Tourance vs Tourance EXP

[Bill310]

If you are only riding a little on unpaved roads (i.e. construction) for long trips then I might suggest the tire that many of the Iron Butt Rally Riders who rode BMW GS's have used.

The key point is to understand that these are bias belt tires and that the rear tire is avaialble in two variations, you want to buy the 79V rear tire. This tire was designed for the BMW K1200LT (Light Truck) and has a load rating of 968 pounds and the front load rating is approximately 580 pounds.

I have run these tires over 15,000 miles

The ride is stiffer due to sidewalls and some people find them a little twitchy in the rain on tar strips. I like the EXP but plan to swap over to the 880's when the EXP's are toast.

METZELER ME880 160/70B-17 M/C 79V, REAR

METZELER ME880 100/90-19 M/C 57H, FRONT

 

[colorider]

If you are only riding a little on unpaved roads (i.e. construction) for long trips then I might suggest the tire that many of the Iron Butt Rally Riders who rode BMW GS's have used.

The key point is to understand that these are bias belt tires and that the rear tire is avaialble in two variations, you want to buy the 79V rear tire. This tire was designed for the BMW K1200LT (Light Truck) and has a load rating of 968 pounds and the front load rating is approximately 580 pounds.

I have run these tires over 15,000 miles

The ride is stiffer due to sidewalls and some people find them a little twitchy in the rain on tar strips. I like the EXP but plan to swap over to the 880's when the EXP's are toast.

METZELER ME880 160/70B-17 M/C 79V, REAR

METZELER ME880 100/90-19 M/C 57H, FRONT

I don't know that a 160/70 will fit/clear on the SuperT, but I agree on your mileage projections. I ran that same tire on the rear of one of my ST1100's and had close to 18K when I finally pulled it off.

 

[elizilla]

I am cautious about going for tire life at the expense of sticky. I have firsthand experience with this: I lowsided one of my bikes on the freeway in the rain about ten years back. That wasn't a ME880, it was a Dunlop of some sort that the previous owner had put on, but still, caution is important. I don't ever want to have that experience again.

 

[EricV]

I am cautious about going for tire life at the expense of sticky.

A valid concern. We each have to consider our comfort level and riding experience to help find the tire we need for our individual riding style and budget needs. For some, one tire a year is the goal, which can mean dramatically different things. For others it's that big trip that's different from their usual riding. Or, as Bill indicated, the IBR.

I have run ME880s on the FJR. They do last well, especially if you go the bias ply route. I didn't care for the wear patterns of the radial versions or the wet traction, but that was also on a 145 Hp Sport-Touring bike that weighed 700+ lbs loaded in rally trim.

Another way of looking at it is that it's up to the rider to understand the limitations of the tires they have chosen. Sticky won't help if you over ride the tire, either it's traction pie or it's longevity.

I really look for and prefer tires that don't dramatically change characteristics when going from dry to wet. Or over varying road surfaces. The ME880s don't offer the same feel or traction in the wet that they do in the dry. For me, this is enough of a change that I look at other tire choices. For the S10, I do want more dirt capability, even though I know the big bike is not going to hard charge the real off road, (for my skills).

 

[stevepsd]

I am cautious about going for tire life at the expense of sticky. I have firsthand experience with this: I lowsided one of my bikes on the freeway in the rain about ten years back. That wasn't a ME880, it was a Dunlop of some sort that the previous owner had put on, but still, caution is important. I don't ever want to have that experience again.

The same thing *almost* happened to me on my TDM850 shortly after picking it up from the previous owner...who had mounted some Dunlop bias ply tire that he said was 'long wearing'. Had almost no traction dry and even less wet and almost ate it when the tires gave up their traction without warning. Luckily I was able to recover and keep the bike upright. Got rid of those POS right quick after that!

 

[Sir Cum Navigate]

I was very happy with the Tourances on my V-Strom. Went through a half dozen sets of them, got about 9000 miles from each rear tire. Better than the Trailwings the Strom came with, and better than the Anakees I tried one time when the Tourances were out of stock. For what I do, the Tourances were very confidence inspiring. Especially in the rain, and as we all know, motorcycling is a water sport.

Now I need to choose a tire for the Super Ténéré. My OEM Battlewings have been OK, but they're getting square way too quickly. Living where I live, and refusing to trailer, I need a tire that resists squaring a bit better.

