The Compromise Tire Thread

[Ruger]

Since I'm as likely to be on pavement as I am off road, when the factory tires need to be replaced I think I should at least consider a maybe a 50/50 tire or a 30% street/70% off road tire. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions.

This is a 2011 FE570S. Front tire is a 90/90-21 and the rear is a 140/80-18.

Thanks in advance for contributing your wisdom and experience.

 

[retroone]

Tubless and MT 43 front and rear. This what I like but who am I.

 

[Ruger]

retroone, who makes the MT 43?

And how do you go tubeless on spoked wheels???

 

[retroone]

http://www.nuetech.com/
Pirelli MT43 Trials DOT Tires (stiffer side walls)

 

[brian011952]

I run more dirt than asphalt, but the Kenda Trackmaster 760's work well off road and do fine on the street. They will wiggle around a little when you push them on the street, but they have always given good overall life for the abuse they take and they are a bargain at under $100 for a complete set.

 

[Ruger]

Does anybody have any experience with the Continental TKC80 tires? Supposedly they're intended for 60% off-road and 40% road use.

 

[steve]

As previously reported, the Tubliss nearly killed me when it catastrophically failed on the front of my FE650. Great concept, too much pain.

On my Suzi adventurer I like Mitas E09s up back and Dunlop 606 or Pirelli MT21 up front. For ultimate lfe, the Mitas E07 has gone 10,000 kms for me and others, and its not been babied. Last longer than the fronts, which go about 6-7,000 kms and match the E09. Give and take riding, about 30/70 sealed/unsealed to fire trail including desert.

FWIW
Steve
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=646076

 

[Satex]

Does anybody have any experience with the Continental TKC80 tires? Supposedly they're intended for 60% off-road and 40% road use.

TKC 80's are a decent 50-50 tire, but I prefer Dunlop 606's. Similar mileage, slightly more offroad focus, and usually much cheaper. Dunlop 908 on the rear is another great choice for big bore dual sports.

 

[steve]

Does anybody have any experience with the Continental TKC80 tires? Supposedly they're intended for 60% off-road and 40% road use.

TKC 80's are a decent 50-50 tire, but I prefer Dunlop 606's. Similar mileage, slightly more offroad focus, and usually much cheaper. Dunlop 908 on the rear is another great choice for big bore dual sports.

I've seen a number of 'melted' and shredded 908s out here on bikes like 990s. Not worth it for Oz outback.

Steve

 

[Ruger]

Thanks Satex, the D606 looks like THE tire for my purposes, but they don't make a rear tire for my FE570S - 140/80-18. Nuts!

 

[Satex]

Thanks Satex, the D606 looks like THE tire for my purposes, but they don't make a rear tire for my FE570S - 140/80-18. Nuts!

I should have mentioned that. However, the 130-80 works great...I've used several on my FE650, so it will definitely handle the 570.

 

[Satex]

I've seen a number of 'melted' and shredded 908s out here on bikes like 990s. Not worth it for Oz outback.

Steve

Yeah, but the big twin KTM's are not the same as as thumpers. I've used one before on my 650 and liked it alot. I ran it on the highway and offroad, including some pretty nasty desert terrain. If they weren't so expensive, it might be my 50-50 tire of choice. As always, YMMV.

 

[Ruger]

I decided on Pirelli MT 21 tires.

Need a little advice with regard to size. Husaberg specifies 140/80-18 for the rear on the FE570S. But if you go to the Pirelli web site and use their "tire finder," they specify 120/80-18. Hard to believe that there is a discrepancy, but there is.

What does this mean, and should I believe the motorcycle manufacturer or the tire manufacturer?

 

[Bergini]

You should beleive the motorcycle manufacturer in my opinion, although i currently have a 13/80-18 now, and have heard of guys using a 120/80-18 but have never tried it, you have to think that the bigger the tire the more contact area, the better the traction.

Since I'm as likely to be on pavement as I am off road, when the factory tires need to be replaced I think I should at least consider a maybe a 50/50 tire or a 30% street/70% off road tire. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions.

in my experience the 50/50 teraflex tire is ok off road but sketcky on road and is toast in 1000 miles just like a dirt tire, i have read a lot of bad wear reviews on a lot of these style tires as far as good road wear except maybe the high doller dunlops, i had a TCK80 continental on the front that was 50/50 and i liked it on and off road you could tell just a little better for road when riding with it though, now i have a match set of kenda k761's 80street/20dirt tires which seem real great on road but reeal greazy feeling off road, might be ok for some easy firetrail hardpack but havnt run them yet, i think i am gonna look into a whole spare back rim with a steep gear and nasty tire for the dirt, and quit worring about a tire or gear ratio thats good for both and have the ideal when i want it, i am tired of compromising!! :cheers:

 

[Bergini]

You should beleive the motorcycle manufacturer in my opinion, although i currently have a 13/80-18 now, and have heard of guys using a 120/80-18 but have never tried it, you have to think that the bigger the tire the more contact area, the better the traction.

