Tire suggestions for 5000 mile trip

[KenMcBreezy]

+1 on the Mitas E07's - I have the dakar version front and rear, and I absolutely adore them. I have something like 3-4k on them right now and the rear still has at least 50% wear left... the front still looks pretty new. I have used them on pavement, dirt, gravel, sand, fist sized rocks with the occasional head sized rock lurking about, and water. They were awesome at the (advrider) Noobs Rally in Death Valley. I have yet to use them in mud, but I have no intention of finding out that one - I hate mud. I have more confidence in them at high lean on pavement than I do in the Battlax stock tires, and they're smoother than the TKC's at any speed.

 

[olie]

Tourance NEXT...After 5800 miles, the tread is 1/32" above the rear bars and 2/32" above the front bars... by far worse than the previous EXP.
I replaced the rear tire with A3 before my upcoming trip of 4500 miles. I just hope the front tire will handle it... I hate to replace tires in the middle of a trip.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Tourance NEXT...After 5800 miles, the tread is 1/32" above the rear bars and 2/32" above the front bars... by far worse than the previous EXP.
I replaced the rear tire with A3 before my upcoming trip of 4500 miles. I just hope the front tire will handle it... I hate to replace tires in the middle of a trip.

How you ride obviously makes a huge difference in mileage, but I did get something like 17,000 miles out of the set of A3 tires. Unless you are going to ride like Valentino Rossi you ought to have no problem making 5000.

Other than great life I couldn't stand the A3s otherwise.

 

[maddog5150]

Since I just got done reading the entire car tire thread, I feel like I should suggest you switch to a car tire for the trip.....

But I am only saying that as the irony amuses me

You can ignore me now!
Good day

 

[SAL]

+1 on Anakee 3's.

They have for me lasted longer than anything else. For STAR last summer I got about 9,000 out of Rear and same out of Front.

That included Higway miles getting out their from St. LOuis. I usually get about 7,500 out of them ... but normally don't ride slab nearly as much as we did going to Rapid City from St. Louis. Tourance, Roadsmart's haven't lasted nearly as long. No experience at all on Mitac etc.

But between my (late) "Strom and the Super Tenere nothing has ever lasted as long or gripped as consistantly as the Anakee's. Next best has been the Bridgestone Battlewings.

Like several people here I seem to get about the same mileage out of the front as I do the rear. Unlike my Strom that almost got twice the mlieage out the front.

 

[olie]

How you ride obviously makes a huge difference in mileage, but I did get something like 17,000 miles out of the set of A3 tires. Unless you are going to ride like Valentino Rossi you ought to have no problem making 5000.

Other than great life I couldn't stand the A3s otherwise.

....my concern is the current front tire, Tourance NEXT, with 5800 miles and 3/32" tread.

 

[RCinNC]

I don't see a lot of love here for the OEM Bridgestone Battlewings, but I've gotten decent mileage out of mine. I've been running the same type of tire since I had my V-strom. I've been getting anywhere from 5-6000 miles on my rear tire, and most of my riding is two-up, and a lot of if it two-up loaded touring. I'm sure they'd have more longevity if it was just me on the bike.

 

[cory1848]

Just installed the Mitas Dakars. What tire pressures are people running? Rear has max of 40 and front 42. I set 40r and 38f and took for a quick spin. Rear feels good but front seems like its pushing. Lean in is quick but just doesn't seem to want to turn unless I really push the bars. I have seen threads on pressures with these tires all over the place but mostly with the older non dakar versions.

Would dropping the front to 36 help?

 

[Fltrooper]

Lowering the front pressure will help with the push or under steer issue your describing, I would try 36-34 and report back!

Off topic - you going to the AIM expo this year? I'm gonna ride up on the 17th.

::003::

 

[cory1848]

Will play with lower pressures. Will be riding fully loaded two up so I don't want to go too low.

Not sure on the expo. Might in in North Carolina then for overland expo.