Tkc80
 

Still on the original tourance tire front, and since I got a nail through the rear tire it has been replaced with a scorpion. It was the only tire available where I was, 700 km away from home, and I'm not as happy with it as the original. Have planned to switch to TKC80 though, but a year ago I heard some rumors that the tkc had lost some performance and life time after the manufacturing had moved to asia. Anyone have any info on that?

MT21 is a bit too much offroad for me and wears too much on the tarmac, but I have looked for alternatives to the tkc. For example the Michelin T63 or Metzeler Karoo. More alternatives and opinions would be welcomed.

Ok I read what you say and you have clealry stated that the MT21 is a bit too off road for your needs in which case I would strongly reccomend the Metzler Tourance's as these tyres have outperformed all other tyres that people have used for the XTR because they offer good off road as well as tarmac performance due to their perfectly designed tyre pattern which gives the best grip but also a phenomenal rolling resistance on tarmac which truly suprised me when I tested an XTR with those tyres after having tried one with the Syrac's (which are no way near as good imho)

Only recently Motonacio has fitted a set of enduro Distanzia's we don't have yet a full performance report from him so when we do we will know if the Distanzia also work well for enduro bikes (I don't see why not)

Road tyres
 

Hi, I'm new to the forum myself. Own an xtr - just changed original tyres at 6,000 miles (they had more life in them but I was about to ride to Scotland and wanted some more road focussed rubber). Have a pair of Bridgestone BT45's (I am limited by the 21 front wheel in-terms of choice). I have clocked about 3,000 miles on these and they are much more confidence inspiring on the road. I don't or have'nt just yet been off-road so road rubber makes sense.

Regards,
Tomo

Thanks. I have tried the tourances offroad and didn't think they had enough grip (but they are as you say wonderful on tarmac). I drive 50/50 on (bad) tarmac and dirt and do a lot of mileage so that's why I think the MT21 is too much of a cross tire, it wears down too quickly. Maybe should get me 2 set of tires, one for offroad and one for onroad, but changing tires twice a week sounds kind of exhausting. :D

Wouldn't be too much of a problem if you could afford a 2nd pair of rims onto which you can have the other tyres on, then you're laughing!! :laughing11::laughing11::laughing11:

Hm might just do that.

My new Tenere came fitted with the tourances, they are only just scrubbing in but intial feedback is good on the road. Agree with the ease of rolling. Even when moving the bike around on the driveway they roll very easily. I did a short off road track yesterday and found they worked well in dry hardpacked conditions.

I will see how these tyres perform and when they wear out I will look at alternatives. I have always been happy with MT 21's on other bikes and I believe michelin do a Rally Raid tyre now designed for more hard pack than the Dakar inspired Michelin Desert.

My usage in the UK will probably always be about 72/25 road/off - road so really I have to have a tyre that works for both. We have very muddy conditions in the winter though when most of the smooth tyres are useless.

I think you have to sacrifice the on road grip for the traction required in slippery conditions.

Having a second set of wheels is by far the best option but then really if you do that you may as well fit the standard wheels with off road tyres and go for super moto wheels for on road for the extra tyre choice.

Will the supermoto wheels from the XT 660 fit onto the Tenere ?
obviously I would have to change the front hub so its a twin disc up front.

A second set of wheels with gold rims would look great, especially on the white Tenere's. I hope we get the Tenere here in OZ soon.

Here is one for you: Mitas E07 or Barum ED9T. Both the same tyre. Around for a while now. Very popular in Germany, Belgium , Holland etc. Noticed it on the majority of XTs at the Tenere meet. Supposed to be equal to the Tourance in the dry but much better in the wet and not bad off road. Got a set on my Tenere now. Pick it up tomorrow and let you know how it works. Looks the business at least. Very chunky.

Rob

Cool, looking forward to see the test results. =)

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.

No I haven't, because I thought they only came with studs. :) It's the tire mostly used for winter driving in snow and ice up here. Compared to the TKC80 (if you have tried them), how is the grip on tarmac?

Hi Molgan

No, the ones i bought earlier this year don't have ice studs in for the Uk anyhow.
Good grip on road with reasonable grip off road in very muddy conditions. Not bad for a dual purpose tyre.
I bought a pair for about �90.00.

