Can't decide between the K60's or the Karoo 3's....

[ADVFireFighter]

Going to be replacing stock rubber. Want a 50/50 tire, they both are that.
340 for the K60's shipped.
375 for the Karoo's shipped.
Not much of a price difference there.

Haven't been in the dirt much since the stock tires aren't the best in dirt, BUT I want to start... 50/50 would be a great start for me. Most of my dirt roads take highway to get to for me.

Help me wise ones...
Steer me in the right direction.
I read the reviews on both. Guess I just need to decide soon !

Thanks !

 

[tomatocity]

Going to be replacing stock rubber. Want a 50/50 tire, they both are that.
340 for the K60's shipped.
375 for the Karoo's shipped.
Not much of a price difference there.

Haven't been in the dirt much since the stock tires aren't the best in dirt, BUT I want to start... 50/50 would be a great start for me. Most of my dirt roads take highway to get to for me.

Help me wise ones...
Steer me in the right direction.
I read the reviews on both. Guess I just need to decide soon !

Thanks !

FireFighter911 should have a fair answer for you. I believe he has used both of these tires and is in the process of changing to Michelin Anakee 3's. Different tires for different riding.

I liked the K60's for off-road. They are the best gravel tire on the best gravel motorcycle. Very stable slow or fast. The K60 can't compete with a 90/10 tire on the road but it does alright. I felt alright with the K60 in the rain but... would prefer a radial. Heidenau seems to be a good company. They replaced my rear tire (damaged during a flat tire) immediately. I will reinstall the K60's as soon as I need them for an off-road trip.

 

[jasonc32amg]

Going to be replacing stock rubber. Want a 50/50 tire, they both are that.
340 for the K60's shipped.
375 for the Karoo's shipped.
Not much of a price difference there.

Haven't been in the dirt much since the stock tires aren't the best in dirt, BUT I want to start... 50/50 would be a great start for me. Most of my dirt roads take highway to get to for me.

Help me wise ones...
Steer me in the right direction.
I read the reviews on both. Guess I just need to decide soon !

Thanks !

I'm having a set of karoo 3's installed tomorrow. I'll post up some feedback.

 

[clint64]

I'm having a set of karoo 3's installed tomorrow. I'll post up some feedback.

Look forward to your feedback. I will be in the market shortly for another set of tires and these are on my short list. One of my main concerns is wet weather handling. It seems that I always end up riding in the rain more than I care too.

 

[autoteach]

K60 in wet is just fine, didn't seem to cause any issue during hwy riding. Vibrations are everywhere, and if you are in a hot/fast part of the country, they won't give you the stellar mileage that some have enjoyed.

 

[yukondood]

just replaced tourances with K60's. K 60's are slick, TCS flashing with moderate throttle use on road, feels like I am planted when riding slow does not want to lean or roll easily. A few of my favourite corners and highway sweeps are a little sketchy. Definitely can feel the rear slipping and front pushing. A bit noisy on road, very slick over any tar road repair strips. Slow down even more in the rain. A good tire but, takes a bit of the sport out of sport road touring.

BUT, off road I LOVE them, I also ride a wr 450 so took the steed over some single track. Last few nights have been pushing the S10 pretty hard off road and am blown away with how these tires handle it. Some slow mud riding, single track, loose rock climbs and absolutely flawless at high speed 160km/h plus on gravel, sludge. I know not the smartest but hey the tires feel like they can handle it so I figured I should push it. Would not have broken 90 km/h on the tourances or battlewings on these same off road routes.
I have a couple "backroad" trips planned up North Canol and Dempster in next few weeks, after those will be peeling the K60's off and possibly go back to Tourances?? I have a dirt/trail bike and will keep the S10 road and light off road duty
my 02 cents

 

[snakebitten]

Karoo 3's are just now available and getting mounted on our bikes. So may take a few days to start hearing reports.

I have a set waiting in Ouray Colorado when I get there. (heading out today from Texas Coast)
Gonna mount a Big Block knobby first and wear it out for a week in the mountains.
Then run a set of Karoo 3's up to Canada. (and back to Ouray hopefully. Don't know how long they last. I need 4000 miles out of that rear please)

Then remount my K60's to get back home to Texas, where a second set of Karoo 3's will be waiting. I will know what to expect on the second set.

 

[ADVFireFighter]

Thanks guys....
Sounds like either tire will do me....
2 days at the station for more homework then ill order Sunday...

 

[greg the pole]

FireFighter911 should have a fair answer for you. I believe he has used both of these tires and is in the process of changing to Michelin Anakee 3's. Different tires for different riding.

I liked the K60's for off-road. They are the best gravel tire on the best gravel motorcycle. Very stable slow or fast. The K60 can't compete with a 90/10 tire on the road but it does alright. I felt alright with the K60 in the rain but... would prefer a radial. Heidenau seems to be a good company. They replaced my rear tire (damaged during a flat tire) immediately. I will reinstall the K60's as soon as I need them for an off-road trip.

