Yep, I agree with you there mate......
Capt, who's going to make them up for us? :unibrow:
Hubs and rims would be required.....!

Timpo.

Just replaced the Metz for TKC80's. Metz are indeed terrible for offroad, especially sand and mud; Metz for onroad and light offroad is perfect.
The only change is they make more noise, steering is changed (get used to it) and backwheel is slippery when accelerate.

Put around 1,7 bar in the front for both off-onroad.

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=DHe79gT2LJI

Hill climb - it's an easy job:

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKlQGvgctz4

Indeed, it's better to have an extra pair of SM wheels ;)

And, you don't want to have a tail mod like me ;)

Greetings from Holland,
Marcel

yea agree with you on that one the TKC80s are a good compremise between road and off road. I found it quickened the steering up and also the rear felt slightly wobblie due to the big block pattern

I've used Conti TKC80's, Pirelli MT21's, Michelin T63's and a Karoo2 front/ Dunlop 908RR rear on my XR650R, and of all of them, I'd say the TKC80's were the best compromise for dual sport riding.

None of the above are especially good in wet mud mind you, but in dry dirt-road and desert conditions, both the TKC's and the MT21's were great, although I only got around 3000 miles out of each rear.

The T63's were very nice too, but wore out in under 2000 miles - can't really recommend them for big distances.

The Karoo2 front was a bit ponderous at first on the road, was ok in the warm weather in southern Europe, but I could never 100% trust it, especially on the dirt/gravel covered tarmac... the TKC is far better as a front hoop in my opinion.

However, the Dunlop 908RR (not the regular 908 which is basically a motocross tyre) was an excellent DS tyre - I got over 4000 miles out of it before it was shot, and that included some pretty heavy duty off-roading in Morocco, and loads of highway miles... The tread is a series of crossing up the middle of the tyre, so there is quite a lot of rubber in contact with the road, and the round shoulders mean it's predictable when lent over too. It probably would be that good in wet mud either, but in dry sandy/gravel conditions it hooked up really well and never felt like it was going to let go without letting you know...

I've also used Michelin Deserts (with mousses) for rallye raid, and they wear surprisingly well too for such an aggressive tyre - they are expensive though - twice the price of the T63's for example.

However, the main problem with getting the 'right' tyres for the 660Z is going to be the 17 inch rear rim... you can get the Karoo and TKC in that size, not sure about the others though...

Based on that limitation, I'd definately reccommend the TKC80's as the best do-it-all DS tyre... that's what I'll go for once the OE rubber has worn out...

xxx

My TKC80's will arrive Tuesday so I'm glad to hear positives. I really hope they arrive on time since I'm going on a really rough trip next weekend, have to cancel it if they don't. :S Will put the Ten to the test and I hope I'll get back with it (and me) in one piece. At first I thought I might put a motorcross tire in the front because it's a lot of sand and mud where we're going but decided to go for TKC80 front and rear, will see how it works out.

Nice videos marjani! =)

Offcourse they didn't, well the front wheel did but the rear got lost somewhere. A friend had a used Karoo for the rear (140/80 but it will have to do) and a used MT21 for the front so luckily I wasn't stranded.

What can i say? Done 600 miles on the Mitas 08 on the 600 Tenere and i have to say that the bl**ding Germans were right again. Totally neutral on the road, as sticky as the Tourance in the dry and much better in the wet( done a lot of that lately). Beats the pants off the TKC i had on it before. Always found the TKC to let go too suddenly in the wet with little warning. Will try to get it on the XTR when its time to change. Off road don't know yet, too wet and muddy on the moor to test a dual tire. Time will tell.

Rob

Back from a weekend in hell with the MT21/Karoo combo. I call it hell not because the tires were bad, but because the ride was a tough one. I'm a gravel and dirt tourist but the trip went way past my limits with serious offroading. After 5 crashes I have examined how tough the Ten really is, will write about it when my right arm is functional again.. :P

Got TKC80 on the bike now, and I must say it's like these tires were made for this bike. Tested them on the racing track, cruising the highway and offroad. Comfortable and silent on tarmac (was a bit slippery when new but now they work fine) and good grip on gravel, not the same control as the MT21 in wet mud and sand but not far from it. Realized I could never go back to the tourance tires so I gave them away.

Hi
Have you thought about Trelleborg Army Specials. Available in 21" and 17".
They have a good block pattern and I have used them off road on a Cagiva 600 W16 with reasonable confidence and they seem to wear well on the road. Reasonable priced aswell in UK and the importer is located in Cornwall I seem to recall.