Mitas E07 850mile review
 

I think that 850 miles is a reasonable time to get to know a pair of tyres. So these are my thoughts on the Mitas E07s.
First impressions; easy to fit by hand, and a more flexible feel to the sidewall than the TKC80s they replaced. With a more rounded profile than the TKCs, but not as round at the Bridgestone Battlewings, they promise a fair improvement in cornering speed. The chunky tread pattern suggests they'll be reasonable off road/on the dirty tracks I frequent.

On the road then.

First off, a very noisy tyre. There's a constant whine from the front, so much so I stopped and checked everything was ok. The bike feels smoother than when on the TKCs, as is to be expected given the softer tread design.
Corners and roundabouts were dealt with gingerly for the first few miles, but with more ferocity as the miles progressed. They don't offer the same roadholding as the Battlewings, and there is very little feel from the tyre, which surprised me given the softish sidewalls. I'd go so far as to say that the TKCs offer more feel, though not more grip, in the dry.
On sharper bends, where you are in 2nd gear, you can easily prompt the rear to spin and slide, if you want. This is in the dry. It's quite fun. They really struggle to get to any temperature though, and this is probably the reason for the lack of feel.

In the wet the lack of feel really counts against the tyre. Whilst the TKCs have less grip in the wet, you can feel they have less grip. The E07s have grip, but there have been a few brown moments in the wet exiting roundabouts, especially when two up. The front also feels like it wants to push out through the bends in the wet, removing any confidence for hustling along.

Off road; I've only done muddy gravel trails/roads and the tyres seemed to deal fine with the surface, shedding any clumps pretty quickly. I'm happy with them for this. Not quite as fierce as the TKCs, but still good.

Quick summary then; I guess I'm expecting a little much of a cheap pair of tyres. In the dry you can take liberties and really get a pace on, but you have to trust to the tyres to grip, rather than feel the grip there. In the wet, I guess it's a case of expecting them to slide and moderating your riding to suit. For the gentle trails I do, I think they are fine, and if you are a steadier rider then they will probably be the only tyre you will ever need.

Nice.

Could do with a � per mile cost for the tyre reviews as well as the normal what it's like in the wet/dry etc.

Sometimes, you look at the economics, other times you want grip!


:3chat:

Tough to be consistent on that one.

You can only figure it out when you've worn the tyre out - whenever you define that to be, my rear Tourance is down to the wear blocks in the centre, but they're staying on for a bit until my E-09's turn up (had a voicemail from Gwyn at Trellesport earlier saying they're on their way, woop) and I can be arsed to get them on - in which time I'll have probably increased their 'life' by 10% (currently ~5600 miles).

'Life' is also only even vaguely comparable either for multiple tyres with the same rider, or if you know the rider. For example I know I ride like a complete wuss compared to Tom ;), so I would take his 'Life' as a minimum to expect. Conversely I was talking to someone at an East Mids TRF meet the other month who said he'd had a five figure mileage out of a pair of TKC80's on an F650GS (the 800cc twin one). I resisted the urge to ask whether the bike was actually on a trailer for most of that distance.


Anyway, what with being a 'steadier rider', maybe I'll have to try a pair if I can't live with the life of the E09s.

I done almost 7000km on the E07's, cant remember exactly how much tread is left on the back tyre, but its not bald yet.

I only had one skittish moment when crossing a whiteline in the wet, but I was tootling most of the time.

For the cost, I liked them, might try an E08 for the rear next time.



Nick.

'tis true, but the same can be said for any review, it's all personal perspective.

As Tom like to ride his bikes mainly on the 'air scoops' I know he'll get more miles out of a tire then most :rotf[1]:

It would build up 'a' picture, although not consistent, as you say.

A chap could be hurt by some of these comments... :violin: and I wouldn't say I was quick per se, but rather the Ten lets you take liberties and you don't have to brake much when you only have 46hp.
To go with your scale then GULG;

Conti TKC80 2300 miles before changing. Rear still has 6mm in centre, front is probably double that. �130 delivered

Michelin Sirac OE fitment, 4500 miles, front had developed a bad wear pattern and was terrible on white lines, back flat spotted very quickly from 4000 miles on. Cost?

Bridgestone Battlewings BW501/2 5500 miles, wore evenly, loads of grip, hedge excursion excluded. Again, the back flat spotted within the last 500 miles, but the front still had another 500 miles left and was wearing ok. �130 delivered.

I fit my own tyres, with the exception of the rear TKC, as I couldn't break the bead on the Battlewing I removed.

