Looking for quiet but grippy Front Tire

[nbadvrider]

I hate to start another tire thread, but I am looking for a front tire that has grip but doesn't sing too much on the highway. I had the K60 Scouts on my previous bike (2016 VStrom 650) and was really happy with the rear. But the front was pretty loud at highway speeds. My 2018 Super T has 12000 kms on it and the original tires (at least the rear) are almost ready to replace. I think I would be happy with the K60 on the rear and am wondering if anyone has any ideas about a quiet front tire? Also, not being a tire expert, I am wondering if it is OK to run the K60 on the back and something else on the front. I am up here in Canada and run a lot of chip-seal secondary roads, a fair amount of gravel forest roads, some abandoned rail-lines and very little single track. I stay off the big highways as much as possible but sometimes I have to run them. I love the Super T and am looking for a little advice on what some of you guys might suggest for rubber.
thanks
NBAdvRider

 

[thughes317]

I just put Shinko 705's on both ends of mine for this new season and after 1500 miles I can say that I'm very happy with them. They seem to have increased the turn-in effort (I felt the stock tires fell into turns to quickly for my tastes) and the grip they provide has been incredibly confidence inspiring for me, I actually ground the pegs a few times on my recent trip, something I had never done in the previous 10K miles with the stock rubber. Also did a fair amount of miles in heavy rain, both on surface roads and interstate, total confidence in the ability to hold the road while wet. Caveat: I am 90% on-road rider and have yet to try these off-road (gravel and fire roads for me). Bonus: these tires are very inexpensive and all accounts seem to indicate that they wear like iron.

 

[ballisticexchris]

I honestly don't think a tire exists that can grip in the dirt and also be quiet on the street. I have seen a few bikes with aggressive knobby's in the front and less aggressive in the rear. But not the other way around. I wish you the best of luck finding what you are looking for. I'll keep an eye on this thread and see what others are using.

FWIW, I'm in the camp of nothing less than a full blown knobby for any kind of riding that takes me off the pavement. I'll be giving an ongoing detailed review of my Michelin Wild Anakee's as soon as I get rolling on them next week or two.

 

[WJBertrand]

My 705s sing a bit on the road. I wear earplugs and don't find it excessive or annoying Given the wind noise and mechanical racket the Super Tenere makes, I can't imagine tire noise being a major issue.

 

[Nikolajsen]

I don't hear any noise from my Metzeler Karoo Street front.
Only from the rear...

 

[SkunkWorks]

The Mitas E07 front does sing a bit around 40-50mph. It is not excessively loud, but it makes some noise.
I imagine it would be similar to a K60 front tire.

 

[BaldKnob]

Pirelli Scorpion Trail II Excellent 95/5 tire that will manage hardpack and gravel roads just fine. Super sticky on wet or dry pavement. Easy to mount and quiet on road. They're a little pricey but worth the money.

 

[Jlq1969]

Anakee Adventure?

 

[nbadvrider]

Has anyone tried the Motoz Tractionator GPS?

 

[Philistine]

Ive been running the Pirelli Scorpion Trail II for a while now and I think they are the best tire I've run on the tenere so far on my 3rd set. also I just fitted some Michelin Anakee wild for a trip to the Simpson desert and for a 80/20 tire they seem to grip very well too

 

[HeliMark]

Has anyone tried the Motoz Tractionator GPS?

Several are trying them now. I have about 1,000 miles on mine, and so far I think they are just a little less then the original E-07, but the front is a lot more "buzzy".

 

[EricV]

Has anyone tried the Motoz Tractionator GPS?

Yes, you should like them. As good or better wear than the K60. The fronts do start to get noisy after 10k or so,, but that is, to some degree, relative to what each of us is used to.

Do you wear ear plugs while riding? If not, why not?

 

[jeckyll]

I wear earplugs, and happen to like the K60 fronts a lot. I found them much better than the E07 on the road (front). I'd take a bit of noise over poor performance any day

 

[EricV]

I've run 10 sets of K60s on the Super Ten, I like them too. That said, I liked the E07 Dakar better, but those are no longer available in our sizes. The GPS Tractionator does well, wears well, is better in the wet too. I can't say how it handles cornering in terms of your riding though. The tall blocks aren't meant for high G sport riding, but none of the 50/50 tires are.