The Tourance EXP is the recommended fitment and some people got them OEM. But the Tourances I liked before are still available. Has anyone tried both, and if so can you give a review? Right now I'm leaning towards just getting another set of regular Tourances since I know they are good for me, but if the EXP will last longer and stick the same, or last the same and stick better, I'd buy them. But I don't want to buy a tire that will square off or cup in under 5000 miles, even if it's slightly stickier - not when I know the regular Tourance is sticky enough. Sir Cum Navigate: Only 6000 mi. on rear EXP 10K on front. Great in the twistys. Regular Torance has more aggresive tread pattern. Better for off-road ? I switched to Metzler 880 Marathon street tires for better milage. Bike too heavy for the dirt anyway.

So anyone tried both? And if so what do you think?

 

[caveman]

I have worn out 2 sets of the exp's and they are a great road tyre. Total confidence pushing hard in any weather. They suit the s10 really well for all tar based activities but don't take them off road and they wear quickly (8000km) I am about to try the scouts as I am brainwashed by the comments on this site and about to tackle a long trip with lots of off road work. If you are looking for a sticky road tyre the exp's are spot on.

 

[RIVA]

::003:: Mine came with EXPs. These were worn out at less than 3,500 km. and I hated them. I replaced them with the older Tourance and will average 8,000 km on these. I am now on my 3rd. set and i have every confidence in them. Sometimes, the new and improved version just does not do what it says on the tin. ::013::

 

[Rasher]

I am cautious about going for tire life at the expense of sticky

Me too, many moons ago I put a set of cheap tyres on a ZZR1100 as I needed some to see me few a couple of months before I fitted a premium set for a tour, almost highsided down a mountainside in Wales whilst rolling on relatively gently exiting a bend - they came of PDQ.

As for Tourance Vs EXP's since my last post I went to the Black Forest with some mates, one guy had won a couple of national road race championships in the UK and does a lot of race instruction and the odd bit of tyre testing, he rented a GS and managed to overtake evrything in sight on the B500 on a sunny Sunday with the standard Tourances and rated them pretty good.

The problem can be what a good rider can do with an average tyre, especially with getting some "feel" which IMO is everything as most road riders can't really push most tyres anywhere near their limits.

I have had tyres that "feel" vague to me, or as if they are about to let go, for all I know they would lean a lot further (I back off when things feel iffy) it is far rarer for them to actually slide on me on good tarmac, although the Battlewings that came on my GS were really horrible and the back would move easily - but it was a bit squared when I bought the bike, still put me off them though.

Ran Tourance EXP's and Roadsmarts on GS after them, both seem good for 4k - 5k on the rear with the fronts lasting much longer.

If I go for Dual Purpose it would be the Dunlop TR91's as they seem the latest and greatest, otherwise back to Roadsmarts.

 

[Buckeye56]

So I have around 5K on the Anakee IIs and so far I like them. I was confident pushing the corners as hard as I did on the EXPs in Colorado with no issues. Assuming I get good mileage I will buy them again. Haven't ridding in the rain yet so I can't comment on wet traction (yeah I know I am gonna be sorry I posted that!).

 

[MikeBear]

How in the hell do you people get 4-5k's out of EXP's ? My bike came with them and I have 2,5k on it now. Absolutely no sign of wear what so ever. I think I still have some rubber nipples on them

 

[Dallara]

How in the hell do you people get 4-5k's out of EXP's ? My bike came with them and I have 2,5k on it now. Absolutely no sign of wear what so ever. I think I still have some rubber nipples on them

Most I've ever gotten out of a rear Tourance EXP is 5,800 miles, with 5,500 more the norm... And I'm on my 4th one. With fronts I get just double that, and as such my S-10 is still on its 2nd front. But I luv' 'em. Tourance EXP's came on my S-10, and they've been terrific tires for me. Got another set, front and rear, waiting in the wings to be mounted at about 22,000 miles (just short of 20-K now).

I honestly don't see how anybody could get more than about 6,000 - 7,000 miles out of rear Tourance EXP unless you ride very, very conservatively.

Just my two centavos... YMMV.

Dallara



~

 

[EJV]

I just got 9700 miles out of a Tourance EXP on the back. I blame it on Florida to Ohio. Then Ohio to Illinois. Then Ohio to NY and back to Ohio.