Mitas E-09
 

I am using at the present Mitas E-09 for front and rear on my XT600E done so far round 1000 miles - not bad tyre for a price (�102) delivered.

Good on dry

wet - well you have to be aware it is quite hard tyre and man-hole covers are no no (real experience :angryfire: - nearly losted it)

off road oweral very good mud is not a issue :icon_wink:

I would say decent tyre and should last more then TKC we shall wait and see.

Mitas E-07 only run at rear
off road great untill it got to a realy mudy
road good (wet i would say so so did not trust it so much)

hope it helps

Have fun :family:

Right, after just over 5,000 miles these are off the bike, thank god. I can state hand on heart that these are the worst and most dangerous wet weather tyres I've ever had on a bike. Whilst they grip and slide a little in the dry, in the wet there is absolutely NO warning when a slide will occur, and it takes very little for one to happen. I have had big, as in full opposite lock, rear slides occur in 3rd gear three times, and too many smaller slides to count. I have had the front wash out and need dabbing to stop the bike from going over three times, even at sub 20mph speeds. The back will spin up without any provocation if the road is wet and I would not recommend them to anyone.
I've also had the tread on the rear crack and begin to lift, and the front is cracking as well.
If I could burn them to stop someone using them I would.

Sounds like you didnt like these tyres :YellowWow_KKPB92:. Its a wonder they sell any if they do this.

Thanks Tom, I'll add these to my list of things NOT to buy given the amount of wet weather riding I do.

are ye sure their Rubber an not Plastic.....:rofl[1]:

Whilst I haven't had so many scary moments with my E-07's (I treated them like knobblies from the outset) they are definately not the most confidence inspiring tyres in the wet - especiailly when they square off!!!
As I haven't done enough off road to justify having them I'm considering the E-08's as they seem to be getting good reviews and are also quite a bit cheaper than the OEM Siracs: Gwyn(Trellesport) is listing them for �39 front, �55 rear.

The e07s replaced a pair of TKC 80s, which in comparison gripped like cut slicks. A far better tyre. My mate Uberthumper really rates the e09s, so I hope you get the same enjoyment from them.

edit, sorry I misread your post, you're going for the Tourance copies, the 08s. Not the knobblie 09s.

I'd like something a bit knobbly but being a courier need the mileage and wet weather confidence more.
Just had the first heavy rain for a bit - scary not been able to see the road surface clearly with a misted up/wet visor!!

I got these on for 1000 Km now and I'm not happy with them at all.
They replaced the original Siracs (which lasted 26000 Km by the way) and I actually think that the E-07 are worse than the siracs both on road and off-road.

On road- as stated before, they're really loud. But I don't mind that one bit.
Had the rear slide a couple of times on turns at low speeds.
These tires constatly feel like the rear or the front are about to slip.
I also find the tires very sensitive to air pressure. A drop of 2 PSI and it felt as if I'm riding on marshmallow.

Off-road- Surprisingly enough I actually liked the siracs more than these.
The rear is constatly slipping and sliding (and not in the fun way) even when going on a straigt line.
The front isn't much better.
Most of my off-road rides are on dry, dusty trails with lots of loost gravel, rocks and sand.

If money wasn't an issue, these tires would have been off of my Ten tomorrow.

26000km ! Wow what is good going ;)

Just for reference, and since Tom has already mentioned them, the E-09s that are currently on my Ten have done about 5000 miles. They're fairly knackered, although technically still legal. Rear is square and has about 3mm tread in the middle, front has 'interesting' wear as a result of hard use on road.

Bearing in mind the original Tourances only made it 6000 miles before the rear was properly bald in the middle, I'm pretty happy with only losing 1000 miles if it means I can keep knobblies on there all the time.

I've never had any issues worth mentioning with them in the wet (I have slid sideways for about 20m across a damp Toys R Us car park, but that was playing silly ******s and trying to learn how to back it into corners, with a bit too much exuberance :D), and don't ride any differently to how I did on the Tourances.

Is it a quality control problem E-O9
 

I love the mitas tyres but I had a mate that put them on a suzuki DR-650 (after I recommended them) and he also said they were the worst tyre he had owned as well. Maybe they have good and bad batches???

Also, as someone without alot of hair, can everyone stop referring to a tractionally challenged tyre as bald.... Many thanks.

Hmmm....interesting Uberthumper. As I got 12,000 miles out of my OEM rear (Sirac), maybe I might get 8-10,000 out of an E-09!! Might consider that for the spring. How bad does the front feel?

