Tires for dirt use

[pdxhatter]

I'm working towards a trip to northern Canada next year and I'm sure I'll be doing a fair amount of dirt roading. There seems to be a dearth of information regarding tires suitable for dirt, but still okay for road use, and allowing a fair amount of miles before replacement. Any information and experience woudl be welome.

Thanks.

[pdxhatter]

So I visited a bike shop yesterday after posting and they recomended the Dunlop Distenza (sp?). Any feedback from those who have these on their strom? Particularly for teh off road performance.

[Reverendbiker]

I'm working towards a trip to northern Canada next year and I'm sure I'll be doing a fair amount of dirt roading. There seems to be a dearth of information regarding tires suitable for dirt, but still okay for road use, and allowing a fair amount of miles before replacement. Any information and experience woudl be welome.

Thanks.
I've had good luck with Michelin Anakeesas a compromise tire that works fairly well in the dirt. I believe that the Continental TKC80 is better in the dirt, but it sure looks too squirrely for long-distance road work.

[J. Clarke]

TKC80s actually work fine on the road--a little slippery on wet stopping perhaps, but otherwise they don't seem a whole lot different from the Trailwings, at least not unless you're pushing the limits.

Their big weakness is that to get the road performance they use a soft compound--they don't last very long. I'm planning on having used up a set by the time I get home from the current trip.

[toycloser]

I can't say enough good things about Metzler Torances. Long life and good grip.

[jackpiner57]

I'm currently running the Maxxis Presa Detour tires. Great in the dirt/gravel! Great on the pavement too. Sticky rubber compound. I scrape pegs regularly with them.:D

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i291/jackpiner57/2007_0722adironacksmap0018.jpg

Got them for $200.90 delivered to my door from SW Moto Tires.

[Big B]

So I visited a bike shop yesterday after posting and they recomended the Dunlop Distenza (sp?). Any feedback from those who have these on their strom? Particularly for teh off road performance.


Avon makes the Distanzia, but I would go with the Metzeler Tourance or the Maxxis Presa Detour.

[Oldschooler]

Tom,

You still like the Presa Detours? I sure like the look of those and the price for a set is very reasonable. I was wondering how many miles you got on them so far and if you had any new input on how you like em? I have about 5800 on my wee now and the center of the rear is starting to get low so it's time for me to start planning what I want so when the time comes I'm not in a made scramble wondering what to get.

Thanks,

[Ogre_FL]

I just spooned on some Detours last week.
Having only run the TW's so far on the Strom, I love the Detours in the sand.
I was pleasantly surprised that they are also quieter than the TW's on the road.

I got less than 4000 miles out of the last rear TW so I am curious how long these will last me.
I am terrified to even try TKC's (but really want to) since I'll bet I can only pull 2000 miles from them they way I run thru tires.

[Oldschooler]

4000 miles out of the last rear TW

Wow,

I must ride like a granny compared to everyone else. I just check my mileage and I'm at 6083 miles on the factory rubber. My OEM rear rubber is just now getting low. Minor flat spot in the center. I ride mostly road and road up to Deal's Gap and back with a good portion on I75.

The factory rubber did let me scrape the pegs while I was up there without even a hiccup. When I have ventured off road the rear feels "ok". It's the front that is scary. I was riding some trails out at the Merritt Island Wildlife Reserve and came across a sugar sand section, not to deep, and it drove through ok on the factory rubber but the front felt like I was running on a water balloon rather than a tire. I then came across a 100' section of railroad rocks used as filler for a low spot. The rocks were deep and the front had no feel at all. That was very scary but I was smart enough to get on the throttle and it drove on through bucking and slipping back and forth.

I just like the look of the Detours and the price is right. I was wondering how they do compared to the factory rubber and how long they last.

[randyo]

So I visited a bike shop yesterday after posting and they recomended the Dunlop Distenza (sp?). Any feedback from those who have these on their strom? Particularly for teh off road performance.


I tried a set of distanzia's on my SV, great pavement tire, wasn't impressed with their dirt performance, Stromexplorer has a set on his Vee, I'll let him give his own opinion, but I got the impression talking to him it's similar to my SV experience

Pirelli MT90-STs are supose to be becoming available in strom sizes, I've been planing on trying a set when they are actually available, I will be needing tires soon an I'm hoping I can get a set

[WBS-UK]

hi guys,

read my latest adventure :
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119512k

got to be TKC 80,s

Wayne

[Oldschooler]

That's a cool write up! You should post it over in the ride reports!

[1.3G]

12,000 on the original trailwings and probably could have gone 14 to 15,000. Changed both, front tread was down to half its original depth, rear still above the wear bars. Either I'm just old or you guys on the wees really have to push it to the max to run with the vees! (harmless sarcasm can usually backfire)

[MTNAdventureRider]

I am still on my OEM's (Trailwings) and I find that they are pretty darn good until I hit a little gravel. The key with the TW's is to drop the air pressure when you go to dirt. When I am riding alone, I drop the rear to 20psi and the front to 15-18psi. Makes the handling much better and it is a much smoother ride. When riding 2-up I drop the front to 25psi and the rear to 30psi. On the blacktop, the bike feels the best and most solid with 40psi. Of course, this involves inflating, deflating, inflating, deflating....if you just did a trip as I did.....on pavement, on dirt, on pavement, on dirt.....

But, I will say that I hate the way the bike goes squirrely on my in gravel with the TW's. I will definitely switch to another tire when the time comes.

Does anyone use a tire that they feel is pretty good in gravel?

[Oldschooler]

I am still on my OEM's (Trailwings) and I find that they are pretty darn good until I hit a little gravel.

That's exactly how I feel. The OEM lets you drag the pegs and I can't think of why anyone would need to get lower than that!!
But.....
Just like you I hate em on the loose non paved stuff. Very sloppy and the front tends to plow before actually turning. Truth be known, I haven't ever dropped the pressure off road yet to see what kind of gain I'd get and I have no excuse because I have a little Slime compressor I keep under the seat.

But it would be nice to find something not to costly that felt a little more planted off road.

[Ogre_FL]

2 things drastically change how planted my DL650 feels off pavement.

#1 - Tire pressure - Around 20 psi

#2 - Suspension preload front & rear, I am 260#'s and I back them off to 2-3 (assuming 5 is max)

I was very surprised how much faster I could ride on sand & gravel once I softened up my suspension. I bottom out more, but have far more control.

Set up soft, I can run darn near as fast as I did on my KLR.

[jackpiner57]

Tom,

You still like the Presa Detours? I sure like the look of those and the price for a set is very reasonable. I was wondering how many miles you got on them so far and if you had any new input on how you like em? I have about 5800 on my wee now and the center of the rear is starting to get low so it's time for me to start planning what I want so when the time comes I'm not in a made scramble wondering what to get.

Thanks,

I still like them. I just put a new Detour on the rear. Very grippy. I got 4500 mi. out of the last rear. Others may get better mileage than me though. For comparison, I got about 4500 out of my stock rear Trailwing too.

[jrozar]

I run the TKC 80's, the down fall is life is about 2500 miles or so. You can still drag a bag in a corner, but if you plan to do any offroad riding they are a must-