I'm Changing My Tires

[keeponriding]

Time for a 3rd set;

I've had Scouts for the last 6,000 miles...back tire wearing in the center. Frankly, I didn't like them that much...felt a little skittish at lean and danced too much on scored or frost heave pavement. On dirt they were fine, but no better than the Tourance's that came on the bike.

I considered the Dunlop TRs, but heard they wear fast...the reality is 90% of my riding is pavement, with the remainder a little dirt, mostly gravel.

I was happy with the Tourance in wet and dry....

Any supportive or alternative opinions anyone?

Anthony

 

[~TABASCO~]

Maybe a K76. Good wear.

 

[keeponriding]

Tell me more....

90/10? or 80/20?

Good wet and dry?

Handling and touring?

 

[Laurent33]

Hi Keeponriding

The Dunlop TR91 is a very good tire, like the Tourance, With more fun in the curves easier to balanced your bike.

In france we just have the new Michelin Anakee 3 with sillice, it should be not to bad too.
But I didn't find any test yet about this new rubber.

Have a good time with your bike in your beautiful country than I miss.

Laurent

 

[Rasher]

Seen a few comparison reviews and the TR91 always tops them, I understand wear is similar to Tourance EXP (i.e. not great)

Trail Attack 2's are also well rated for a mainly tarmac tyre, and Michelin are claiming the Annakee 3's to be the latest wonder-tyre.

I ride 99% pavement as the UK is 99.999% paved so off-road excusrsions are very rare, and for the odd gravel track I believe a road tyre is as good as these 90% Road / 10% offroad tyres anyway.
As soon as you have a loose or muddy surface the TR91's / Tourances / Annakee's are no good, so in my opinion it is a case of run the best road rubber, or "Dual purpose" tyre is you prefer to keep the rugged looks, or fit a proper dual purpose tyre and take the hit on pavement performance in exchange for real off-road ability.

 

[keeponriding]

Yah, all good points Rasher...I still get the occasional dirt track in, so prefer retaining the 10%, w/o sacrificing handling on pavement.

But, given the weight of these bikes...not sure it matters much. Last summer I rode with another ST through a couple hundred miles of dirt tracks in Wyoming and Colorado..he had the OEM tires and fared as well as me with the Heidenau K61s.

 

[RED CAT]

We have found the Anakee 2s to be the best all round.Better wear than the Tourances and no flatness while wearing, on the rear tire like the Tourances and K60s tend to do. Right now I am trying a K60 front and an Anakee 2 rear. Ride aggresively rough pavement/gravel 70/30% and seems a good combo so far. Not much mud, sand or water though. On Adventure Rider there are some fellows trying the new Anakee 3s and seem very impressed so far on dirt and pavement. Will be picking up a couple of rears soon. ::26::

 

[klunsford]

I am really sold on the Shinko 705's. more of a 80/20. They handle very well on the pavement, but give a bit more bite than stock off the pavement. The price was right also... very resonable.

 

[greg the pole]

We have found the Anakee 2s to be the best all round.Better wear than the Tourances and no flatness while wearing, on the rear tire like the Tourances and K60s tend to do. Right now I am trying a K60 front and an Anakee 2 rear. Ride aggresively rough pavement/gravel 70/30% and seems a good combo so far. Not much mud, sand or water though. On Adventure Rider there are some fellows trying the new Anakee 3s and seem very impressed so far on dirt and pavement. Will be picking up a couple of rears soon. ::26::

ride aggressively? yes you do.
I'm trying out a set of mitas Dakar. No real chance to test them yet. Will keep progress here: http://thetenerist.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/mitas-dakar-4-ply-tires/

Honestly, if you're not going to wander far off road, in my books you can't beat the battleaxe. great on road tire, with some off road ability. Any real deep gravel, mud, or water, you will be asking for it, with the road tires

 

[keeponriding]

I'm down to Annakee 3s (I like Michelin, overall, have them on both of my cars)...Battlewing or Dunlop TR91

 

[RED CAT]

Tried Shinko 705s on my GS1200 and blew the tread right off the rear tire. They were the bias ply ones. I hear the radials might be better. They also howl when they get half worn. I only have two wheels so want the absolute best tires out there. ::001::

 

[cmastrom]

I followed some beemer and KTM riders Saturday on some back mountain roads here in east Tn. 800gs had k60's, ktm990 also had the k60's, 1200gs had the Conti TK's and I was running the battle wings. I am definitely going to the K60's. These guys are great riders and on pavement I am right there with them but when we hit the dirt and gravels forget it they pulled so far ahead even the dust settled of course they waited on me at the turns. I really like the way the other tires bit in on these roads much better than my tires. Of course I am not going to run the speeds they ran regardless I like me very much. 70+ mph on some of these roads no thanks even when I managed 45mph the stock tires kind of skate. So basically after 40 miles in the dirt and gravel I came to the conclusion definitely need different tires and the K60's are it any idea of where to get them on the forum instead of my beemer dealer

Thanks

 

[keeponriding]

You want to talk to Tabasaco at rideonadv...he sells them. He was the first guy to reply to my posting; he sells them.

I personally didn't like the K60s and know lots of guys who do.

 

[Karson]

Give Jaxon a call at 817-831-9700. He'll hook you up, and yes, his prices are very fair.

 

[greg the pole]

Tried Shinko 705s on my GS1200 and blew the tread right off the rear tire. They were the bias ply ones. I hear the radials might be better. They also howl when they get half worn. I only have two wheels so want the absolute best tires out there. ::001::

I had he radial 705's with no issues, decent tire
Got 7500km out of the back, all said and done
Not the best bang for the buck

 

[yz454]

So far its anakee 2 up front,modified tourance on back.That is 10k winter riding off road and on,snow and a LOT of rain.

 

[cmastrom]

Thanks I forgot about Tabasco apologies to him too!

You want to talk to Tabasaco at rideonadv...he sells them. He was the first guy to reply to my posting; he sells them.

I personally didn't like the K60s and know lots of guys who do.

 

[Rasher]

I think the 90 / 10 tyres are really all just road tyres with slightly wider grooves.

Seems to be a market for a tyre that genuinely trades some road prowess for a real world gain off-road, nothing seems to fit this 80/20 segment, and the major manufacturers seem way off the ball just wanting to make "wannabe" tyres that will appease the road testers who will no doubt test them on a race track.

The K60's, Karroo TKC's etc are all 50/50 or 60/40 IMO, a decent 75 / 25 would probably be ideal for many riders who just want to do a bit of gentle off-roading, yet still have decent grip ont he roads they spend 95% of their time on.

Just because I spend 99% of my time on the road does not mean for off-road I want a tyre with minimal capability - Roadsmarts and PR3's are as good on hard packed gravel and dry dirt tracks as Tourances and TR91's anyway

 

[snakebitten]

My tire sermon is boring and predictable. So I will refrain from a total rehash.

But I'm in agreement with you Rasher. 90/10 and 80/20 is as much marketing hype as "adventure bike" has become.

They are all basically pavement tires.

50/50 tires are hard to come by. Fortunately, todays tires are so superior to yesteryears, that we forget todays 50/50 rubber offer up road performance that 20 years ago was unheard of by 100% street rubber. (imo) Add to that the miracles of TC and ABS and we now get to have our cake and eat it too.

Great times.

 

[coastie]

I just ordered up a set of K60's but I'm In agreement with you, but have to say I rode my Anakee 2's off road pretty hard (well lots of dirt roads) and they were fantastic. I'm not so sure full street tires would have performed as well.

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