I'm Changing My Tires

[snakebitten]

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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I predict the first time you crank the throttle off road on the K60, you are gonna be amazed at what that computer says you can now do. It's not full knobby dirt bite, but it has claws compared to 90/10 80/20 tires. I ride down the same dirt road every single day. Usually hard packed with crushed concrete rocks. It's a completely different "launch". You can get going just as fast on the street tire. But it takes a while. And after a rain? Softer road? Woohooo. They bite. (all examples are TC2. I stop everyday and switch the setting)

Kinda sad my Karoo is almost dead. It's even more fun.

 

[Zepfan]

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.

What's a modified Tourance ??

No one seems to be hyping Metzler Tourance much. I regularly got 12k/mi out of rear aggressive riding on my old Vstrom DL1000.
I'm guessing my NEW S 10 will go through tires a little quicker w/ more power and weight. I gotta slow it down, I'm aching for a speeding ticket at this rate ??? >

http://www.swmototires.com/Metzeler-TOURANCE-DUAL-SPORT-TIRES-detail.htm?productId=8038544&ez=Metzeler&pos=3

 

[AVGeek]

I'm another K60 convert here. I had the Metzeler's from the factory, and found that airing down the front tire (usually to around 25psi) made a gigantic difference in handling on dirt roads. Last week, I rode Castle Hot Springs road again (first time was on the stock tires, this time was on the K60s), and I definitely felt that the K60s performed far better (I left them at street pressure, 36psi f/r). Sure, I get a bit of "thumping" on-road, but I'd rather have the most capable tire off-road that I can.

 

[Karson]

I'll chime in as well, since I'll be mounting K60's here in the next few weeks (on order).

If I only intended to ride the S10 on pavement, I'd stick with the Battlewings or Anakees. If I wanted to ride only offroad, I'd go with something like Big Blocks. However, since I enjoy doing both the K60's are where it's at, based upon over a year of watching people brag 'em up. Very rarely does anyone say they hate them. Even if you don't plan on doing anything off hardball roads, they have such a crazy tread life, you might be glad you did 5,000 miles into the set. FWIW. ::008::

 

[mcbrien]

I'm another K60 convert here. I had the Metzeler's from the factory, and found that airing down the front tire (usually to around 25psi) made a gigantic difference in handling on dirt roads. Last week, I rode Castle Hot Springs road again (first time was on the stock tires, this time was on the K60s), and I definitely felt that the K60s performed far better (I left them at street pressure, 36psi f/r). Sure, I get a bit of "thumping" on-road, but I'd rather have the most capable tire off-road that I can.

::026:: And they last a long long time ::012::

 

[greg the pole]

I'll chime in as well, since I'll be mounting K60's here in the next few weeks (on order).

If I only intended to ride the S10 on pavement, I'd stick with the Battlewings or Anakees. If I wanted to ride only offroad, I'd go with something like Big Blocks.

are you refering to the Kenda big blocks, or the tkc 80's?
The big blocks are garbage. Had a set on my DL1000, 1300km out of the rear, and she was done. Never again.

 

[thfraser]

I have about 8.5k miles on my K60's so far and I'm very happy with them. They did have a break-in period of a few hundred miles. I was cursing the tires because I though they rode so poorly or were out of round. I think they had a flat spot that took awhile to smooth out. Then they evened out and I've been happy with them ever since.

I've been real happy with them both on road and off road. I'm not a real aggressive ride on my normal rides, though I will whoop it up from time to time. They definitely grip much better off road than the battlewings. However, the rear tire is not as good on smooth wet roads as the stock tires. I'm sure it's that nice big center tread that causes it to do a little hydroplaning.

 

[coastie]

I have about 8.5k miles on my K60's so far and I'm very happy with them. They did have a break-in period of a few hundred miles. I was cursing the tires because I though they rode so poorly or were out of round. I think they had a flat spot that took awhile to smooth out. Then they evened out and I've been happy with them ever since.

I've been real happy with them both on road and off road. I'm not a real aggressive ride on my normal rides, though I will whoop it up from time to time. They definitely grip much better off road than the battlewings. However, the rear tire is not as good on smooth wet roads as the stock tires. I'm sure it's that nice big center tread that causes it to do a little hydroplaning.

Has anybody tried taking a dremmel to them to add some siping?

 

[yz454]

I cut my tires all the time,If I can,t buy it I will make it.

 

[snakebitten]

It has happened again.
This forum, Yamaha Super Tenere, has to be the most pro K60 forum in the world.
Every tire thread, including this one which actually was started by a disappointed K60 rider, ends up a Heidenau marketing dream.

