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XT660Z Tyres What tyres do you have and which are you going to try next - Road / Off-Road

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  # 1  
Old 08-04-10, 17:25
tripletom tripletom is offline
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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.
  # 2  
Old 08-04-10, 17:31
Gas_Up_Lets_Go Gas_Up_Lets_Go is offline
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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!


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  # 3  
Old 08-04-10, 17:52
uberthumper uberthumper is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gas_Up_Lets_Go View Post
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.
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.
  # 4  
Old 08-04-10, 18:54
NickW909 NickW909 is offline
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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.
  # 5  
Old 08-04-10, 19:47
Gas_Up_Lets_Go Gas_Up_Lets_Go is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uberthumper View Post
Tough to be consistent on that one.
.
'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

It would build up 'a' picture, although not consistent, as you say.
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  # 6  
Old 08-04-10, 21:33
tripletom tripletom is offline
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A chap could be hurt by some of these comments... 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.
  # 7  
Old 08-04-10, 21:59
dewill_sk dewill_sk is offline
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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 - nearly losted it)

off road oweral very good mud is not a issue

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
  # 8  
Old 22-09-10, 20:30
tripletom tripletom is offline
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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.
  # 9  
Old 22-09-10, 21:40
maxwell123455 maxwell123455 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tripletom View Post
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 . Its a wonder they sell any if they do this.
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  # 10  
Old 22-09-10, 21:57
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are ye sure their Rubber an not Plastic.....
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