DR650SE Index Topic #6- TIRES, TUBES & WHEELS Tires are arguably the most subjective subject in motorcycling, especially, it seems, for dual-sports. A tire model that is hailed by one rider is often spit on by another. The debate over tubes is usually less heated. Some prefer heavy duty versions, others don't. I've seen a number of DR pilots who keep two sets of wheels/tires on hand, allowing them to easily convert their bikes to riding on one surface condition to another. Swapping an 18 inch rear is popular for riders heading into lands where 17 inch tires are hard to find. And we've all seen the motards with sticky rubber on wide 17 inch rims. Let us know all about what keeps you rolling. I know it's a tire discussion, but please keep it civil ... Everyone is entitled to present their evaluation.
i find tck-80 fr and 130-17" mefo explorers rear are the highest mileage 50/50 tire combo on the market. i'll get 6k plus. i run 100-18" bridgestone heavy duty (3mm) tubes in the rear. i balance (key to long life) my wheels with mark parnes balancer http://marcparnes.com/ i just changed my bearings and this pit posse affordable bearing puller http://pitposse.com/whbereset.html
Both my wheel sets are a compromise (hell, the DR itself is a compromise). D606 on stock wheels (w/hd tubes) for dirty stuff, Distanzias on 17"/19" (w/standard tubes) for twisty stuff. Tried 17"/17" and didn't like em.
The Dunlop 606 is off my shopping list. 2000kms of dirt and tar, 50/50 and it didn't look too bad. 180km of trail riding today and it's toast. It's worn more today than it did when I rode the 2000km trip a few weekends back. I couldn't believe it when I saw it. Back to the Mitas E09 rear. I'll keep the Dunlop 952 front, it works well.
got a set of michelin T63's here now. put the rear one on last night and tried it out today. 120 miles. worked really well on everything I threw at it. way more stable in the loose gravel roads than the mt21 that was on the rear. can't wait to get the front swapped and try it out.
If you're looking for a more street oriented or touring tire (like 90/10), I'd suggest the Avon Gripsters. Very happy with mine. They last, they're quiet, and they're priced right. Great traction on pavement, especially in the rain. They're adequate on hard pack or gravel, and have a poor reputation in mud (Slipsters).
I have a t63 on the back which I love, seems to have better road handling than the Karoo II thst it replaced and is equal off pave. The front is a Perrelli rally? (sorry, its raining and I dont want walk out to the shop to look). I dont like this tire as much as the tire it replaced but I think they stopped making that tire. It was a perelli pro FIM and that was the best dirt road front tire I've ever ridden, It was flawless. I think they changed the style on the new version, I will have to try it next. FWIW I havnt gotten a single flat in 30,000 miles, mostly dirt roads. http://fwxbgg.bay.livefilestore.com/y1paGp2JUBjZwfKqW9m25D_0bWi2IqRsHgrr1ZAoQ8SSxgvBxmoA9mWXkAuXZWLBmK9lFpsx3loyQLbMOOYYz1HoAR3cbmHcKDq/IMG_0543.JPG?psid=1
I changed my DR over to TKCs shortly after I got it, they were pretty good up here in New England for how I used the bike (70/30 ?). When I took the bike down to Florida for winter use (98/2) the coarse pavement really chewed up the rear. I found an inmate who had a set of ProCycle Supermoto wheels/tires that his wife did not fall in love with and made them my "winter wear". They are both 17s, which for me make the handling a little too quick (not the bikes fault, I am old and like to check out the water around every bridge I cross). I have lowered the rear of the bike (factory method) but left the front stock to compensate. When I change back to the 21/17 summer wheels I drop the clamps about an inch on the fork tubes to "level things out". If I were getting a new set of SM wheels, I would probably go for a 19/17 combination. Certainly less tire choices but the less agressive geometry is a better fit for my needs (and to me looks "better", did I mention that I am old?). This combination of wheels and tires is working out fine for me, short of damage I am not likely to get any more or different wheels - tires, well who knows? I do have a new T-63 waiting to go on the back for next summer, they suposedly wear a bit longer than the TKCs and that center worn TKC on there now doesn't give me much confidence when I find any mud. Bruce
For touring I like a mild rear with a semi-mild TKC-80 on front. Ebay had some good close out prices on the old Anakee, $63 shipped ain't bad so I put one on the rear to replace my worn out TKC that was on the wear bars with just over 3K. I was surprised how well the combo does. I run forest roads for most of my "off road" and ride mostly gravel with very little mud so, the combo works very well. I've been runing the original tubes for the most part, but I did break down and get a Dunlop HD for the front and a IRC HD tube for the rear as spares. I've yet to loose a tube on the DR from riding, the front is the original and the rear was replaced with a $14.50 dealer tube due to a self inflicted pinch with a tire iron....