You do know that a lot of dirt bike forum\threads shred the K60 as crap off road! And to be fair, in context, they are correct. That center solid rib in the center of the 150 actually degrades its off road prowess compared to full out dedicated knobbies.

But my point is this.........
It's a killer tire for the way many of us use our Tenere. In fact, it couldn't have been designed with a much better square-peg-square-hole match for the S10 mission.

A tire with a definitive set of compromises, by design. And a motorcycle that uniquely parallels those same compromises.

Somebody will make a better tire for my Tenere some day. But I ain't suffering waiting.

 

[Z06]

Add me to the few who do not like the K60's. Have been running the TR91's for last two sets and am much happier with them for the way I ride. I will take the slightly less off road performance to be comfortable the 95% of the time I am on pavement.

 

[thfraser]

It is good to have differing opinions. Everyone has different needs, so it makes sense folks like different tires. I think the wear on a K60 is great. These are my tires at 8.5k miles.

Still a ton of tread left!

 

[Xdriver]

It is good to have differing opinions. Everyone has different needs, so it makes sense folks like different tires. I think the wear on a K60 is great. These are my tires at 8.5k miles.

Still a ton of tread left!

What wear?

 

[SupA-T]

He must ride on grass all day.

 

[~TABASCO~]

I think most people know my stand on these.. Im heading toward 12K on a set. My front could go another 8-10K. For the ADV riding that I go out and look for I still really enjoy these tires. And I cant find I tire that can even come close on the miles. No way... And as some of you know, I still ride them hard to the edges everyday.. ::26::

For some guys that might be looking for a more 'street' type tire you might want to look at the K76.. More 'street'ish' and great Heidenau wear.

 

[macca]

It is good to have differing opinions. Everyone has different needs, so it makes sense folks like different tires. I think the wear on a K60 is great. These are my tires at 8.5k miles.

Still a ton of tread left!

Crikey I must be a hard user mine look similar/maybe more worn than that at 3k miles ! I do see a lot of TC action with the K60s wet or dry, which I never saw on the previous Tourance EXP (which made it to 3.5Kmiles with a few mm left.

 

[Rasher]

Really does look a 50/50 tyre to me and probably gives up just a little too much on the road for those of us who rarely manage to get off pavement, they look to only have about 50% tread when leaned over, I do take the point they probably outscore a performance tyre of 20 years ago - but I hardly go looking for 20 year old technology when buying the only thing between me and the deck.

If they did one with the blcoks getting bigger towards the edge (in the same way perfromance tyres go slick towards the edges) I recjon they could make a genuine 75 / 25 tyre - and I have to admit getting away from the current crop of "Dual Purpose" tyres 4k life would be a real blessing, tried Tourance EXP's and Roadsmarts on the GS, and the EXP's on the Tenere and not one rear has managed 5k.

I assume the dry performance is not so bad as few of us can truly push a modern road tyre, but the wet performance would probably be the biggest deal breaker for me, but I am happy to trade some grip for increased life - as long as they don't go square and then handle funny after the first stretch of Motorway.

 

[Nimbus]

I must be very easy on tires as my EXPs have just at 7K on the set. The elephant has long ago disappeared from the sides and I feel like I ride quite hard. Perhaps not lots and lots of WOT from a stop, but plenty of good hard cornering. Same has been true on all my prior bikes. Part is that I weigh 145lbs I guess? I went with some PR3s for my next set, I'll do a review if they make it back from CO in one piece in June.

 

[RED CAT]

I think for you Heidanau K60 guys, Greg the Pole maybe onto something with his Mitas 07s. He talked another pal of mine into getting them and must say for $235. a set, they are a very impressive looking 50/50 tire. Very similar looking to the K60s. Super tough side walls and aggresive tread pattern. They'll be a bitch to mount, I bet. Just another option. Heidanaus are enjoying all the glory but are high priced, so need a little competition. ::001::

 

[greg the pole]

I think for you Heidanau K60 guys, Greg the Pole maybe onto something with his Mitas 07s. He talked another pal of mine into getting them and must say for $235. a set, they are a very impressive looking 50/50 tire. Very similar looking to the K60s. Super tough side walls and aggresive tread pattern. They'll be a bitch to mount, I bet. Just another option. Heidanaus are enjoying all the glory but are high priced, so need a little competition. ::001::

stop spreading nasty rumors. they were just under $300 canadian to my door, with a baseball cap, and stickers thrown in! ::014::
The rear was very easy to install (I do my own) I actually think it was better than my hidenau that came off the back
I'm still back and fourth between which bike to take to california next week. If it is the tenere, then I will be running a daily blog with the days thoughts and happenings, tire feed back included ::022::
http://thetenerist.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/mitas-dakar-4-ply-tires/