Looking for best 50/50 off-road road tire.

[Duncan McC]

Hi People

I am looking for recommendations for the best off-road, road compromise tire

Terrain, mixed rock, mud, gravel

[LytteltonKen]

Duncan, I have a bit of trouble with those words "the best" - is good enough not, well, good enough? You might need to give us a few more clues about what sort of bike you ride, whether you're going hard out on or off road, how much gear you carry, what sort of milage you expect out of your tyres, etc.

As mentioned in almost exactly the same posting elsewhere, the best tyre is one with air in it. The rest is detail and how you manage it.

[Duncan McC]

I ride an F800 GS, with a light touring load, local trails are mud, rock, and boulders

[picard]

I would start with a TKC80 and see whether that is enough for you. If not, try something more aggressive. It is nearly impossible to suggest which tire works for others.

[albany23]

Definitely the TKC's. They are the best for dual surface riding. I took off my Bridgestone BattleWings, cause they were crap both on road and off. The TKC's are so much better, and also they inspire confidence on road also. Any other tyre whould be a compromise of either on or off road capability. Continentals are my top choice, although they are fast wearing tyres. Oh, and they are so damn expensive, the most i may say out of all the other tyres.

[albany23]

TKC is a good set, but if you plan to ride highways and B roads, with less than 30-40% offroad, then you'll be stuck at 130-140 kms/h. At most. With the old Battlewings highway speeds were in the 160-170's.
I was looking at the new Heidenau Scout 150. Looks great, even looks a bit like an offroad tyre, but for san and muddy tracks i'll keep the TKC. These are awesome. Downside is, after 5000-6000 kms be prepared to change the rear. And it's 'only' 170 euros.


" 'cause tramps like us,
Baby, we were born to run. "

[notacop]

" Bridgestone BattleWings, cause they were crap both on road and off."
My Battle Wings work well on the road on my DL650. I've got no chicken strips to prove it. Can't vouch for the dirt. I'm scared.
If you want to try for cheap go with the 705 Shinko's.

[LytteltonKen]

" Bridgestone BattleWings, cause they were crap both on road and off."
My Battle Wings work well on the road on my DL650. I've got no chicken strips to prove it. Can't vouch for the dirt. I'm scared.
If you want to try for cheap go with the 705 Shinko's.

Yep, I second that. I could run with some serious players on sports bikes on tight winding roads with the BattleWings. Had trouble staying with R1150 and R1200 GS's on gravel roads, though.

[jacksonhole]

tkc80 are the way to go if you plan to be on dirt 40 -50 percent of the time. the down falls are that when the front is new it will cause the bike to shimmy at 80 mph + until there broken in which is 50-100 miles life span is 2000 miles at best but you wont regret it after the first muddy trail you run into.

[albany23]

The new Heidenau's K60 Scout. She's ready now.

And no, the front tyre is NOT backwards. I triple double checked.


" 'cause tramps like us,
Baby, we were born to run. "

[Thorvald]

50/50 go with TKC 80. Any less dirt, go with K60.

TKC's are insane offroad (full knobby basically) in sand, mud, dirt, etc and I've dragged my panniers on pavement with them without any issues.

But they wear quicker than the K60's. However after ending up on my ass once in some unexcepted sand, I use TKC80's exclusively now.

[albany23]

Okay, first day out in the Heidenau's K60 Scout.
There is a permanent vibration in the handlebars exacly up to 40kph. After that it's gone. Also, when i slow down,
No matter if in gear or not.
I checked and triple checked the rotation of the front tyre, so it's fine. The vibration seems to come from the front wheel.
No noise or vibes even at 150kph, but under 40 it's always present.
This never happened with the new TKC80 front or rear.
Anyone can explain? Thank you!



" 'cause tramps like us,
Baby, we were born to run. "

[larryi52]

Albany23, I have a 2010 F800GS and wondered how the tyre has performed for you now that you've been able to ride with them? I am riding from Cape Town, South Africa to Egypt in July and was thinking about buying this tyre. I will do about 60% on tar and 40% on sandy and gravely roads. The dealer used to tell me that Heidenau tyres would void my warranty. Did you have any problem with that?

Larryi52

[albany23]

Hi Larry!
I wanted to know if you recieved my email. I sent it on the 30th.
Cheers,
Mihai


" 'cause tramps like us,
Baby, we were born to run. "