Maybe the problem with the E-07 is that Mitas have used too hard a compound for longevity?? Might explain the cracking (which I too have suffered) and lack of feedback/predictability.

Anyway, E-08 front should be on its way with the rear being a few weeks (140/80-17 std stock but 130/80-17 is special order!!??)

12,000 miles from an OE sirac?! Crikey do you levitate? I got 4,500 and they were toast. I thought the Sirac was a good tyre, very balanced.
I've just fitted Pirelli Scorpion Trails, I'm interested to see how they fare compared to the Bridgestone Battlewings that I ran last autumn. So far so good. Huge amounts of grip, or maybe I'm being spoiled after the Mitas's. Even fresh on the bike in the rain yesterday there was no hint of movement.

Ha! I think I must be a bit :gay: on the throttle (helps to keep running costs down).
Was gonna put Siracs back on but was swayed by the E08's prices.

Feels fine, just looks horrendous :D

There's a witty comment to be made in there somewhere...

Due to no stock of 130/80-17 E-08's, I have made my E-07 rear last over 13,000 miles!

So just ordered another E-07. (I don't ride hard enough to have major wet weather grip issues)

I am about to fit a set of E-08's. I have gone for the 140 rear so I will let you know what I think. I have managed 8500 on my sirac's and they are both dead.

Will await your views with interest jinxit! I didn't want to fit a 140/80 due to the higher gearing effect and reduced clearance between tyre and swinging arm.
Incidentally, a prominant supplier assured me that the 140/80 made no difference to tyre diameter because the "80" was an absolute measurement (80mm) and not a percentage of tyre width!!

My new supplier is Mick at tyre-finder.co.uk.

Mmn. I went for the 140 as a) it was in stock and b) the mitas is quite a flat tyre and squashing it onto a narower rim should give it a bit more roundness. My theroy any way.
It is a bit naughty telling you that the profile is not related to the tyre width though. My calculations give a 8mm difference wich is only the tred depth so not concerned there. I run a 14 tooth front sprocket anyway so shouldn't be a problem. It will be interesting to see if the speedo changes any. I have a speedo healer so it will be obvious.

Well I have now done around 1000 miles on these tyres (E-08). The 140 rear section has not made any difference to either the speedo or the handling.
There is pleanty of room for it to fit. the bike turns in well ans is stable in corners. It has been quite wet and cold since fitteing them so I have not pushed them yet.

The rear gets plenty of heat into it however the front does not. The front after nearly 1000 miles still has all of its moldings on it includeing the centre line that goes round the circumfrance of the tyre. It is for this reason that I have not pushed my luck or the bike in the wet and cold conditions that we have been suffering. Having said that I have not had any moments either.

I have dropped the front by a few PSI from the 33 I normally run down to 30 to try to get some more heat into it. I think it is just sycological as like i said there have been no slides or scary moments.

Over all I am happy. I think they will last for a while especially the front!!

It's a strange thing the Tyre issue

I must have a tyre that feel's planted. A friend Basil is not bothered what tyre he put's on his Bike's , he just ride's around any problem's

Personally I would not have a set of Battlewing's given, and I have given a set away with only 500 miles on to a friend who love's them.

I don't mind to much about a bit of movement from the rear tyre, But I must have the front planted.

For my off road bike I will only use MT21's on the front and if I don't have a rear handy I don't mind useing any good make rear tyre { except king tyres }

On the Tenere at the moment I have a E07 on the rear and a metzeler enduro 3 sahara on the front.

This combination seem's to work very well in all weather conditions whether riding solo or with a pillion.

I also found the Tourance when fitted to the Tenere did not feel as good as they do on my Africa Twin...Odd, and the tourance on the Tenere were shot at 5000 miles, where as the tourance on the Africa twin have done 6500 mile's and only look half worn...very odd.

One of the best grippy Tyres I have used which are not as expensive as TKc and Tourance ...are the ContiEscape...

Dazzer

Seems we re at opposite ends of the spectrum for tyres then Daz, I have some Conti Escapes in the shed that were on my DR600. Like the e07s I really didn't like them in the wet.
I think it's a good thing to have discussion, as hopefully people will realise that the only way to find what you like is to try it.

I had the Conti escapes on the AT and leigh and I were in Blackpool when the heavens opened on us.
we had a 56 mile ride home in very heavy rain and I thought the Conti's were better than the tourance, { which I love }

The conti's never twitch when you clip the white line's and felt planted when braking hard in the wet.

It may all boil down to differant people's riding styles :icon_salut: