Best tyres for mixed on / off road

Dee Dub

Active Member
I know this has been discussed extensively in the past, but manufacturers have brought out new tyres and updated old styles. So what would be good for muddy lanes and the occasional (legal) off-road?

Notes:
1. I'm not so bothered about longevity 'cos I have another bike for long rides.
2. I don't like treads that cause vibration at the bars. I had TKC80s on a previous bike and they transformed off-road ability but were a pain on-road. Something with more rubber down the centre would be good.
3. Heidenau Scout K60s look ideal, but I don't know what they're like to use:

Heidenau-K60-Scout-rear-192x300.jpg
 

austin

Well-Known Member
I have had several sets of K60's on my GSA - probably done 50,000 miles on them. I quite like them (obviously), mostly as they are VERY hard wearing, yet somehow seem to have more than enough grip. My use is 95% or more on road too. On the road they are noisy and a bit of vibration but not intrusive. Front will last well over 15,000 miles, rear 10 to 12k. Off road, well very limited - a few gravel roads abroad and a few light forestry tracks here. For dry rocky tracks they are fine, when its got muddy not so OK but then that's probably down to the weight of the bike, rider, pillion and luggage. Nothing works well with 500kg pressing down on it. I have never eb=evn tried to fit them my self as the gorilla who does the tyres at our local workshop says they are bastards to fit even with his machines. I am sure there are better tyres out there but not with the longevity of the k60.
 

Barftone

Well-Known Member
See that solid strip down the middle...not good for muddy stuff! Im not a big fan of the Heidenaus. Not that confident on wet tarmac either. Had a couple of them on the AT and currently on the rear of the KTM. Got KAROO 3s on the Africa. Really good on tarmac and in the corners but they do vibe a bit at 70ish plus. Could try the Anakee Wilds which are similar? Big gaps give good grip on easy dirt but the front does not have the shoulders (knobbles) like a TKC (better for getting out of ruts?). It is always a compromise
 

Dee Dub

Active Member
Thanks.

Just came across an interesting review of Avon Trekrider. The author's view is that the single compound construction gives good grip on road, even in the wet. However, expect them not to last too long on a heavy, powerful bike. (Not sure they even do sizes for the latest big adventure bikes anyway!)

The Trekriders appear to perform well off-road too, so long as you don't get into the sticky mud. Although the tread doesn't have continuous strip down the centre, or even anything close, for my DL650 it's a contender.

TrekRider1.jpg
 

Rubberchicken

Well-Known Member
This is where I do the usual and point out that the K60 and the K60 Scout are wildly different tyres. :D

The former is rock hard and I didn't finish the set I had because I got sick of the involuntary powerslides and the arse end wanting to come around whenever I closed the throttle somewhat abruptly, in short it gets lethal on wet roads.

The latter is a decent allround "street" tyre and I've worn out a few sets of them with little to moan about other than them being markedly worse than TKC80s offroad.

But: Tyre sizes count here. I'm running a 21" front and a 130/17 rear. The 21" Scout doesn't have enough knob to it for offroad use and the 130 rear doesn't have the center strip. I'm told the 19" front is better offroad and the 150 wide rear (with center strip) is not.

Currently trying out an E07 front and E07+ (more open profile) rear. So far so good, but haven't had them in the rain yet and only a few easy sandy tracks.

Note: I'm not bothered about vibration in the bars. I've had a Dominator on TKC80s for 50k miles, anything a GS can throw at me will be better. :D
 
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