Need 'slab oriented tire recommendation

[rbernie]

I'm going to be spending some time this June/July on the slab - looks to be a 6K-8K trip. I'd rather not have to plan an itinerary around changing tires along the way. I plan on spooning new rubber on the bike right prior to the trip, and want something pavement-centric that will last me the trip.

In addition to the OEM rubber, I've tried Tourance, Tourance Next, and PR4 Trails so far. None gave me better than 8K mileage (6K average for the BW and Tourances, 8k for the Michelin).

I'm debating between a PR4 trail front/PR4 rear, Bridgestone A40s, and maybe the Dunlop Trailsmart. Any feedback to offer before I order something?

 

[WJBertrand]

I'm going to be spending some time this June/July on the slab - looks to be a 6K-8K trip. I'd rather not have to plan an itinerary around changing tires along the way. I plan on spooning new rubber on the bike right prior to the trip, and want something pavement-centric that will last me the trip.

In addition to the OEM rubber, I've tried Tourance, Tourance EXP, and PR4 Trails so far. None gave me better than 8K mileage (6K average for the BW and Tourances, 8k for the Michelin).

I'm debating between a PR4 trail front/PR4 rear, Bridgestone A40s, and maybe the Dunlop Trailsmart. Any feedback to offer before I order something?

Not my favorite tire from a handling point of view but they last and last are the Michelin Anakee IIIs.

 

[jmcgilroy]

I've got 6,000 miles on a set of Bridgestone A-40's and they just starting to show wear. I think 10K out of the rear will be no problem, better still on the front. I'm a bit "weighty" and the bike is usually packed for a long haul but I'm not a real aggressive rider....if that helps.

Jim

 

[RIDEMYST]

I get around 8K on my PR4 Trails. They are what I use for my touring tire. -JEP-


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[frez]

I got 9k miles out of Roadsmart 3 rear and I could have probably got another 1k. Mostly multi-lane highway use. Grip is good wet and dry. By comparison I got 6k from a PR4, 10k from Avon Storms (didn't like them), 11k from Roadsmart 2s (prefer the Roadsmart 3s).

 

[Sierra1]

If you are doing pavement only, I would go with Bridgestone BT-023s. Have used them on my Honda ST 1300 (work), and am currently using them on my FJR (play). 8K+ miles for the rear tire on both bikes. And as anybody with an FJR knows, they are hard on rear tires. They are dual compound tires and work VERY well. Good traction leaned over while accelerating. They stayed "round" longer than other tires I have used. Don't imagine that they're worth a shit off road though.

 

[steve68steve]

According to Revzilla, the stock tires are available in different revisions - each with their own designation. IIRC, the designation for the S10 has more tread, so lasts longer.


Point: not all BW501's are the same. I got nearly 8k out of mine and I run them overloaded, 80mph, on hot pavement, 60 miles every work day. The "Tenere spec" BW costs a bit more than the others, IIRC.

 

[Checkswrecks]

People are getting a lot more miles than you are asking for out of the dual sport tires, like the Mitas E07, Heidenau K60, Anakee A3 (which otherwise gets a lot of negative comments), etc.

 

[4jranch]

PR4's will do your mileage and are great in the rain, very good street tires. Ok on gravel but not a Mitas on Heidenau.

 

[rbernie]

Thanks for all of the feedback!

People are getting a lot more miles than you are asking for out of the dual sport tires, like the Mitas E07, Heidenau K60, Anakee A3 (which otherwise gets a lot of negative comments), etc.

I've been rather leery of 50/50 tires in general, because the folk that I know that have used them (K60's, mostly) report that the mileage can be good but the on-road traction isn't adequate. I'm willing to sacrifice some on-road cornering stick for 'slab mileage, but I'm not keen on sacrificing too much upright wet/dry road performance. Are the Mitas E07's equal to a BW 501/502 in terms of wet/dry on-road traction? Do folk that run the E07's on a Super10 use the regular or Dakar version?

I've got 6,000 miles on a set of Bridgestone A-40's and they just starting to show wear. I think 10K out of the rear will be no problem, better still on the front. I'm a bit "weighty" and the bike is usually packed for a long haul but I'm not a real aggressive rider....if that helps.

It certainly does - thanks. The tires that had intrigued me the most were the A40's, since I've had no direct experience with them (unlike the BW and PR4 Trail). I got 6K from the stock BW and barely 8K from the PR4 Trails (well down into the wear bars), and I'm looking for something that will extend my margin of safety past 8K. It sounds like the A40 might get me closer to a solid 8K-10K, but it'd be nice to know if the folk that are getting good mileage out of them also got similar mileage as I did on the BW or other tires...

If you are doing pavement only, I would go with Bridgestone BT-023s.

Unfortunately, they're not offered in front tires sizes compatible with the Super10. The A40 is by all appearances the Bridgestone sport touring offering in tires sizes that are compatible with the big adventure touring rigs.

PR4's will do your mileage and are great in the rain, very good street tires. Ok on gravel but not a Mitas on Heidenau.

I liked the PR4 Trails ok, and it's possible that using the PR4 rear instead of the PR4 trail would comfortably get me past 8K. That's one of my leading candidates, other than the A40 and perhaps the E07 if folk tell me that they're actually a decent road tire.

 

[scott123007]

Your skillset is what is going to save your ass, not your tires. You have traction control and ABS on your bike that virtually eliminates any shortcomings one tire has over another. You have to be an excellent corner carver in dry weather to out ride just about any tire you can put on your S-10, and unless you are inexperienced and just don't know better, or really like to gamble with road conditions, you just have to be way more cautious in the rain, no matter what tire you have on.
If you analyze your riding conditions, and ride accordingly, all tires will work just fine.
A lot of the reason the K-60 and E-07 (regular or Dakar) are favorites for long distance riding is the depth of tread on a new tire is almost DOUBLE what you get with other tires. That has more to do with their longevity than their compound.