Mitas Dakar, or Mitas 50/50. better than heidenau's IMO. Better workmanship too. But you know what they say about opinions...
I managed a measly 7700Km out of my rear mitas Dakar 4 ply. Then again, I do ride like my grandma. ::015:: ::015:: ::015:: ::015::
New 50/50 mitas went on a few days ago. Expecting slightly higher mileage out of the rear (10-12 KM), probably 16-18 Km on the front.

So what ever you do, do not buy the mitas.... ::002::

 

[slipangle]

I'm looking forward to reading about how people like the Karoo 3, although when I went to the K60s most everyone was singing their praises.

My experience with the K60s has been mixed. They inspire confidence on curvy paved roads, and do appear to be wearing well. On unpaved roads, I was very surprised that I preferred the original equipment Tourances. IMHO, the rear tire with it's solid center strip doesn't work well with my area's often loose and silty dirt. I find that the rear tire is always wanting to spin when I'm climbing or accelerating on a straight, but then bites when I'm turning and would prefer that it slip a little. It's frustrating, so I'll be using something else next time.

 

[Firefight911]

I'm looking forward to reading about how people like the Karoo 3, although when I went to the K60s most everyone was singing their praises.

My experience with the K60s has been mixed. They inspire confidence on curvy paved roads, and do appear to be wearing well. On unpaved roads, I was very surprised that I preferred the original equipment Tourances. IMHO, the rear tire with it's solid center strip doesn't work well with my area's often loose and silty dirt. I find that the rear tire is always wanting to spin when I'm climbing or accelerating on a straight, but then bites when I'm turning and would prefer that it slip a little. It's frustrating, so I'll be using something else next time.

I found the same to be true with the new design center stripe tread. The original iteration was really good but the new, not so much. I wouldn't use them again.

I went with the Anakee 3 from my Metzeler Karoo this time as I needed to be honest with myself on my riding for the balance of the year. A foot surgery in three weeks dictates I won't be hitting th edirt as I have been for a while. I have a frined who just spooned a set on and he is an excellent adn very experienced rider who articualtes himself quite well, even if he is on a BMW still. Looking forward to his an others reviews as I expect the Karoo 3 to be my next tire.

 

[ADVFireFighter]

Well my local dealer helped make up my mind. 340 delivered for the set... Ill report back in a week when they get here, coming from NY.

 

[tomatocity]

Well my local dealer helped make up my mind. 340 delivered for the set... Ill report back in a week when they get here, coming from NY.

Good price but... Set of?

 

[JaimeV]

Next august I'm planning a trip in the Alps. More or less 3000km but 500 off road.

I had the Karoo, TKC, Mitas E09, E10... but I'm lookig for someting more road oriented, 50% on / 50% off road:

My first election was the Heidenau K60 (I saw there is the K60 Scout, is it the same?) but the centre strip issue you commented make me have some doubts.

Other option is the Mitas E07, do you use it? I had the Mitas E09 Dakar for Morocco and they worked very well (first time any of us five had a puncture) but too hard for wet tarmack. The E07 look more road oriented...

:question: :question:

::003::

 

[jasonc32amg]

We'll see if they perform but they sure look perdy...

After getting them mounted up I headed home via I95 and the change reminds me of when I went to e-rated tires on my Xterra. It's noticeable but not objectionable. You can hear a little noise and feel a slight rumble at low speeds and that's it. At 80 on the highway they're fine and they felt ok through the onramps and offramps. So far they pass the road test. My reason for getting them is the loamy stuff I encounter offroad here in Florida so I'll report back on that. ::008::

 

[ADVFireFighter]

Good price but... Set of?

lol sorry...
Set of the Karoo 3's

 

[greg the pole]

Next august I'm planning a trip in the Alps. More or less 3000km but 500 off road.

I had the Karoo, TKC, Mitas E09, E10... but I'm lookig for someting more road oriented, 50% on / 50% off road:

My first election was the Heidenau K60 (I saw there is the K60 Scout, is it the same?) but the centre strip issue you commented make me have some doubts.

Other option is the Mitas E07, do you use it? I had the Mitas E09 Dakar for Morocco and they worked very well (first time any of us five had a puncture) but too hard for wet tarmack. The E07 look more road oriented...

:question: :question:




::003::

the mitas dakar have treated me well. I have a set of mitas 50/50 on now. see how they do

 

[Gregg5789]

I'm kind of in the same boat, got stock (only 800 miles) but tooling up for the Arizona Trail and will be changing. I see that folks are mounting and remounting when riding conditions change. I thought about taking the street onlies off when I do the Az trail and then remount them when I was done, saving them for the next off road adventure, but was not sure if remounting was healty for the tire itself. Whats you guys thoughts on that.

 

[ADVFireFighter]

Unless you are putting a super dirt tire on, don't do it. You can swap tires a few times... But like I am doing try for a 50/50 tire. I have to ride to my off-road playgrounds...

 

[TWOTIME]

karoo 3 SUCK on the road . work good on dirt . they are more like 20% road 80% dirt