Another bloody tyre thread!

[BigDan]

I know... sorry...

Need to replace my Tourances, looking for something that can handle the dirt a lot better (these seem absolutely useless off the sticky black stuff). Having already searched, I'm aware TKC80s are the best option for 50/50 but they don't wear well. So, as i see it I have three options.

1. £180 - TKC80s front and rear - good grip on and off road, but looking at a pitiful mileage on tarmac.
2. £170 - TKC80 front and K60 scout rear - good front grip, rear isn't great on tarmac but easier to handle, and i'll get better mileage.
3. A wildcard, £187 - a set of Anakee Wilds - as I understand it they are new in the UK?

Any and all advice much appreciated.

Short version - I'd like the dream of grippy tyres both on and offroad, wet and dry, without remortgaging.

 

[bigmadstu]

My mate runs a TKC80 on the front and a TKC70 on the back. Says it's ideal for the forest trails etc that we have round here. I'm thinking of going for a set of the 70's when my current tourances wear out.

 

[Bendy toy]

@Sgt Bilko says -

We use the K60s on the Alaska trips because of the varied road conditions which are anything from smooth tarmac to deep gravel and gloomy mud. They cope with everything thrown at them and will also last 10,000 miles. They aren't as good as TKCs off road and not as good as road tyres on road but as a compromise, they are excellent in my opinion.

They wear very quickly to start and then just seem to stop wearing until they are about shot. Be warned, they are a bastard to fit because the walls are so tough.

See http://www.ukgser.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-381563.html

I use TKC-70. They are more like 20% off road and great for slippery gravelly surfaces and not too compromised on tarmac. I'd expect the treads to quickly clog in mud and become no better than slicks. Others may have actual experience with them in muddy conditions. The treads do vibrate so full on knobbies could be quite rough on tarmac.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

I've used K60's F & R and they are a surprisingly good road tyre and passable off road in everything other than thick mud. I'd echo what Sgt Bilco/Bendy says above.

Andres

 

[BigDan]

I've heard lots of reports that the K60s are scary on wet tarmac, is this unfounded?

 

[Bendy toy]

Ask Bilko he uses them a lot.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

I've heard lots of reports that the K60s are scary on wet tarmac, is this unfounded?

I ran the previous model (K60 M&S) without the strip between the central blocks and had no issues with that in the wet at all. I did always treat them with a bit more respect than pure road tyres though.

Andres

 

[Deleted account 200123001]

I've used K60's F & R and they are a surprisingly good road tyre and passable off road in everything other than thick mud. I'd echo what Sgt Bilco/Bendy says above.

Andres

My findings too Andres.

 

[Bendy toy]

I had my TKC-70 back wheel spin up and take me off on a right turn out of a side road. No serious harm done but not much fun. I wasn't going for it so weather / road surface / tyre choice can catch us out.

The temperature was around 5 degrees but the issue was cold tyres on a heavily salted road. That stuff can be almost as slippery as a good layer of frost.

Would a road tyre have coped better? Who knows.

I have not had a single funny moment on plain wet roads and the front is wearing with the usual herringbone pattern.

 

[BigDan]

Yeah, I'm not keen on the TKC-70 at all, they don't seem either here no there regarding onroad/offroad. Would just get Tourances or Anakees instead.

Current feeling is a TKC-80 front and a heidenau rear, but might be able to get a 2nd set of wheels this week... shall see

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Heidenau K60's or Mitas E07's are your friends. I really rate the Heidenau's but I've tried a pair of the Mitas E07 over the winter and if anything they are better in all conditions. No worries at all on wet tarmac and pretty decent on the dirty stuff.

I really don't know why they say Tourances etc are dual purpose because they are utter shite on any thing other than hard packed dirt. They are just chunky road tyres in my opinion.

TKC80 front and Heidi rear are a brilliant combination if you are doing some serious stuff. If you haven't had TKC80's before, you'll get a rumble and the you can feel the blocks gripping so you don't get that planted feeling you get with road tyres but they grip really well.

 

[younger06]

I don't know what it is about the TKC70 front, maybe it's the profile or the fact that there isn't really a centre line but it makes the "straight ahead" steering extremely light, so light that when in turbulance behing a truck for example you really have to hold the bars tight!!!!
They grip the road great but they seem to have introduced an instability in the bike that I have not experienced in the 20,000kms since owning the bike. It's not a worry.......it's just not nice.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Heidenau K60's after 10,000 miles of everything from slippery mud, deep gravel to the best warm tarmac on the planet. Great all round tyres.

 

[Bryn]

Heidenau K60's after 10,000 miles of everything from slippery mud, deep gravel to the best warm tarmac on the planet. Great all round tyres.

Might give them a go on the S10 when the next change comes up ... they look the part too

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Might give them a go on the S10 when the next change comes up ... they look the part too

Have a look at the Mitas E07 as well Bryn. I reckon they are a bit softer and offer really good grip everywhere.

 

[Rushy]

Heidenau K60's after 10,000 miles of everything from slippery mud, deep gravel to the best warm tarmac on the planet. Great all round tyres.

They may be really good but that second picture re-defines the definition of "squared off"

 

[Sgt Bilco]

They may be really good but that second picture re-defines the definition of "squared off"

Yep, they square off quite quickly but you really don't notice, at least I don't. Some tyres get an edge whne they square off and you can feel it but these just roll into a corner no bother. Bear in mind that that tyre had done 10,000 miles in the US on a loaded bike and some fairly long straight bits which you can't avoid.

The last 500 miles of that trip were through some endless and brilliant twisties in Northern California and down the PCH and they gripped perfectly.

I don't know many other tyre that could do what.

 

[Bryn]

Have a look at the Mitas E07 as well Bryn. I reckon they are a bit softer and offer really good grip everywhere.

That's the other one that I fancy... so this morning I said to Lyn ' Mitas E07 or Heidenau K60's ?

Blank look in return... showed her some pics ..The Heidenau's won ..'I like them better' .... Very scientific... not