Not had a Karoo front but the rear is no better than a TKC off road. On road the Karoo is slightly stickier but I only managed to get about 2500 miles out of of one on the rear of my 990 katoom. TKC's last a good bit longer than that (4-5000ish)
► Tyre choices and emergency repairs
- Thread starter stumpi
- Start date
The rears are not really my concern as I dont mind the rear breaking loose as I like to steer with the rear, its the front im more worried about, I remember having a TCK80 dront on my Xt660Ten and it spoiled the weekend away it was that bad
Im not sure weather to try the karoo's or stick to the combination that I know works well in the mud but not so well on wet roads TKC 80 Read and MT21 front
Im not sure weather to try the karoo's or stick to the combination that I know works well in the mud but not so well on wet roads TKC 80 Read and MT21 front
The MT21 is probably the best off road front but as you have stated they are a bit scary in the wet on tarmac. Anything else that is better on road is a compromise off road (TKC's etc), It's a case of setting the bike up for what you do the most.
I would stick with your current set-up as there would be no advantage changing to a rear Karoo (IMO) as they wear out quicker and don't give any more grip off road. Dunlop D908RR is a good rear tyre for on/off road and ok on road, but I think they only do an 18" rear & I believe the Tenere is a 17" rear.
I would stick with your current set-up as there would be no advantage changing to a rear Karoo (IMO) as they wear out quicker and don't give any more grip off road. Dunlop D908RR is a good rear tyre for on/off road and ok on road, but I think they only do an 18" rear & I believe the Tenere is a 17" rear.
Bury_Dave
Registered user
Stupid tyre question
On a car you need to have all the tyres the same maker.
What's the deal on a bike ?
Two times I've needed to change tyres, each bike needed two at the same time.
My F800 has a good, original Battlewing on the front and I want to put a tourance on the back. Is that ok to do ?
On a car you need to have all the tyres the same maker.
What's the deal on a bike ?
Two times I've needed to change tyres, each bike needed two at the same time.
My F800 has a good, original Battlewing on the front and I want to put a tourance on the back. Is that ok to do ?
It'll be fine. It's not recommended, but will be OK.
Mind you, the Tourance is not one of the best for the 800!
Bury_Dave
Registered user
I've read here that others are more popular and that BMW don't recommend it as such but I had them on my 1150GSA and others here have had them on their 800's. It's a lottery !
I have TKC80's for when i want to do more off-roading than on but for general road use but not peg scratching and me being a crap rider, will tyre choice make much of a difference ?
I have TKC80's for when i want to do more off-roading than on but for general road use but not peg scratching and me being a crap rider, will tyre choice make much of a difference ?
Dean
Registered user
I asked this at my tyre shop. Theory is tyres are designed such that they will slip a small amount before you completely lose it. A pair should slip at the time and be recoverable, if one goes completely before the other then no option for recovery. They did add I'd be very unlikely to notice it unless on a track day. I think my squared off rear drew a measure of laughter though!
I've had tourances for a bit now and I'm far far happier with the ride and handling of them over the supplied batwings.
I've had tourances for a bit now and I'm far far happier with the ride and handling of them over the supplied batwings.
flatdog
Registered user
Do you?
No, thats utter tripe.
All wheels/tyres have to be the same size, unless factory supplied.
Bury_Dave
Registered user
Well thanks for all the wise and not so wise contributions.
Looks like more than I learned something new today
Like I said, I'm not a good enough rider riding close enough to my or the bike's limits to probably notice a difference in maker from front to back tyres.
Batwing front and Tourance rear it is then. When the front does wear more I'll put a Tourance on there too but nice not to have to splash the extra dosh just after Xmas.
Dave
Looks like more than I learned something new today
Like I said, I'm not a good enough rider riding close enough to my or the bike's limits to probably notice a difference in maker from front to back tyres.
Batwing front and Tourance rear it is then. When the front does wear more I'll put a Tourance on there too but nice not to have to splash the extra dosh just after Xmas.
Dave
Greggers
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Ummmm ...
Well, IMHO there's no law against it ... There's an argument that tyres are designed with matching profiles and will therefore react to the road in the same way - if you compare the old TT100 and Avon Speedmaster MkII
you'll see one has an almost square profile, and the other is almost triangular. Imagine how these will roll into a corner and you'll see how differently they'll behave - the SM will take a fair bit of effort to 'climb' onto the corner or edge of the tread while the TT100's more triangular profile means that it will fall more readily off the pointy part - so these are two tyres that you really shouldn't mix!
