Need advice on new rear tire?

sandskipper · Nov 5, 2005

I am getting ready to replace the rear tire on my FC550 bike and was wondering what input I would get from the masses. I am currently running the Michelin 110/90-19" Starcross tire, same as the one that came on the bike and have been satisfied with it but have not experimented with any other tires, just replaced with same tire that was already on it. I dug through archives and found this:

UHE Tire thread

I know people have their preferences according to their riding terrain and such but was wondering if anyone could give me suggestions based on my terrain? I live in the south west US (Arizona) and ride mostly hard packed dirt with lots of rocks; extreme dessert conditions. No roots, mud, or soft soil around these parts here!!! We do have to ride lots of sand washes and many of the trails have the tiny marble like BB's and sand on them. The tiny BB gravel/sand really limits traction and causes lots of wheel spin at times. I was hoping that someone that has ridden the SW desert has tried a tire that works well in these conditions. Any suggestions would be appreciated as I will be purchasing a new tire in the next couple days.

Regards,

LeFrog · Nov 5, 2005

Splat, who rides around here as well (one day he will reappear), uses trials tires in the rear and keep raving about it. It may not be suited for MX.

Over here, I like the Dunlop 756. You can try the 739 as well.

bigbob · Nov 5, 2005

I run the big 120 Maxxis IT rear on my Te-510. It's loves that bad boy. Not sure if the 120 fits with the berg pipe and your chain lenght, can go for the 110 Maxxis IT. great year around tire, good wear. good in mud soft, medium and hard pack, sand too.

Mackberg · Nov 5, 2005

Hey Sandskipper,
I'm sure you know the perfect tire for sand is a "paddle tire" but that won't work on "hard pack". I suggest stay with the Michelin or go to a Maxxis in the same size as the Michelin.

Mackberg :wink:

husabutt · Nov 5, 2005

Dezduster runs a trials tire in the back.
From his gallery:

One of these days I am going to give this setup a try.

Carl · Nov 5, 2005

Dunlop 756 seems to work pretty well in just about any local dirt.

I liked the 752 a bit better, but they don't make it anymore. BTW, head over to the show at Diablo Stadium Sunday if you can. I picked up a set of 756's today for $95 + tax.

dsducati · Nov 6, 2005

Maxxis IT, Bridgestone M22, Kenda Carlsbad, and IRC VE33 all wear good and work good in hard pack/rocks.
Dan

DezDuster · Nov 7, 2005

LeFrog and Husabutt beat me to it by a few days, but the X-11 trials tire is awesome (also pricey). It goes completely against logic to believe that this tire will outperform a knobby and I didn't believe it until I listened to Splatt and tried it. I've never pinched the X-11 in our rocks, although I got a flat at Moab, but then I'm old and slow and my little 'ole 501 is not a wailin' 5fiddy.
I have two sets of spare wheels.. one with a 739 and one with a 756. I give the nod to the 739 as our desert areas are pretty snotty. Heard good things about Maxxis so I'll have to try one soon.
Dez

sandskipper · Nov 9, 2005

Well mates just wanted to post up my choice of tire and will let you all know what I think after the next ride. I went with a Maxxis IT in the 100/90-19 size for the replacement of my Michelin Starcross MS2 which was a 110/90-19. The tire tread looked almost identical to that of the Dunlop 756 tire which was about $10 more than the Maxxis. I will mount it sometime this week and see how it feels, it has to be better than the slick I currently have on my bike now! Thanks for your suggestions as I will probably use them one-by-one to determine what my personal preference of tire is.

