Finding Tires

I'm riding my XR650L from Seattle to Argentina. I'm estimating 20-25 thousand miles by our route. I'm worried about the availability of tires along the way and how to find them. Does anyone have any recommendations on where to source tires and what the availability is along the way? Thanks!

Medium to large cities are your best bet. Smaller cities and towns typically only stock tires for 125cc commuter bikes and scooters. Prices vary a lot, but are significantly higher than the US in general with a few exceptions. Don't expect the same selection you're used to in the states. Brazilian-made Pirellis and Metzelers are the most common name brand tires to be found along with a selection of cheaper chinese brands. MT21s, MT90s, MT60s, Enduro 3s, and Tourances will be the most common dualsport tires available. Cheapest tires I can remember were in Colombia, conveniently about halfway. In the moto district in Medellin, prices were actually quite a bit less than in the states for certain tires. I haven't been there personally, but have heard that the free trade area in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay has crazy deals on tires if you happen to be going through there. Heidenaus are just now starting to pop up here and there also.

you will likely find it difficult to find 18" and 21" tires along the way. not saying it's impossible, but you might be better off identifying shops along the way and pre-ordering them. especially in central america. these sizes are virtually non-existent in nicaragua, and if yo do find some, they will be cheap chinese rubber.

I didn't find that to be the case at all. 130-17 rears were more common than 18s, but 21" fronts are everywhere.

No problem at all finding any of these tires here in Guatemala .

I found 17's and 21's easy to find almost everywhere as long as I wasn't picky about what I ended up with. Searches for specific brands or models were more difficult. FWIW, it always seemed to me that 18's were more plentiful than 17's!

Easy, cheap, and a fair selection in any major town: Colombia and Peru. Ridiculously expensive with little selection: Brazil, the three Guianas. Not quite as bad as Brazil: Chile and Uruguay. Argentina was fairly easy but not cheap, but note that Argentina has been through some economic difficulties since I was there so a lot might have changed.

The key to tire nirvana in South America is to never, ever need a tire in Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname or Guyana.

I seldom bought tires in Central America--once in Mexico, once in Nicaragua. Selection seemed best in Guatemala, Mexico, maybe Costa Rica or Panama. But basically unless you're prone to hard use or soft, knobby tires, you can probably purchase in the States and make it to Colombia without much difficulty.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

Leave the states with new long wearing tires and you should make it to Colombia fine. Buy some new ones there and you'll get through Argentina. Done.

so you're disagreeing with me for the sake of what? 130-17's are NOT 18" tires so who really cares if 17's are available?

and 21's are available everywhere, where? re-read my response, a bit more carefully.

p.s. his bike has an 18" rear

really:huh

Adventure Cartel has very good prices on HEIDENAU & BRIDGESTONE. With METZELER & PIRELLI coming soon.

Write to adventurecartel@gmail.com

EL Stigo
:jose

fixed. it was the 18" vs. 17" that was at issue.

Executive summary: most people posting here believe you will have little or no trouble finding tires along the way, providing you are not excessively picky about brand or type. Some opinions have been offered as to which countries are easier or cheaper.

One person believes you're on the road to misery and ruination.

Have a nice trip.

Mark

I'm just saying that 17s are more common than 18s - in other words 18s are a little tougher to find. I had to search for 18" rears and was travelling with guys looking for 17s. They always had it a little easier. I know the OP is looking for 18s.

At least in Argentina you are not going to have problemas finding tyres for the XR, but I would avoid them buying them here because they are very expensive and not worth it

You pretty much can find what you need here. Basically the easiest to find are Kendas. I run them on my DRZ400 and there of shop to find them. Basically, don't be too picky. And plan on spending a day finding and fitting them.

In Chile, MotoAventura stocks Heidenaus. They have stores in Santiago, Osorno and Punta Arenas. Most other brands are also available, at least in Santiago.

OK, to inject something different here (that probably isn't worthy of its own thread):

My bike is packed into a shipping crate. It has one half-used Metzler Karoo II front, and a new on the rear.

Off the bike I have a set of Anakees (I believe).

Q: Which set of tires will I want to start with in the Santiago/Valpo area and expand outward from?

I haven't planned a route. I will probably start with 2-up riding northward from Valparaiso, over to Valle Maipu and then probably crossing the Andes to Argentina for wine tasting in Mendoza.

Return to Santiago to let my companion fly home, then probably into the desert, northbound.

Go with the streety tires for the 2-up, then back to knobbies for the Salar and desert land? Or, stick with the street setup until it is roached then go with knobbies when in Ecuador or Colombia?

I would go with this one. Crossing the Andes means that you are going to ride on tarmac.
A friend of mine went to the Salar and it started raining. He was using Metzeler Tourance and fell like 8 times trying to get out of the mud.

Not necessarily true. It all depends on what type of roads you seek out, and there are a lot of options. My wife and I crossed the Andes a few times, mostly on dirt. 2 examples: north of the major Libertadores crossing (paved road Santiago-Mendoza) at Aguas Negras, and south of Libertadores at Paso Icalma. We did cross at Libertadores once, too. More examples listed at the bottom of this page: http://motojeros.blogspot.com.ar/p/south-america-andes.html

Even so, I still generally agree with your thoughts on tire selection. A more aggressive tire made a huge difference in mud and soft conditions, even 2 up. But we found more mud/soft stuff much further north and south than the Santiago-Mendoza region you're looking at.

FWIW, the best 2-up combination I found - balancing availability in Latin America, cost, tread wear, traction on and off road, and overall confidence - was an MT-21 front with MT-60 rear. (And believe me, I don't say that to start a which tire is best thread. I say that so that you have a reference for where my thoughts are coming from, as well as a specific combination and tread pattern to compare options to.)