Time for another update, the rear tyre has now done over 3k, looking at the amount of tread left I'd guess I can squeeze another 1.5k out of it before it's toast.

over the last few months I've not had time to really get out and play off road so most of my mileage has been road riding.

The tyre has been a very good tyre and has behaved very well with no slips or slides. and has now been paired with a army special front.

now that our temperatures have dropped and usually below freezing when I go to work I've noticed that on the colder days the tyre is very stiff and sometimes feels like it's flat. this just seems to be the nature of the tyre, I don't now if it's designed to do this to aid studs in more extreme environments, but apart from just generally feeling like crap for a mile or 2 it actually behaves very well and grips nicely.

On the roads this morning the gritters hadn't been out and there was a heavy frost on the ground with ice patches. there were no issues at all, both tyres performed really well and never really struggled for traction anywhere.

on a side note about the army front, it's a devil to fit on a cold day. the first 200 odd miles it scares the **** out of you in wet and damp conditions on the road. but after that it is a very good tyre not to far off the road manners or the TKC80 it replaced, but in the dirt it's totally different and a far superior tyre. It doesn't like high speed work (70mph+) and with no Centre blocks is prone to the odd weave. But paired with the E09 it is a very good and flexible combination.

Hi, have used the E09 and found it great off road,have the E10 on the front and back and at the moment finding them superb tyres with good off road grip if run at right pressure , more rounded sides than the E09.Nice reports you have written and I will definitely use them again.These army specials , are they the seriously chunky looking things on the old trelleborg site,any ideas what they are like on the rear?..cheers jo..

I've not tried the army rear yet, I've heard it wears down quickly. But I have thought about trying it out once the E09 wears out.

If the way the front behaves is an indication of what to expect I'd say in the dirt it would be remarkable but you would be taking things slower on the road.

if I get enough requests i'll try a different rear once I've worn out the 09, or if I some how get lucky and mitas offer me one to review.

The Army special front is far chunkier than the website pic would have you believe http://www.mitas.co.uk/Adventure-/Sa...ial-Front.Html This is who I get my tyres from.

I think I shall try those next at that price!..they look like the kind of tyre that I would like,but if you get one before me let me know how it is please!..

Nice updates mate. What size e09 are you running? And have you tried the dunlop 606 if so how does it compare to it?

Cheers, I'm running the E09 in 130/80-17 the 606's are difficult to get over here so not tried those yet so can't give you a fair comparison sorry.

ok so the E09 is just getting to the point to start thinking what should go on next.

There are 3 tyres I'm thinking of running on the rear. These are army special, CO2, or another E09. And if you've been reading my posts you will know there is currently a army on the front. Inbox me your requests to save clogging up the review.

Ok now back onto the review.

The E09 has just gone past 4k and is easily good for another 1k, if I'd been a bit more gentle with my riding I don't see why it couldn't of gone another 1k extra. It's gained a squared off profile but still handles fine. both off and on road manners are still great. I've been really impressed with the E09 and it is certainly good value for money in terms of life and performance.

More useful information,I might go back to e09 after the e10 has gone not saying I don't like the e10 I think it's a great tyre more rounded than the e09 maybe a bit better on the hard stuff especially in corners maybe ?..I'm keen to give these army specials a go..proberly after the summer when I'm back on the bike!..keep up with the good info!..

I think the Army rear could be interesting. Although the Army front has good manners I have noticed some of the blocks breaking up a little, nothing detrimental to handling but it was a little concerning at first but the tyre seems to be settling down now and no new blocks are breaking up. i'll see if I can get a picture to post.

So the E09 rear is just under 5K now and tread is getting pretty low in the middle around 4-5mm left, off road traction is getting interesting now and it's becoming much easier to spin up.

If I used the bike as just a off road toy I would change out the E09 at this point, but as the bike is also my commuter and the tyre is still legal and road grip is still good so I will run it for longer.

Here are some pictures of the breaking up I'm getting on the Army front.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFGK8m3I-7a/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFGK6Pgo-7Y/