Look a tire thread; local suppliers, best tire for me

Joetool · 02-18-2013, 06:24 PM

Being a new front range rider and all that,and I'm about to splurge on new shoes for my 2011 KLR. I live up Sugarloaf road in Boulder, so I get to hit the twisties no matter where I ride

.Also lots of trails. I'm looking for a 50/50 tire or combo; I.e. k60 rear/ TKC 80 front. I think Ive settled on a set of K60s, with a 140/80-17 rear due to the fact that a lot of people say the 130 size wears faster. Being new, I get a little overwhelmed by all the info, and believe me I have researched the shit out of tires.
What I'm looking for is confirmation, maybe, that these tires will be good for riding all the variety of Front range riding I'll be learning on. Think CO. riding only and No0b...

I plan to ride the crap out of these then put on a new set before my big trip out west in Aug. So these will be my training tires so to speak.
Local suppliers? Should I buy them online and spoon them on myself so I can get some practice, or have a shop do it? which shop?
Anyone want to help if I buy them online?

Hondo · 02-18-2013, 07:52 PM

They should be fine for what you are going to put them through.

If you want a more agressive tire, I highly recommend Dunlop D606's front & rear- worked great on the KLR650 I used to own.

Performance Cycle on Broadway stocks & mounts most tires.

oldmanb777 · 02-20-2013, 02:22 PM

I had better luck with the MT-21's than the D-606's. Maybe not as agressive, but lasted longer, better on the slab, and they seemed to be a little softer, so worked well off road. The D-606 has such a stiff carcass, that it needed to run with less air pressure, to get the same results. I hear good stuff about the heidenows.

Joetool · 02-20-2013, 05:40 PM

Ok I'm leaning toward a tkc80 front and K60 rear. A lot of people on the intardaweb say the k60 front is sketchy on gravel. With all the gravel roads around my house and seeing as how I don't like sketchy, I think I'm headed that route...

Joetool · 02-21-2013, 04:54 PM

Annd; I am trying to buy local but Performance says a 140/80-17 won't fit despite KLRistas saying it will, and 2 dudes at boulder powersport saying they never heard of K60's. Now I'm super confused. If I order a 140 and it doesn't fit I'm out some good money, but from everything Ive read, the 140 wears WAY better?

jjmead1 · 02-21-2013, 06:47 PM

I had a K60 on my 650Xchallenge front and rear. The rear wore just as fast as a 606 and tkc80. It rode very well on pavement and surprised me on the two tracks. But the price I paid at the time did not sit well with the mileage. Mind you this is for the REAR.
I am on 12,000 miles for the front and will replace it in late March. That was a great investment.

For the rear I am sold on Michelin T63. The price is great at under $70. They ride as well as the 606/TKC but I get double the mileage no question. I use my bike as a daily driver and put an easy 500 miles in on a sunny summer day typically 60-40 dual sport use. I tend to keep the pressure around 30 F/R full time and would consider myself low to moderately skilled, but put in a ton of miles.

Sorry can't help with fit and I do not buy them local, can't find 'em. The internets sell me tires and Woody's puts them on the wheels they built for me.

Joetool · 02-21-2013, 06:53 PM

Thanks jjmead1

micah360 · 02-21-2013, 10:16 PM

the KLR has a 2.5" rear rim. Some say that it's too narrow to safely run a 140 tire, but a lot of guys say they have done it with no ill effects. I'd stick with the 130 rear to be safe though.

FWIW... I have a 2009 KLR and ran a set of d606s on there for a bit. They were great on the gravel roads and alright on the streets, but once on the highway, they gave me a bad wobble (but didn't start until about 65 MHP). I switched to the Shinko 705 tires and the wobble went away, so I know it was 606 tires on my bike. I'm liking the Shinko 705s... they are pretty good on gravel roads too.

Joetool · 02-21-2013, 10:25 PM

Yeah I saw that too about the rim; 130 it is then. I'm still going with the combo due to all the gravel and trails.

Hondo · 02-21-2013, 11:13 PM

I ran a 140 D606 on the rear of my KLR650 without any issues.....

dickensheets · 02-22-2013, 11:11 AM

I run T63s.

Good tire good price.

I know this sounds dumb, but I like my front and rear to match.

I'm in loveland and can show you how to change them if you want.

Ryan Dickensheets

Joetool · 02-22-2013, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dickensheets

I run T63s.

Good tire good price.

I know this sounds dumb, but I like my front and rear to match.

I'm in loveland and can show you how to change them if you want.

Ryan Dickensheets

Thanks! I'll post up once I get whatever I'm getting.