Regards,

TheEngineer · Nov 26, 2005

sandskipper,

there are two different versions of the starcross, one being for rather soft soil (sand, mud) the other one rather for the hard stuff. Which one are you using?
I`d use Pirelli MT 18, the HD version is not available in 19" though; or the Metzeler MC5. Both being kind of universal tires. The Pirelli MT44 is a blast in dunes and "rideable" - unlike a real paddle - on hardpack.

cheers TheEngineer

sandskipper · Nov 26, 2005

TheEngineer,

There are three versions of the Michelin Starcross tire that I am aware of, the MH3= Intermediate/Hard terrain, MS2= Intermediate/Soft terrain, and the MS3= Soft/Mixed terrain. I have been using the MS2 tire and it has been a decent tire for traction but it is an expensive tire and wears quickly. I have one ride on my freshly mounted Maxxis IT and I think I like it as much or better than the Michelin MS2. The Maxxis tire I mounted is a 100/90-19 and the Michelin I was running was a 110/90-19 so the newer Maxxis tire is a little more narrow but I feel it is a little more agile and allows me to maneuver better. I was thinking about going back to a 110/90-19 on my next tire to see if I still feel that way or if its just in my head. Hope this answers your question.

Regards,

2005FC550 · Nov 26, 2005

Maxxis has a tougher tire compound and will last a long time compared to others. You can email Maxxis and ask their opinion which tire is best. That's what I do; when I am undecide on tire type for certian MX track conditions.

sandskipper · Nov 26, 2005

I only have one ride on my new tire but it was 37miles on some very rocky and jagged terrain. I inspected the tire after a washing and noticed that the tire held up much better than the Michelin MS2 starcross. The leading edge of the tread was slightly rounded but not much, almost looked brand new. The Michelin tire gets chunks ripped from the tread (especially the side treads) from the first ride and just gets worse until there are no nubs left. The Maxxis has no chunks missing from any of the tread nubs. I can tell the Michelin rubber compound is much softer after just the first ride. The Maxxis tire is a much more robust tire for the terrain I am riding, I will now stick with the newer Maxxis tire and save the ca$h over the Michelin. (The Maxxis tire also has the "Maxxis" logo printed in yellow on the tire which matches the bike nicely)

Regards,

faktor · Nov 26, 2005

Dunlop 952 (released this year) for longer wear than a 756 same tread etc.

TheEngineer · Nov 27, 2005

sanskipper, you seem be be right, in the dimension table on the michelin they list three different starcrosses, however, in the descriptive part, there are only two...

webpage

sandskipper said:
TheEngineer,

There agood luck with your new tires

Volker

re three versions of the Michelin Starcross tire that I am aware of, the MH3= Intermediate/Hard terrain, MS2= Intermediate/Soft terrain, and the MS3= Soft/Mixed terrain. I have been using the MS2 tire and it has been a decent tire for traction but it is an expensive tire and wears quickly. I have one ride on my freshly mounted Maxxis IT and I think I like it as much or better than the Michelin MS2. The Maxxis tire I mounted is a 100/90-19 and the Michelin I was running was a 110/90-19 so the newer Maxxis tire is a little more narrow but I feel it is a little more agile and allows me to maneuver better. I was thinking about going back to a 110/90-19 on my next tire to see if I still feel that way or if its just in my head. Hope this answers your question.

Regards,

BOSS · Dec 7, 2005

sandskipper have a look at the mich mh3 only comes in 19"

brookester · Dec 7, 2005

Hi sandskipper not sure if you can get them over there but i run green band Trelliborg front and back, great tyre, and for even longer life go for the orange band, bit more hard wearing.

hope this helps
brookester

brookester · Dec 7, 2005

Try this link, look for the supermaster http://www.trelleborgtyres.co.uk/

brookester

muckybill · Dec 8, 2005

brookester said:
Try this link, look for the supermaster http://www.trelleborgtyres.co.uk/

brookester

Busy running a Trelleborg Tenmaster on my FE 450. Although not a bad tyre it doesn`t seem to like ruts as well as the Pirelli Scorpions that they replaced. I used to always use Trelleborgs on a XR250 I owned and they really did suit that bike but they break away to easily with the extra power from the Berg, but then tyre choice is down to riding style and conditions( oh and skill which I seem to be lacking of lately).

Bill

brookester · Dec 8, 2005

Hi muckybill,
The Tenmaster is a good tyre in the wet real sloppy conditions but hates stoney climbs, the supemaster is a fantastic allrounder and works well in most conditions. I used the supermaster on all my Husabergs on both FE and FC and had no problems with them

brookester

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Need advice on new rear tire?

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