Too many Highway miles, not enough Hooliganism.

I was suprised I got that many miles out of the tire. Just shy of 20,000 on the bike now. On the third Rear Tourance. Two fronts (damaged the first front tire).

I still have the half worn Kenda Big Blocks to use up. I got about 2000 on those. They wear fast on pavement, also causes the Traction Control light to blink all the time ) .

 

[tpak]

I just got 9700 miles out of a Tourance EXP on the back. I blame it on Florida to Ohio. Then Ohio to Illinois. Then Ohio to NY and back to Ohio.

Too many Highway miles, not enough Hooliganism.

I was suprised I got that many miles out of the tire. Just shy of 20,000 on the bike now. On the third Rear Tourance. Two fronts (damaged the first front tire).

I still have the half worn Kenda Big Blocks to use up. I got about 2000 on those. They wear fast on pavement, also causes the Traction Control light to blink all the time ) .

lets re-state that, the KBB cause Hooliganism which in turn causes the TC light to go nuts. ::015::

 

[Brick]

Hmmm... My Super T came with the EXP's and while I got 9,000 miles on the front I kept getting nails in the rear and so replaced it at 4,500 and it still had tread. Then at around 9,000 miles I was preparing for a trip out west so I thought I'd try the Bridgestone's and at 4,500 miles I knew I still had a lot of miles to go before I got home. So I put on some Heidenau K76's not the real dirt tire the dual sport tires. I now have almost 5,000 on them and the front is cupping but they look like they still have miles left on them.

I've been wondering what to go with next. August 31st I need to be in El Paso, TX for the start of the http://www.3flagsclassic.org/ and from there we are going up to Hydenour, Alaska... then ?? But eventually back home to North Carolina. So I REALLY enjoyed the performance of the EXP's but would have liked more mileage. So after reading this I'm gonna try the regular Tourance's and see how I like them.

Brick

 

[illustratedman]

Have run tourances for years, a great tire good in most conditions normally get 11/12k from a rear and 20k from a front. I will say at reasonable lean angles you run out of rubber quickly, not so with the exp which feels a little bit grippier, i've got 3k on the rear at the moment but dont reckon i'll get much more than 6k out of it. If i were to go on a big mileage trip i'd definitely fit standard tourances.

 

[bacon]

How in the hell do you people get 4-5k's out of EXP's ? My bike came with them and I have 2,5k on it now. Absolutely no sign of wear what so ever. I think I still have some rubber nipples on them

I wish I could say the same as you I love the grip of the EXP's but I have only 2,400 miles on them as of now.
I would say the rear is 1/2 gone and unfortunately the front is not far behind it. I don't think I will be able to go two for one the way it looks now.
No chicken strips and no rubber nipples on then they were gone the first 500 miles or so.

 

[TierHawg]

I replaced a OEM Tourance EXP rear with a regular Tourance last month. The EXP had 5500 miles and could have gone another 500 or so. I was going on a 1000 mile trip and didn't want to run out of tread, so I replaced the tire.

I was trying to get another EXP to go with the OEM EXP front, but everything was 5 days out. I went with the normal Tourance rear due to being instock. I'm very happy with the new Tourance so far and even with a few thousand miles, it looks new. The only problem I think I'll have is the front EXP will wear out before the back now. Once it does, it will be replaced with another regular Tourance front.

 

[RMac]

I changed from stock Battlewing to EXP rear at 16000kms. Pleased with Battlewing, and how long it lasted, but it did get very squared off. Was delighted with the feel of the EXP with its high egg shaped profile, great turn in and I now have 12000kms (7500 miles) on it and perhaps 2mm tread left in the centre. What I also like is fact that with the tall profile the tire hardly shows any visual squaring even with the centre wear. Next rear will also be an EXP. For the front I am waiting on my stock Batttlewing to finally give up the ghost. It has 28000kms on it ???.

 

[ov1]

I've gone thru 2 rear BattleWings , both lasted 6000km or 3800 miles. Changed the front at 6000, to Tourance, although it would have lasted another 2-3000km maybe? Went to Cape Breton and did'nt want to take the chance the front would not go the distance..

Now have 12000 and just installed the rear to match the front. Some of the guys I ride with have GS's and use the Tourance. They say 9000km to the rear and 16000km on the fronts, time will tell whay i get...