Heidenau tires for the S10

[skoron]

I was talking with the local small specialty shop today about maybe putting Heidenau tires on the S10. Was thinking the K60 or K60 Scout. Dealer said no, its a bias ply and needs a tube so he wouldn't quote me or talk. We then looked up the K76 thinking a good street based tire which came in a tubless version also, Again he said no radial so he would not consider it. I know you guys have run this on the S10. Is he just covering his assets (which I don't blame him). We put them on my R100 GS which is tubed (K60 Scout).

Guess I can go back to the Shinko 705's which I have had good luck with three sets so far.

Thanks, Skoron

 

[~TABASCO~]

I’ve run K60 a million times with no tubes and no issues. We also continue to sell them with no issue. Sounds kinda strange.

 

[skoron]

Tabasco
Thanks for confirming. I am thinking he is just old school and by the book. Great airhead shop for my GS.

What's your thoughts on K60 vs K60 Scout vs K76? I do very little offroad, no single trail and like my Shinko 705's but looking for a change maybe. Was originally thinking Scout. The radial vs bias ply had me more concerned than tube vs tubeless (which might be the exact same thing in this case). With the Shinko's I am getting two rears to one front.

Skoron

 

[~TABASCO~]

I’ve run all those before. To much info to type on my phone. I like K60 scout, but for your needs I would probably go with the Shinko. I’m currently on Shinko 804/805 and love them.

I have a ton more personal experience and opinions but to much to type.

 

[skoron]

Thanks! Your insight has been more than helpful.

Skoron

 

[jrusell]

Buddy doesn't have a clue what he is talking about.
Look at the specs for almost all the 50/50 tires out there for the big bikes.
Dunlop mission, Shinko 705 Bias, Mitas, Motoz, etc etc
All are Bias ply, tubeless.

Find someone else to buy from.

Look at the specs from the manufacturer. Some tires are tube type, all tires in our size are Tubeless.
150/70 B 17 M/C 69T TL
110/80 B 19 M/C 59T TL

K 60 Scout

120/90 - 17 M/C 64T TT 130/80 - 17 M/C 65T TL 4.00 - 18 M/C 64T TT 120/80 - 18 M/C 62T TT140/80 - 18 M/C 70S TT 110/80 B 19 M/C 59T TL 120/70 B 19 M/C 60T TL 90/90 - 21 M/C 54T TL 140/80 - 17 M/C 69T TL 150/70 B 17 M/C 69T TL 170/60 B 17 M/C 72T TL 150/70 B 18 M/C 70T TL

www.heidenautires.com

 

[Checkswrecks]

Before the Mitas E07 came to the US, the K60 was the tire to get. Unless the rim was bent enough that the wheel couldn't hold air, nobody ran tubes.

 

[ballisticexchris]

It all depends on what you are looking for in a tire. A hard compound bias ply tire such as the K60 or E07 Dakar is going to wear like iron. Both offer tubeless tires for the big bikes. As long as you are willing to sacrifice the traction and overall performance it's an outstanding choice.

I have personally run nothing but radial tires on my street bikes. I'm all about the very best handling, traction, and braking I can squeeze out of my tires.

 

[jeckyll]

K60 front is my tire of choice for the last 40,000km.

Rear I run something differently though

 

[squarebore]

Just for a different opinion, I hated the K60s. Very hard and long wearing BUT, poor grip on tar in wet, rough ride on the road, difficult to fit with very stiff sidewalls, the rear starts pretty square and gets worse quickly, the front cups badly. Not bad off road but there are better tyres out there. Other people love them though as they get huge mileage.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

 

[Lozza]

Have had a couple of set of the K60s and run them tubeless; no problems and no punctures. Long wearing, okay in the dirt and reasonable handling. Right up until the centre line is worn in and it's raining; I mostly ride in traction control level 2 or off, the rear will light up or step out. Personally tyres are subjective, had both Motoz Tractionators & the GPS tyres and current settled on Mitas E07 Dakar tyres - so far so good. Give the K60s a crack

Sent from my SM-G977B using Tapatalk

 

[magic]

Skoron, If you ride mostly on the street, I wouldn't even consider the K60s. There are many better options for street tires. I agree with squarebore's comments above. They work well on gravel, dirt and unimproved roads. I used them on the Dalton highway several years ago and they were a good choice for that. I didn't like the handling on the street at all, especially in the twisties when they square off.