Since I'm as likely to be on pavement as I am off road, when the factory tires need to be replaced I think I should at least consider a maybe a 50/50 tire or a 30% street/70% off road tire. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions.

in my experience the 50/50 teraflex tire is ok off road but sketcky on road and is toast in 1000 miles just like a dirt tire, i have read a lot of bad wear reviews on a lot of these style tires as far as good road wear except maybe the high doller dunlops, i had a TCK80 continental on the front that was 50/50 and i liked it on and off road you could tell just a little better for road when riding with it though, now i have a match set of kenda k761's 80street/20dirt tires which seem real great on road but reeal greazy feeling off road, might be ok for some easy firetrail hardpack but havnt run them yet, i think i am gonna look into a whole spare back rim with a steep gear and nasty tire for the dirt, and quit worring about a tire or gear ratio thats good for both and have the ideal when i want it, i am tired of compromising!! :cheers:

 

[bergbro]

The size of the tyre fitted should be determined by the width of the rim, and the acctual size of the tyre (measured not stamped).
The wider the rear tyre, more the bike will want to go straight ahead and not turn.
More rubber on the road should give more grip.... but will work the opposite for the dirt.... you need edges for grip in softer ground.....

The tyre argument is nearly as controversal as the oil argument..... personal experiance, riding style and terrain play a big part in tyre choice.

A while ago I was running 120 section dirt track tyres on the back of my 650. worked well for what I was doing. I couldn't get a 120 at one stage so opted for the 130 section instead. result?..... The tyre was pulled too tight around the rim which lifted the rear of the bike so it turned faster but did not want to lean over anywhere near as far or easily. reduced milage from 1500kms to 1000kms and wore out in the centre instead of even all over. But my bike does have a 2.15 inch rim not the 2.5 which will easily take a 130 section.

Lots of horses for different courses.

 

[steve]

If you put a tyre on thats too wide for the rim it won't help. It'll pull the beads in and give you no more contact area, and baggy less stable sidewalls with the tread pulled up around the sides. And not all tyre manufactures sizes are equivalent, and even within one brand, different models can be different sizes when supposedly the same.

Steve

 

[Ruger]

Thanks, guys. I'm well aware of the tire argument and the disadvantages of mismatched tire/rim combinations. That's theory. All I'm trying to do is understand and reconcile the peculiar mismatch between the tire widths recommended by the motorcycle and tire manufacturers.

The rim isn't marked for width that I can see, but the Husaberg web site says it's a 2.15 width. Dennis Kirk says that the Pirelli MT21 140/80-18 is compatible with rim widths from 2.15 to 2.50 - again that's tire manufacturer info. And again, Husaberg's web site specifies a rear 140/80-18 tire and that's what came on the bike.

 

[bergbro]

My 2 cents worth.... if I want info on my bike, I ask the people that built it..... If I want tyre info, I talk to the people that make the tyres.... If I want oil info, I dont talk to the people making the bike or the tyres, I talk to the people making the oil..... then make a discission on the available info.

Not the people selling a product but the people making it..... Horses mouth, not the other end.

The other factor that may come into play is bike makers will set there bike up for a wide variety of uses whereas the tyre people may well be recommending a tyre size for a specific purpose (as they have a range of products available for different purposes)

Does the Berg come out with pirelli MT21 tyres?
Best thing to do is try both sizes and give us the benefit of your experiance.

 

[Johnf3]

Thanks, guys. I'm well aware of the tire argument and the disadvantages of mismatched tire/rim combinations. That's theory. All I'm trying to do is understand and reconcile the peculiar mismatch between the tire widths recommended by the motorcycle and tire manufacturers.

The rim isn't marked for width that I can see, but the Husaberg web site says it's a 2.15 width. Dennis Kirk says that the Pirelli MT21 140/80-18 is compatible with rim widths from 2.15 to 2.50 - again that's tire manufacturer info. And again, Husaberg's web site specifies a rear 140/80-18 tire and that's what came on the bike.

What complicates things is that tire manufacturers measure their tires differently. It's not apples to apples, you just have to know from experience.
The 140/80-18 that Husaberg specs as OEM is a "Euro" sized DOT knobby with a 13mm knob height. Generally, and I mean generally, this is the same size as a 120/100-18 in a non DOT full height knobby. With the MT 21, the 140 tire will be fine on the Husaberg.