Best Knobbie for the Strom????

[MTNAdventureRider]

I have done a couple of searches....and even hung out on Adventure Rider....

But I am not finding the answer I want.....

What is the best 50/50, Knobbie Tire for the Strom?

I think the Strom has a unique requirement.... It is much heavier than a dirt bike and it is darn fun running the twisties on black top.

But, I am a legitimate 50/50 or 60/40.....pavement to dirt rider on my Strom and I need a "long life"' knobbie.

I have seen the following suggested...but for those of you that have run several knobbies and have personal experience....Please chime in....I am looking for a "VERY LONG LIFE...Knobbie".

Maxxis C6006
Dunlop D606
KENDA K270
Metzeler Karroos
Conti TKC80
KENDA K760 TRAKMASTER 2

I would love your opinion...... Thanks, in Advance!!!!

[Big B]

Conti TKC 80....... probably your best compromise for 50/50 and they actually get pretty darn good mileage.

[PeteW]

TKC-80's.
They wear pretty quickly on road, and of course, once worn aren't as useful off road, the centre tread just disappears, if you have the balls to tip the bike hard into dirt corners they'll do better but ...

The Kenda 270's have a good rep. for wear (relatively) but aren't available in the right size for the front as far as I know.

I'm also impressed with Continental Escapes, while not anything like a 50:50 tyre (and not available in exactly the right sizes) they have about the same grip level as TKC-80's on the hard packed dirt roads around here. (Saw that with my own eyes).

Mud/sand though only a full on knobbie will cut it.

Pete

[beartrooper]

I had good luck with Karoos on my klr650

[PonchoV]

KAROO 'T', The sale guy said there was a steel belt incased & it was the only design that was DOT w/ that construction.

I used them on my DL 650 & just could not complain.

Just be sure to ask for the 'T' at the end of the name Karoo. Other wise you'll get a lighter tire.

If you really do that much dirt riding, you should check out the 08 KLR.

[MTNAdventureRider]

If you really do that much dirt riding, you should check out the 08 KLR.

I will be the first to admit that the KLR is a great bike, but in my opinion.....inferior to the Strom. I should probably clarify my riding behaviors.... I am not running the strom through a MotorX track, jumping 10 feet in the air, or riding single track aggressively and fast.... I am running county roads, fire roads and taking a few excursions down two track, country/ranch roads.

But, I also like to lean the bike over on the black top....... So, it is a conundrum....I understand.

[RichDesmond]

I will be the first to admit that the KLR is a great bike, but in my opinion.....inferior to the Strom. I should probably clarify my riding behaviors.... I am not running the strom through a MotorX track, jumping 10 feet in the air, or riding single track aggressively and fast.... I am running county roads, fire roads and taking a few excursions down two track, country/ranch roads.

But, I also like to lean the bike over on the black top....... So, it is a conundrum....I understand.There isn't a tire that will be really good for both. Not physically possible. You just have to decide where your priorities are and choose accordingly. Or buy a second bike. :)

[Tollster]

I tried the TKC's on my wee and found very good dirt performance, on road I would rate them a 5 out of 10. One thing that I found agrivating was the harmonic vibration I got though the chasis due to the lug spacing on pavement. This grew worse as the tires wore, they where also loud, and the pitch of the whine changes as the center wears, and the side lugs do not. So when you pitch into a corner its noisy to say the least.
I have a Metz Karoo T I plan on putting out back when I wear out my Pilots. I noticed the lug spacing is tighter, and the compound, perhaps just a tad softer than the TKC's. I think the tighter lug spacing will help offset the softer compound wear on pavement, and add to the agility of the wee on road.
Off raod the softer compound should perform well on hard pack and intermediate terrian, giving up some in mud compared to the TKC due to the tighterlug spacing.
I may try the Metz enduro 3 sahara next as well.
I found this to be an exceptional price on the KarooT
Here is a shot of the Metzler
http://www.americanmototire.com/

And now a shot of the Conti TKC's

[StromFlyer]

I had the Kenda's on my KLR and considered them to be a great tire for the road/dirt that I road with it. I think they are a "tube" tire if that makes a difference, and as noted, I couldn't find them in DL sizes. They seemed to have good general pavement and wet pavement grip, although I could feel them walk when I pushed the KLR into paved corners.

On another note...last night I went out and put my first gravel road miles on the DL. I must admit that I was surprised that it was a much superior bike to the KLR on dirt and gravel which I was NOT expecting. I remember vididly getting sweaty palmed on the KLR when running on gravel, but the strom seemed steady as a rock, even when spooling up the back tire a little bit to play with the feel.

I will feel much better about it when I get my PW stuff installed, but so far, I am rather taken by the DL.

[Big B]

I had the Kenda's on my KLR and considered them to be a great tire for the road/dirt that I road with it. I think they are a "tube" tire if that makes a difference, and as noted, I couldn't find them in DL sizes. They seemed to have good general pavement and wet pavement grip, although I could feel them walk when I pushed the KLR into paved corners.

On another note...last night I went out and put my first gravel road miles on the DL. I must admit that I was surprised that it was a much superior bike to the KLR on dirt and gravel which I was NOT expecting. I remember vididly getting sweaty palmed on the KLR when running on gravel, but the strom seemed steady as a rock, even when spooling up the back tire a little bit to play with the feel.

I will feel much better about it when I get my PW stuff installed, but so far, I am rather taken by the DL.

That is really weird.......I freakin fly on gravel riding my DR650.:confused: I know that the KLR is a big ole pig...but the DL is a bigger pig.:mrgreen:

[joey11]

I thought I might want a KLR, so I rode one last week. It was a 2006 with about 6000 miles. It was a true pig. I don't think I could own one. The DL has alot more snap, albeit alot more weight too, but the strom does cruise pretty good on the gravel once you get use to the front wheel "floating" feel.

[MountainMan]

Rode a set of 606s on a KLR, dirt tracks/gravel roads in Mongolia. Good enough tire, I would guess roughly comparable to the TKC80s.

[Old Pa]

I have found myself looking more at the Maxxis Presa Detours, but these may be more like 70/30s.