Finding the right tires

[RyanR]

I've only tried the Kenda Trakmaster II and the Dunlop D606 so far. The D606 is a great street knobby IMO. It sticks like crazy and the ride is pretty good. The Kenda is more aggressive and works better off-road and it's ride is OK. The biggest thing I have noticed is the compound on the Kenda is not nearly as grippy on the pavement as the D606. I can make the TM II step out pretty easily where the D606 has quite a bit of bite on the pavement and holds a line very well. Then again the D606 is no nearly as grippy off-pavement as the Kenda.

After my current set wears out I am going to try a Pirella MT-43 trials in the rear. Still searching for a new front tire to try. I may have to give that Pirelly XCMH a go.

[rotten]

Good comparison here:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=796751

[Chompa]

Need tires rated for S speed

[Grreatdog]

The only "S" rated true knobby that I know of is the T-63. Dropping down to "R" will open things up a bit more to include Karoos and TKC-80's. I doubt you do much cruising at the 106 mph "R" rating much less 112 mph anyway.

[Chompa]

Originally Posted by Grreatdog

The only "S" rated true knobby that I know of is the T-63. Dropping down to "R" will open things up a bit more to include Karoos and TKC-80's. I doubt you do much cruising at the 106 mph "R" rating much less 112 mph anyway.

Very true.. i shouldnt be driving that fast anyway

[Lenz1]

The Pirelli Scorpion MT90 has been recommended as good on sealed and gravel roads but they're not gonna beat knobbies in muddy slop. Not sure about sandy country .......

Metzler Sahara tread pattern looks useful too but they're ~ twice the price of the Pirelli's in Australia.

So new MT90 Pirelli's, 90/90 - 21 front and 120/80 - 18 rear it is on the TT350 ..... we'll see how they work out for the planned usage

[Baja Ho]

This custom grooved Kenda sounds interesting, any pics?

Originally Posted by Kommando

You can do what I did for the sand...Run a knobby up front, and a long-wearing DS tire out back...custom grooved.

That Pirelli XCMH front sounds interesting...good manners offroad, and long-wearing onroad. I'd try something like that up front, and a custom-grooved Kenda K761 out back. I get over 6K miles out of a rear K761, and it'll propel my DR through some pretty nasty stuff, while having limited lateral stability, with just basic grooving. With involved grooving, I can make it a bit better offroad, while giving up little onroad.

If you look at a pic of a rear K761, you can picture the grooving I do. Basically, what I do is cut the half-depth cross-grooves in the center to full-depth. Then I cut the half-length circumferential grooves in the center blocks the full length of the blocks. Then I make the left and right sides identical, and add an extra paddle channel in the center of each outer block. Air it up for pavement, but not too much or you'll square it. Air it down for offroad and the side lugs can assist better. The tire then has better offroad drive AND lateral stability than before, while still lasting a LONG time. It also works better in the rain onroad.

I use grooving blades that are about the same width as the original grooves of the tire. For the 130/80-17 size I run, I use #3, #4, and #6 blades. A different tire size may have grooves of different sizes, BTW. The K761 runs me about $60 in the 130/80-17 size, so it's typically a bit cheaper than the D606 or MT21.

[Perun]

Originally Posted by LittleRedToyota

the best i have come up with is the pirelli XCMH.

the front XCMH is a no-brainer, imho.

I find front XCMH only in 80/100-21 and 90/100-21. That 80/100 has almost same hight as 90/90, but its 1cm narrower, right?
Question: is it OK to fit 80/100-21 instead of stock 90/90-21?

[warewolf]

Originally Posted by Perun

I find front XCMH only in 80/100-21 and 90/100-21. That 80/100 has almost same hight as 90/90, but its 1cm narrower, right?
Question: is it OK to fit 80/100-21 instead of stock 90/90-21?

They are probably the same size, but measured using different systems. ISO vs ERTRO. The 80 wide is across the carcass, with 100% aspect gives 80 mm tall. The 90 wide is across the tread, with 90% aspect is 81 mm tall.

The 90/100 will be a bigger tyre, 90 mm across the carcass with 100% aspect gives 90 mm tall. There's a few of those about now which I'm keen to try on the 640A's 2.15" front rim, e.g. Dunlop GeoMax MX71 90/100-21.

[Ruffus]

Originally Posted by rotten

My thought as well, I settled with the T63s which as suited my needs VERY well but I don't ride in the MUD. Lugs seem to shallow for any serious lose terrain work.

Here is another tire that looks good, have no experience with



http://www.mandhtires.com/Teraflex-T...5#.UD-4btZlSYQ

I really like this tire, surprising quiet & smooth on pavement compared to other aggressive DOT legal tires.

[Perun]

Originally Posted by warewolf

They are probably the same size, but measured using different systems. ISO vs ERTRO. The 80 wide is across the carcass, with 100% aspect gives 80 mm tall. The 90 wide is across the tread, with 90% aspect is 81 mm tall.

The 90/100 will be a bigger tyre, 90 mm across the carcass with 100% aspect gives 90 mm tall. There's a few of those about now which I'm keen to try on the 640A's 2.15" front rim, e.g. Dunlop GeoMax MX71 90/100-21.

Muchas gracias, I will try MXMH on my X-challenge then.