02-18-2013, 06:24 PM	#1
Joetool ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2012 Location: Above Boulder, near Ned Oddometer: 167	Look a tire thread; local suppliers, best tire for me Being a new front range rider and all that,and I'm about to splurge on new shoes for my 2011 KLR. I live up Sugarloaf road in Boulder, so I get to hit the twisties no matter where I ride.Also lots of trails. I'm looking for a 50/50 tire or combo; I.e. k60 rear/ TKC 80 front. I think Ive settled on a set of K60s, with a 140/80-17 rear due to the fact that a lot of people say the 130 size wears faster. Being new, I get a little overwhelmed by all the info, and believe me I have researched the shit out of tires. What I'm looking for is confirmation, maybe, that these tires will be good for riding all the variety of Front range riding I'll be learning on. Think CO. riding only and No0b... I plan to ride the crap out of these then put on a new set before my big trip out west in Aug. So these will be my training tires so to speak. Local suppliers? Should I buy them online and spoon them on myself so I can get some practice, or have a shop do it? which shop? Anyone want to help if I buy them online?

02-18-2013, 07:52 PM	#2
Hondo What if its a Samsquamch? Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Denver, Colorado Oddometer: 7,741	They should be fine for what you are going to put them through. If you want a more agressive tire, I highly recommend Dunlop D606's front & rear- worked great on the KLR650 I used to own. Performance Cycle on Broadway stocks & mounts most tires. __________________ LC8World.com - KLRWorld.com Forums - Nighthawk Forums "Life's an adventure, and I refuse to live a boring one."

02-21-2013, 11:13 PM	#10
Hondo What if its a Samsquamch? Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Denver, Colorado Oddometer: 7,741	I ran a 140 D606 on the rear of my KLR650 without any issues..... __________________ LC8World.com - KLRWorld.com Forums - Nighthawk Forums "Life's an adventure, and I refuse to live a boring one."

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02-20-2013, 02:22 PM	#3
oldmanb777 Just say NO to socialism! Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Centennial,Co. Oddometer: 2,785	I had better luck with the MT-21's than the D-606's. Maybe not as agressive, but lasted longer, better on the slab, and they seemed to be a little softer, so worked well off road. The D-606 has such a stiff carcass, that it needed to run with less air pressure, to get the same results. I hear good stuff about the heidenows.

02-20-2013, 05:40 PM	#4
Joetool ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2012 Location: Above Boulder, near Ned Oddometer: 167	Ok I'm leaning toward a tkc80 front and K60 rear. A lot of people on the intardaweb say the k60 front is sketchy on gravel. With all the gravel roads around my house and seeing as how I don't like sketchy, I think I'm headed that route...

02-21-2013, 04:54 PM	#5
Joetool ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2012 Location: Above Boulder, near Ned Oddometer: 167	Annd; I am trying to buy local but Performance says a 140/80-17 won't fit despite KLRistas saying it will, and 2 dudes at boulder powersport saying they never heard of K60's. Now I'm super confused. If I order a 140 and it doesn't fit I'm out some good money, but from everything Ive read, the 140 wears WAY better?

02-21-2013, 06:47 PM	#6
jjmead1 now THAT"S a bike! Joined: Sep 2010 Location: Lakewood, CO Oddometer: 274	I had a K60 on my 650Xchallenge front and rear. The rear wore just as fast as a 606 and tkc80. It rode very well on pavement and surprised me on the two tracks. But the price I paid at the time did not sit well with the mileage. Mind you this is for the REAR. I am on 12,000 miles for the front and will replace it in late March. That was a great investment. For the rear I am sold on Michelin T63. The price is great at under $70. They ride as well as the 606/TKC but I get double the mileage no question. I use my bike as a daily driver and put an easy 500 miles in on a sunny summer day typically 60-40 dual sport use. I tend to keep the pressure around 30 F/R full time and would consider myself low to moderately skilled, but put in a ton of miles. Sorry can't help with fit and I do not buy them local, can't find 'em. The internets sell me tires and Woody's puts them on the wheels they built for me.

02-21-2013, 06:53 PM	#7
Joetool ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2012 Location: Above Boulder, near Ned Oddometer: 167	Thanks jjmead1

02-21-2013, 10:16 PM	#8
micah360 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2012 Location: Colorado Oddometer: 119	the KLR has a 2.5" rear rim. Some say that it's too narrow to safely run a 140 tire, but a lot of guys say they have done it with no ill effects. I'd stick with the 130 rear to be safe though. FWIW... I have a 2009 KLR and ran a set of d606s on there for a bit. They were great on the gravel roads and alright on the streets, but once on the highway, they gave me a bad wobble (but didn't start until about 65 MHP). I switched to the Shinko 705 tires and the wobble went away, so I know it was 606 tires on my bike. I'm liking the Shinko 705s... they are pretty good on gravel roads too.

02-21-2013, 10:25 PM	#9
Joetool ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2012 Location: Above Boulder, near Ned Oddometer: 167	Yeah I saw that too about the rim; 130 it is then. I'm still going with the combo due to all the gravel and trails.

02-22-2013, 11:11 AM	#11
dickensheets Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Front Range, Colorado Oddometer: 112	I run T63s. Good tire good price. I know this sounds dumb, but I like my front and rear to match. I'm in loveland and can show you how to change them if you want. Ryan Dickensheets