I'm looking for info as to weather anyone has done an 18" rear wheel. I've looked into the dr350 swap. I haven't found info on which, if any years of the 350 have a cush drive. If you have done an 18", I would like to know what size tire you used and what the clearance was. Also curious about messing with off set to accommodate a wide tire, circa 140. I'm starting to think I'm chasing an expensive boat anchor. Thanks. Also,a big thanks to Krusty for taking the time to start an index thread(s).
Ran a set of D606's front & rear on mine. Worked great off road, especially the front grip in corners. Got good mileage out of the rear, not so good front because I let my pressure stay too low and it cupped. Running TKC80 front and MT21 rear now, nice smooth combo for pavement, not as grippy in the front in dirt, A pretty good compromise I think.
Im running Pirelli MT 90 A/T front and rear currently, excellent grip on the tarmac both wet and dry, pretty decent on the wet, did alright in the mud and rocks this morning, dont know what it would be like in the sand/heavy mud though. http://www.pirelli.com/tyre/ww/en/motorcycle/sheet/scorpion_mt_90_a-t.html
Currently running and having an excellent run from the Michelin T-63s with heavy duty tubes. If I am to do some extended road mileage, I change to Michelin Siracs. No complaints about either of these tyres for both longevity and grip/handling that were designed for.
bben reading great reports on those t63 as far as mileage for the price you pay. guys are saying 4-6K on them. after my tck-80/mefo combo wears out that is my next tire,as my combo is now 2x the price of the t63, yet it's not gonna be 2x the mileage. http://www.motorcycle-superstore.co...80003&zmam=88421133&zmas=1&zmac=45&zmap=19852 fyi, stay away from the heidenau k60 rear in the 130-17" size. reports are very poor on mileage in that size for the $110 price whereas the 140-17" is getting huge mileage. very odd. :huh
I started with the stock trailwings. Tried to get Michelin T-63s but they were apparently back ordered across all of Canada at the time. I went with available and even cheaper - Kenda Trackmaster II K-760. Listed as a 20/80 road/dirt biased tire. I know I'll get at least 5000 kms out of the rear and much more out of the front since I only ride the road/highway to get to long bits of dirt. There's 2600 kms on them now, the front looks pristine ~5-10% wear and the rear has about 40-45% wear. With these Kendas I do ride slower in town, exercise caution in the rain, and watch that I don't corner too hard on the tarmac. No problems on the highway. I love 'em to death off-road. Edit: They start to hum at 55 kph.
F.W.I.W. they got me through the winter last year on my DR without studs. Other than that (since I'm 90% street rider these days) they weren't for me. My current tires are IRC GP1 front and a Shinko 244 rear. The front and rear are pretty well matched for wear at about 4,000 miles. (front has tread left but it cups bad) I like the combo because the shinko will slip out first when pushed hard and I like the warning. Another good IRC tire is the 110 for the rear as they go around 5,000 miles and don't slip out as easy as the shinko 244. Put the 110 on the front however and it will howl through turns and try to slip out from under you. Kezza....what kind of mileage on those siracs are you getting?
17" vrs 18" rear tire which is better???? great read for anyone considering the dr350 rear wheel mod and what you are actually getting yourself into. my commments/opinions start on page 2. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=647911