybe longer if anyone is interested.