Trelleborgs i think now made by MITAS in Czech republic?

They seem a good tyre reasonable priced.
visit website www.trelleborgtyres.co.uk/category_Trail_1.htm
let me know what you think

After I tried the muddy condition with my Tourance tires, I thought of this post. Yes, I slid on the first stretch of mud, no harm done to machine or rider. Now the bike is beautifully dirty. Given my usage is mainly on-road and some offroad, say 75/25, this post seems to have praise on TKC80 and Mitas E06 which look would fit best to my needs. From the optic perspective, the TKC80 is much knobbier (hence more offroad oriented) than the Mitas. So am I correct to assume the Mitas is not as good offroad as the TKC80? If so, then TKC wouldn't be as good on highway/onroad and its useful life would be shorter than the Mitas? I would welcome any fact, experience, opinion on your usage, especially with regards to handling (on/off road plus highway) and useful life. My Tourance tires are coming up for a change soon, so I like to prepare myself.

tyred of tyres???
 

Hi there, i have experience with both TKC80 and Tourance and i can tell you to stay away from mud with the Tourance. We did trip few weeks ago, me on XT with Tourance front and rear, and KTM SE with TKC's on front. The TKC outperformed the Tourance in muddy conditions as well as sand as well as wet gravel roads. We both were taken out by mother earth:072: as you can see from piccies at one stage, TKC's need some momentum to get rid of mud, and at slow speed it is like a SM tyre in mud.

So now i am running Maxxis 6006 rear,and TKCfront. Good combo for 50/50 riding. Also have Tourance still in garage, but there is no way i change tyres for every ride on tarmac or dirt. Most of my rides end up in the dirt anyway. H?ave heard of guys getting 11 000km from front TKC's and 6000km on rear MAXXIS. Guess it all dependes on how you drive...on dirt and tarmac.

That is a fair assumption, but I think you'll be surprised just how good the TKC80's are on-road, for what is essentially a 'knobbly' tyre - they are very predicable, and as someone (Hanz I think) has said, seem made for this bike.

They really are the best compromise tyre I have used... the Pirelli MT21 was not as surefooted on-road, and the rear didn't last more than about 2800 miles of mixed dirt and highway use.

I've fitted TKCs now, and just replaced the rear after about 3500 miles - it wasn't dead, but pretty useless off-road by then - you'd still get at least 500-1000 miles more on road though I imagine...

If you do use your Tenere off-tarmac, then go for the TKC80s - you won't be disappointed...

xxx

Rock and Roll
 

The TK's are the way my steed shall roll when I wear out the originals. I prefer to sacrifice a little on road grip for a much better all terrrain tyre. The chances of loosing it on the road due to knobblies is much slimmer than the numerous falls you will encounter as soon as you leave it on the Tourances.:guitar player:

I can't wait to try the TKC's reading all the above feedback.

Having fitted MT21s recently I'm rather dissapointed in how they feel on tarmac, certainly nowhere near as good as when I had them on a DRZ.
It may just be a case of playing around with the pressures and since dropping from 30psi to 25 I have more confidence in grip now.

Still much better than the motorcross front I fitted previously:toothy10: The phrase ' handles like a pig on stilts' comes to mind.

Offroad I can't fault them and conversely suit the Tenere better than the DRZ. Possibly down to the extra weight and smoother power delivery, getting very little wheelspin and less front end slithering at low speed in really sticky mud.

But given that I'm doing a fair bit of road riding also, sometimes with a pillion, they are too 'offroad' and spoil the Tenere's handling.

Good job I have a very large tub of tyre soap.

Here's a pic for anyone who hasn't seen the Pirelli for comparison with the TKC posted earlier.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3049/...1b3ff1d452.jpg

Your comments on the mx front tyre remind me of a funny deal that i **** out on in portugal. My rear had worn out so they ordered me a new one and after many manjanas waiting it arrived only it was a soft as hell knobbly mx sand tyre still it didnt stop me riding back to the UK on it, it was sketchy to start with but quickly wore down to bearable.:icon_evil:

Just got my TKC80 tires. Only rode 10km so far, and the initial feedback is it is different. It seems the bike always wants to lean, yet it feels that it has more grip than the Tourance. Question: what tire pressure I should put in? It says 40psi or 2.8 bar on the tires when measured cold and the same for both front and back. Is that right? And what about offroad, as the Tourance has different pressures between on- and off-road. Any tips would be appreciated.