Mostly however with modern road tyres you'll find that they'll have similar profiles but there may still be some invisible factors like the bias of the steel cords in the tyre which might continue to affect the way the tyre behaves, and of course different tyre manufacturers will have different rubber compounds which may offer differing levels of grip - although I think you'd need to be pushing hard get this one to show. Don't forget too that as your rear wears it loses profile and flattens out - as this is a gradual change that you won't notice it too much - until you put new tyres on!
Purists will say replace both tyres in matching pairs - but if your ass is against the wall you can mix and match - a common combination among overlanders is a trail type front like a TKC80 and an intermediate rear like perhaps an Anakee or Trail Attack .. Weird combination guaranteed to give 'interesting' handling but one that will give enough grip and control on all but the most extreme terrain. You might even find that you'll get a 1:1 wear rate as opposed to the rear going first. Your insurance company might take a dim view though but as usual - YMMV ...
G
Well, IMHO there's no law against it ... There's an argument that tyres are designed with matching profiles and will therefore react to the road in the same way - if you compare the old TT100 and Avon Speedmaster MkII
you'll see one has an almost square profile, and the other is almost triangular. Imagine how these will roll into a corner and you'll see how differently they'll behave - the SM will take a fair bit of effort to 'climb' onto the corner or edge of the tread while the TT100's more triangular profile means that it will fall more readily off the pointy part - so these are two tyres that you really shouldn't mix!
Mostly however with modern road tyres you'll find that they'll have similar profiles but there may still be some invisible factors like the bias of the steel cords in the tyre which might continue to affect the way the tyre behaves, and of course different tyre manufacturers will have different rubber compounds which may offer differing levels of grip - although I think you'd need to be pushing hard get this one to show. Don't forget too that as your rear wears it loses profile and flattens out - as this is a gradual change that you won't notice it too much - until you put new tyres on!
Purists will say replace both tyres in matching pairs - but if your ass is against the wall you can mix and match - a common combination among overlanders is a trail type front like a TKC80 and an intermediate rear like perhaps an Anakee or Trail Attack .. Weird combination guaranteed to give 'interesting' handling but one that will give enough grip and control on all but the most extreme terrain. You might even find that you'll get a 1:1 wear rate as opposed to the rear going first. Your insurance company might take a dim view though but as usual - YMMV ...
G
chas820
Registered user
I mixed and matched for ages.I replaced a Battlewing on the front with an Avon Distancia and only put a rear on when I got a slow puncture 4 months later in the original Battlewing.I dont ride to extremes so didn`t have any problems.
Everyone to their own of course ... but I would total disagree with that there statement
Somejuan
Registered user
An interesting comment V8legend. Can you share the context in which you make it?
By way of scene setting I had Tourance on my wee F650 single for a number of years. On the F650 twin I have had sets of Battlewing , TKC 80, Heidenau K60 and more recently fitted the Tourance again.
If I could get reasonable mileage I would stick with the TKC 80 ...but I am quite happy with the Tourance as it is in my opinion a good commuting, touring and "soft road" compromise. Having said that - as the Tourance front doesn't drive too well in loose material - I think I will end up with a TKC80 front and Tourance rear.
Cheers
No you don't, they need to be the same construction, so you can't mix radial and crossply tyres on the same axel, or have radial front/crossply rear, or have different aspect ratio's
But they can be all from different manufacturers
No you don't, they need to be the same construction, so you can't mix radial and crossply tyres on the same axel, or have radial front/crossply rear, or have different aspect ratio's
But they can be all from different manufacturers
And you can't mix run flat tyres with standard construction tyres
I also had a Tourance on my 650 single, and it was great on that bike.
The 800 is a different kettle of fish. IMHO the best tyre for the 800 is the Conti Trail Attack (followed by the Scorpion). Both of which would be useless off road, so no TKC. I haven't tried the Tourance, but neither have I seen any great reviews!
Fordy
Registered user
I've got a pair of barely used Battlewings you can have, make me an offer.
They came with my 800, but I'd rather get some all terrain tyres when the current ones are worn.
They came with my 800, but I'd rather get some all terrain tyres when the current ones are worn.
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