TKC 80's

[Qwik]

Yup. Soft sidewall tire. Pinch flats and bent rims.

[mcmann]

I like TKC80 front w/MT90A rear on my SE. The front feels fine to me in the twisties.

[Chitti]

I scrapped pegs (peg feelers actually) all the time with Mefo Explorer rears on my 2008 KLR650. Recently I changed to TKC80s (both front & back) for the Shenandoah 500. Performed great on the trails. But on road? Not too confident on the turns. Yet to scrape the pegs.

Cheers,

Chitti G

[Desperate]

I have TKC's back and front on 990. I am a dirt rider and have no problems with them on the dirt for normal things, if I was to go serious offroad I would pick a full knobbie. On the tar I probably don't push too hard but I ride with roadies including Hyabusa and have no problems keeping pace without been stupid, but I am talking about speeds of 140 - 160 km/h.

The front wears well but the back is shagged after 3000 km so I am planning a Mefo Explorer for better mileage.

In the wet I have no problems but once again I take it easy.

[GoNOW]

I love the TKC80. I can and do scrape peg on the bike with them on and they feel rock solid to me. The only issue I have with them is they don't last. I can wear out a rear tire on pavement in less then 200 miles. If I am taking it easy, I can make the rear last about 2,000 miles. I do get good mileage out of the fronts.

I run a TKC80 front now for everything, then swap the rear depending on what I am going to be doing.

[Two Moto Kiwis]

Put this in the Latin American section, anyone here can help, chime in etc.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...ront-Tire.aspx

Never had one, looks ok for our compromise??

Side wall strength? want something semi knobbly but no too knobbly for the road and a little longer life.

[zen rider]

Originally Posted by Unkgd

I have TKC 80 front and typically a 908RR rear. It is a great combo for the dirt (except really loose sand or deep mud) and the combination is acceptable on the street - after the tires are worn in (100 miles or so). I definitely don't get to dragging my foot pegs on the street as the front tire let's go long before that.

I had this combo (TKC front and 908 rear) and it truly sucks in the following situations:
1) fast curvy roads trying to keep up with even a V-Strom (which was my previous bike)
2) Cold wet roads (the 908 spins up constantly)
3) tar strips make these non-radial tires skip when leaned over

Went back to OEM V-rated Pirelli and it handles waay better on the street.

[zen rider]

Originally Posted by GoNOW

I love the TKC80. I can and do scrape peg on the bike with them on and they feel rock solid to me. The only issue I have with them is they don't last. I can wear out a rear tire on pavement in less then 200 miles. If I am taking it easy, I can make the rear last about 2,000 miles. I do get good mileage out of the fronts.

I run a TKC80 front now for everything, then swap the rear depending on what I am going to be doing.

I think they may work better as a pair on the street. I had liked them as a pair on my prior bike. But with a 908 rear (and TKC front) it pretty much sucks at an aggressive road pace.

[Too Tall]

Need a recommendation from the adventure rider community on more aggressive tires for a KTM 990SMT. Stock tires are a 120x17 front and a 180x17 rear; not sure of the height ratio number. Odd size tires but want to use this bike for a trip to Invuk, YT.

[High Country Herb]

Originally Posted by Too Tall

Need a recommendation from the adventure rider community on more aggressive tires for a KTM 990SMT. Stock tires are a 120x17 front and a 180x17 rear; not sure of the height ratio number. Odd size tires but want to use this bike for a trip to Invuk, YT.

I'm in the same boat, with my Aprilia Dorsoduro 750. There are very few off road oriented tires in those sizes.

I currently run the Pirelli Scorpion Trails, and they are the best street tires I have ever felt (not too much street experience, though). They are fairly tough, and have deep treads compared to other street oriented dual sport tires. They are only marginally better on gravel, though.

I am thinking of switching to the TKC80 for my next set, because I am converting the bike to a mini-adventure bike. I hate to lose the great handling characteristics the bike currently has, but knobbie selection is few and far between in 180 size.

Originally posted by Sumi
For me it wasn't better than the stock Scorpions offroad:( (sand + gravel) It was a major disappointment for me.
It was OK onroad, but the rear wears faster than the scorps, plus on the road I always had to worry about the speedometer, not to overshoot it's speed rating (Q - 160km/h) + it's scarry on wet tarmac. I would never buy them again.

Which Scorpions are you talking about, the Rally or the Trail? I don't think the TKC80 is the tire for me if they don't do any better off road than a Scorpion Trail.

[triplenickel]

Originally Posted by Too Tall

Need a recommendation from the adventure rider community on more aggressive tires for a KTM 990SMT. Stock tires are a 120x17 front and a 180x17 rear; not sure of the height ratio number. Odd size tires but want to use this bike for a trip to Invuk, YT.

I've done it a couple times on this bike with different combos but if you can get a Heidenau K60 rear and TKC80 for the front you'll be just fine. It's the best comprimise IMO between traction and life.

[Pantah]

Originally Posted by Too Tall

Need a recommendation from the adventure rider community on more aggressive tires for a KTM 990SMT. Stock tires are a 120x17 front and a 180x17 rear; not sure of the height ratio number. Odd size tires but want to use this bike for a trip to Invuk, YT.

Pirelli used to make a dual sport tire called a MT60 Corsa RS in a 120/70 17. I used them on a supermoto. Last about 4k miles. The rear DOT knob you could consider installing on your front rim would be 120/90/17. It is the same width as your front but taller. Maybe too tall.

The Buell Ulysses used Dunlop D616 tires and it had your same wheel sizes. They really aren't true dirt tires but if mostly dry they should work well enough on the Dempster. Another street tire with bigger grooves is the Pirelli Scorpion Sync, which comes on the Ducati MultiStrada.

You really need a 19 or 21 inch front wheel to get proper dual sport tires where you need it most.

[Steveman]

Originally Posted by GoNOW

I love the TKC80. I can and do scrape peg on the bike with them on and they feel rock solid to me. The only issue I have with them is they don't last. I can wear out a rear tire on pavement in less then 200 miles. If I am taking it easy, I can make the rear last about 2,000 miles. I do get good mileage out of the fronts.

I run a TKC80 front now for everything, then swap the rear depending on what I am going to be doing.

+1 it's simply the best 50/50 tire you can get. Period. Once you get used to it you can lean till your pegs scrape provided you have set the right tire pressure. It does well off roads as long as it is not wet and/or muddy. I think the fron tire is the best semi-enduro tire ever. Its negative points are: expensive, weird on wet pavement and the rear does not last much longer than 3500km's.

[Eddieb]

Originally Posted by Steveman

Its negative points are: expensive, weird on wet pavement and the rear does not last much longer than 3500km's.

+1 My last one on my 950 lasted 8 days/3500km. The one before that I treated nicely and got about 5500km's.

[Shuffler]

I had a Mefo on the back and it didn't inspire confidence in the twisties. Went back to the TKC. On dry pavement, the TKC does surprisingly well. Wet, it sucks, like any other knobby. And we all know the wear sucks.

I'm tubeless now and can air down more for better off-road traction.

Some guys turn the front wheel around when it starts to scallop, to extend the lifecycle.