Tkc 80 / Mt21
 

I find MT 21 good for real off-road, but wears quite fast. TKC 80 is better for asphalt / Gravel and lasts longer. This is for rear. Front I use any cross-tyre.. I ride a lot enduro and use the front tyre from the enduro bike when i need to renew it on my off-roader. MT 32 normally. Pressure 1.2 - 1.5 max.

... or maybe this... it just came snow.... hehehehe http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/v...m/IMG_8685.jpg

help needed -TKC 80
 

just scanning the internet for some Conti TKC80's.
But confused by T and S rating, one a lot cheaper for 10KMPH less.
Also how can I be sure they are for tubed tyres (that is the Tenere right?)
any advice welcomed, thanks.

yea there is a good bit of difference but with the more speed you have to think what type of bike is it going to be on, there is a big difference between the weight of say a GS1200 and that of a Tenere/XTR.

As for the tubes/tubeless i dont think there is a difference. Try mandp.co.uk thats where i got got a set for a good price.+fast deliverly

new TCK80's
 

Just changed my Tourances for some TKC80s as the rear ended up with a nice split across the tread from some enthusiastic riding on sharp flint (learned my lesson there then!) I'm assured by those in the know that the TKC's are the ones to go for but have to say that during my first few miles on tarmac they feel weird.

I'm sure I'll get used to them and they are bound to be better off-road than the Tourances but for now it's like learning to ride all over again. I have to push much harder on the bars to get the bike to turn and then it suddenly drops into the corner unlike the Tourances that had a very neutral feel.

Anyway, I'll update any impressions I have once I've had a chance to give them a blast down the odd green lane. Off to Le Mans in April too and there will plenty of off-roading on the way!!

cheers:039:

The TKC's can feel a bit square the first few miles but it settles with time. They will never feel as neutral and grippy as the tourances on the tarmac though, but you forgive the flaws as soon as you hit the dirt. =)

For whatever it's worth, I could provide my feedback from on-road experience as I have yet to take the TKC80 to offroad environment.

I confirm what Molgan has said, the tires are a bit square, the drop from leaning the bike is quite dramatic, as if you would feel you would go under. However, after a few tens of km, they are great. In fact, I feel they have more grips onroad than the Tourance for some strange reasons, though the braking power seems to go down somewhat, so easy on the throttle IMHO.

Make sure your tyre pressure are up fully as after i got my tyres changed found them to be at 28psi, which is too low for me.

I'd actually go the other way too perhaps?

I've been running the TKCs at 30psi recently as I've been almost always on tarmac, and they seem fine (I'd say any more than that is too much), but have been very happy with them at 25psi - particularly in mixed conditions.

As others have suggested, if this is Lairy's first set of knobblies, then they will feel different to ride on, but they soon bed in very nicely and are surpisingly grippy - I was riding round the outside of the Harley boys (not that hard, admittedly x) on Deal's Gap last weekend, and that was on a squared off rear with 5000 miles on it!

TKCs rock!

xxx

ps. As for tube vs tubless, I believe for the rear is only the 150/70 that is specifically tubeless (although you can always run a tube in it as others have said), however, I recall they do produce both types of 21 inch front - tubeless tyres tend to have a slightly different bead as the rim shape is different (to help seal properly) - as others have said, if you're running tubes anyway, it doesn't matter - it's only if you had tubeless rims (and running them tubeless) you should specify the correct version of the tyre.

I think I have this tire at the rear; TKC80 130/80 -17 TT 65S M/C. It's tubed and also cheaper then the TL.

(I say "think" since the bike is still stored away in a basement waiting for spring so I can't check atm)

Just had a look at mine and it seems they do make a tubeless version in 130/80 17 afterall (as that's what was just fitted)...

The 130/80 is the widest TKC they recommend for the Tenere rim, but I was thinking, if you fitted the rear wheel from an XTX (ie wider rim), then perhaps you could go big with the 150/70 on the back? Hmmmmm... I like fat tyres!

xxx