 

[Boondocker]

I just bought and mounted the Michelin PR4 Trail front and PR4 rear because I have a 3500-mile trip next month to the Pacific Northwest - all pavement, wet conditions expected. Too early to give a longevity review but first week of commuting is promising for handling and comfort (smooth radial ride). I'm coming off of 1.5 sets of Mitas E07 Dakar, which are by far my favorite tire. Put 10,000 miles on the first rear and replaced with plenty of life remaining but wanted to start a 2-up trip with newer tread. The set I pulled off for this trip I will likely remount and wear out (6,000 on the rear and 15,000 miles on the front). The Mitas E07 Dakars have stood up well to the roughest trails I dare take the Tenere, including BDRs in 4 states, as well as every condition 2-up and fully loaded. My wife and I love winding mountain roads and wore the Mitas out to the edge with confidence. I'm curious to see if the dedicated touring radials spoil me for curvy road handling. Even if they do, it's not a fair trade for the dirt-worthiness of the E07s. The PR4s are smoother and quieter than the E07s and designed for better wet turning and braking. At least for this trip, I'm willing to make that trade. I think the Mitas E07 (Dakars if you ride heavy) are the best all-round tires for the Super Tenere unless you never go off pavement. I mount and balance my own tires so it doesn't cost extra to swap around. A couple more tire changes and my tire changer will have paid for itself.

Considering where I live, I'm not an experienced wet road rider, so I always slow down and try to be super smooth in the rain.

Thanks for all of the feedback!

I liked the PR4 Trails ok, and it's possible that using the PR4 rear instead of the PR4 trail would comfortably get me past 8K. That's one of my leading candidates, other than the A40 and perhaps the E07 if folk tell me that they're actually a decent road tire.

 

[rbernie]

Your skillset is what is going to save your ass, not your tires. You have traction control and ABS on your bike that virtually eliminates any shortcomings one tire has over another.

Different tires will have different traction 'budgets' on offer under different conditions. Your skills and the 'tronics of the bike will let you maximize your use of the area under the budgetary traction curve, but cannot by definition increase the amount of total traction available. Only tire construction and compounding can do that. If that wasn't true, we'd all still be roadracing on Dunlop K81's.

If you analyze your riding conditions, and ride accordingly, all tires will work just fine.

Fair enough, but in many cases (especially on-road in heavy traffic at highway speeds) it's useful to have some margin for error.

I think the Mitas E07 (Dakars if you ride heavy) are the best all-round tires for the Super Tenere unless you never go off pavement.

I've not yet taken the S10 offroad other than graded hardpack; this is a dedicated year-round commuter (and occasional touring) bike for me.

FWIW - the PR4 Trails had the most wet/dry grip of any tire that I've had on the S10; much better than the Tourance and Tourance Next, for example. The Tourance Next is about as low on the traction scale as I'm willing to go for the cut-and-thrust of my daily commute, so much so that I'm not likely to ever run another set.

 

[RhodeTrip]

Mitas E-07 Dakar 6K and plenty of tread left; guessing I will get 10-12k on them. Did a track day on these wit 6 other S10s running street tires, didn’t give up anything. Ridden in rain and they remained sure footed. Did well off road with them; I’m staying with them for my next pair.
Jim

 

[Don in Lodi]

::026:: on the K60. You can only corner till hard parts touch, the K60s do fine out to 15,000 miles. Though they do square off some later in life.

 

[nico_yyz]

TCK 70 !

 

[SAL]

FWIW I have had excellent luck with my Annakee 3's.

I have used them on 2 separate l-t trips. St. Louis to the West Coast and back ... almost 8,000 miles with no problems on the rear and tread left. However the front had cupped pretty badly. I used them on another trip that was over 6,500 miles and then used them for about 2,000 more when I got back. Again the rear was in great shape .. a bit squared but good tread and still excellent wet grip. Again the front was cupped and lopsided. I have switched for my long trips to a Battle Wing front and Annakee 3 rear. This seems to be an excellent combination as the front has proven much more resistant to cupping etc than the Annakee 3 front.

In my experience I have found that the Annake 3 rear is very sensitive to pressure. As long as I keep it consistently at 41-42psi it stays rounder and lasts considerably longer. If I let it get low it seems to square off and wear down much quicker. With regards to the front, my S10 just eats the Annakee 3 front. The Bridgestone BW front seems to stay rounder much longer and resists cupping much better. The wet grip is almost as good on the BW as the Annakee 3, but not there yet.

I tried the Bridgestone T30. It was toast by 5,000 miles and had horrible wet grip by 4,000. The BT-023 was a bit better. I've never tried the A40 (or even heard of it unitl now) and my PR3 Trail was toast early.

 

[Arkyrider]

I had the Dunlop Trailsmart and I got 9k out of the rear tire. Still had probably 1-2k left on the front. Riding was dirt roads & hwy. I think it's a decent tire but I like my Pirelli Scorpions better. IMO better traction on wet pavement and seems to grab the road better. The Pirelli's have a little more road noise but not so much that it bothers me. I have rode a couple packed dirt roads and they do ok on this type surface. I went with this tire because of summer trips that are going to be more hwy oriented than dirt.

 

[TenereStreets]

I'd suggest Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tires. I'm on my 3rd set. 1st set lasted 8300 mi, 2nd set 8650 mi. That mileage included a few track days. For comparison I had 2 sets of Metzler Tourance Next which got me 8600 mi. and 10700 mi.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Funny - I didn't like the TKC70 and hated the Anakee3. For spirited riding in tight corners, you can roll right off the shoulder of the A3 before hard parts touch. There are plenty of posts about both tires.