Ok, I've just spent a bucket load of time researching tires for our '07 and '11 Wee ABS's. I've narrowed the choices down to sticking with our Tourances or switching to TKC 80's front only or both. I'm wondering if anyone has tried mixing the two, with the more aggressive Conti up front for more lateral stability on gravel roads.
We recently completed a 6k mile trip from Minnesota through Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec, across the Tran Labrador Highway and on to Newfoundland then home via the remainder of the coastal provinces. To say that we enjoyed the TLH would be a gross understatement. Labrador's beauty and isolation will bring us back again. We don't go off road, but do go off paved roads a lot. They just seem to draw Amy and I but it's always stressful. Neither of us have much experience on dirt bikes so our skill level there is inexperienced at best. To top it off, we're planning an Alaskan trip next summer that will include traversing the Haul Road. Clearly I'd like to improve traction on loose surfaces for our heavily loaded Wee's.
Just as clearly, I think I have a rudimentary understanding of what some consequences of mixing the two tires would have. While cornering on wet or dry is rarely a problem given our conservative habits, I realize that braking may become an issue. We ride nearly exclusively where collisions with large animals is the predominant risk and even with the ABS, braking performance will change with this combo. The obvious choice would be to put TKC's on both wheels and accept the reduced wear necessitating at least rear tire changes during our annual big trips. This is not very appealing to me. The other obvious option is to stick with the Tourances that I'm mostly satisfied with and accept the gravel handling implications. I guess I'm always looking for what's not necessarily possible?
Now I will sit back and let others far more knowledgeable than I tell me where I'm wrong. Thanks, gary
We recently completed a 6k mile trip from Minnesota through Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec, across the Tran Labrador Highway and on to Newfoundland then home via the remainder of the coastal provinces. To say that we enjoyed the TLH would be a gross understatement. Labrador's beauty and isolation will bring us back again. We don't go off road, but do go off paved roads a lot. They just seem to draw Amy and I but it's always stressful. Neither of us have much experience on dirt bikes so our skill level there is inexperienced at best. To top it off, we're planning an Alaskan trip next summer that will include traversing the Haul Road. Clearly I'd like to improve traction on loose surfaces for our heavily loaded Wee's.
Just as clearly, I think I have a rudimentary understanding of what some consequences of mixing the two tires would have. While cornering on wet or dry is rarely a problem given our conservative habits, I realize that braking may become an issue. We ride nearly exclusively where collisions with large animals is the predominant risk and even with the ABS, braking performance will change with this combo. The obvious choice would be to put TKC's on both wheels and accept the reduced wear necessitating at least rear tire changes during our annual big trips. This is not very appealing to me. The other obvious option is to stick with the Tourances that I'm mostly satisfied with and accept the gravel handling implications. I guess I'm always looking for what's not necessarily possible?
Now I will sit back and let others far more knowledgeable than I tell me where I'm wrong. Thanks, gary