 

[HeliMark]

I ran a set of K60's, and they lasted over 14K miles. I did not like them in the rain, one of the worse that I have had. They tend to square off more also.

 

[Checkswrecks]

...
I do very little offroad, no single trail and like my Shinko 705's but looking for a change maybe.
...

With this statement, I'll second what magic wrote about just skipping the K60s and even most of the other knobbier tires. The bike does fine on the gravel and light dirt with almost any of the 90-10 tires, plus is FAR smoother on the pavement.

After trying a set of Conti TKC 70s which wore horribly, I'm currently on a set of Avon AV54 Trail Riders which have been great.

I'm next going back to Mitas E07 for a long trip and because they are just such a great combination of performance, wear, price, etc.

 

[tubebender]

My experience with the K60's is like the others. Good tire for dirt roads, but disliked it on pavement.
It really changed the handling of the bike, especially the front, which just felt numb.

 

[jeckyll]

Skoron, If you ride mostly on the street, I wouldn't even consider the K60s. There are many better options for street tires. I agree with squarebore's comments above. They work well on gravel, dirt and unimproved roads. I used them on the Dalton highway several years ago and they were a good choice for that. I didn't like the handling on the street at all, especially in the twisties when they square off.

I know it's a very odd combination, but in 2016 I ran a K60 front with an Anakee 3 rear (I 'melted' my rear on California Hwy 36 and had to get whatever was available on a Saturday to keep riding, so get an Anakee 3). It was a surprisingly good option. I've never had the A3 rear slip and I tend to be very leaned over when I get on the power... Never did run the A3 front, I didn't hear very good things about it.

 

[oilfield_trash]

I love the K60, but it never rains here. I'm currently on 705's which are cheap and fine. I'm probably going back to a K60 when this set wears out.

 

[ballisticexchris]

I learned long ago to not experiment with tires based on mile longevity and price. I pretty much know how good a tire will perform before ever spooning it on my rims. Way before the K60 and E07 were the rage, I found that Chevron style treads fail to hold safe traction when pushed hard.

 

[twinrider]

Tabasco
Thanks for confirming. I am thinking he is just old school and by the book. Great airhead shop for my GS.

What's your thoughts on K60 vs K60 Scout vs K76? I do very little offroad, no single trail and like my Shinko 705's but looking for a change maybe. Was originally thinking Scout. The radial vs bias ply had me more concerned than tube vs tubeless (which might be the exact same thing in this case). With the Shinko's I am getting two rears to one front.

Skoron

I used K60 Scouts a few years ago and they had the worst wet grip of any tire I've used. Would break loose without warning. The Shinkos are way better IMO.

 

[EricV]

It's all about what you want from a tire and how/where you ride the bike. I ran 10 sets of K60s and used them during my Iron Butt Rally with over 12k miles out of the rears on average. Very consistent tires. Most of my rears never needed weight to balance, and one was horrible with almost 2 ounces. Still lasted just as long. Wet traction was never an issue and I rode in a lot of rain. During the last day of the IBR I was running in 50 mph gusting winds, at night, in pouring rain. the rear tire had 5k miles on it since I had swapped at the second checkpoint to a new rear. No issues. I later heard that other riders had been literally blown over on the interstate. One that I know of had slowed way down and that may have been part of the problem. Other motorists helped him pick up the bike in the wind and rain and held it so he could get on and take off again. He was in the same area I was at pretty close to the same time, but on a BMW RT.

I prefer the Mitas E07 Dakar over the K60. The Tractionator GPS is not bad either, but I think I liked the E07 better. The E3 rears were great for a 90/10, but the fronts were awful.