Best winter tyres?

[Gas'd Off]

Advice please you lot.
I got standard 1150 and live out in the sticks where mud and tractors rule. Current Tourance tyres are in need of replacement now and I am wondering what would be the best winter tyre to replace them with? I thought about trying knobblies because I`ve been sliding around a bit lately on the aformentioned mud. Would I fare any better on slippery muck strewn roads with knobblies? I hear that you only get about 3000kms on them, is that right? that will only take me through to January! Anyone got better milage being gentle with go stick? what do they cost/who makes them?

Thanks in advance chaps, all advice appreciated

Luke. :sunshine

 

[(RIP) Dennis]

Like,
I think 3000km is a bit pessimistic, 3 to 4,000 miles is more realistic, (although I did rubbish my first knobbly rear (TCK 80,s in about 1200 miles)

I don't think however that they will stick much better than touances on mud strewn tarmac, I doubt if anything will give a lot of grip on that.

Conti TKC 80's are what your looking for and I think I paid around £120 for the last pair I bought, although it may have been a bit more. Definitely worth a try and considerably cheaper than Tourances.

 

[Gas'd Off]

Thanks Dennis,
That`s more like it......4000mls@£120 I can cope with.

 

[riverking]

I ride in the same sort of cr*p - TKC 80'S - BRILL!! - TOTALLY PREDICTABLE.
Cheers
Steve

 

[Gas'd Off]

Do you know how much they are Steve?

Thanks.

 

[riverking]

Normally in the range 120 - 140 a pair depending on your supplier,
To be honest, I feel so much more relaxed riding around the countyside that I'd happily pay more.
Tyres are such personal preference/safety items that I feel a bit uncomfortable recommending any brand - but search on this site, it's hard to find anyone with a bad thing to say about the TKC's.
Hope this helps
Steve

 

[Cheesy Mike]

Luke - speak to Madmountainman over in Weston-Super-Mud. He runs TKCs for much of the year but for the winter has gone back to a "regular" tyre - Anakees I think. He was getting a pretty good deal on TKCs locally so he should be able to give you a pointer.

As for my bike, this will be my third winter and I've always run with Tourances. I know that although we only live 5 miles apart our villages are different in how much mud gets on the roads, but I have had very very few sphincter twitching moments as long as I have been running fairly fresh tyres.

Mike

 

[Blowzorn]

How do you guys find the TKC's for general road use?
I'd like a more trail biased tyre and I'm prepared for the drop in wear and longevity compared to the Tourance.
Aslongas they don't compromise road grip/confidence.

 

[StooL]

Does anyone know if the new Bridgestone Battlewings are available yet? Has anyone tried them?

I am also looking to change my tourances. They do offer great mileage and performance to a point but I do get the occasional butt clenching moment on white lines, overbanding and mud. All tyres will undoubtedly struggle on the above surfaces but something a bit stickier on cold and wet winter roads would be nice.

 

[Diavoletto]

GS 's people here loves Anakee ...I try tourance and anakee and i prefer the second ones....the same price but different behaviour on street use...Anakke is better also on wet and rain...


NExt test battlewings

 

[Fanum]

GS 's people here loves Anakee ...I try tourance and anakee and i prefer the second ones....the same price but different behaviour on street use...Anakke is better also on wet and rain...

I'm exactly the opposite.....I went from Anakees to Tourences and I find the Tourences significantly better in the wet (and dry) than the Anakees.....less slipy slidy sphincter moments, particularly on white lines where the Anakees were very slippy.

FWIW, it's TKC's for me next fitment (only reason they're not on now is I was going to do an ironbutt 2000 and knobblies for that would be silly)

 

[Gas'd Off]

Right then, I reckon I`ll get some TKC 80'S then. Seem to be the fav when it comes to chunky tyres and I think they will suit my needs.
One more thing though.............is there anyone out with a standard 1150 who has tried fitting chunkies? I guess rear will be fine but what about front mudguardwise, any interference(ooh err) problems?

Thanks again chaps(+esses).:sunshine

 

[GSAde]

Back on ...Tourances

Not tried the TKC's but as Fanum says Tourance over Anakees, for me too. Thought Anakees were just as good as Tourances 'till I went back to Tourance (due to them being cheaper & longer lasting). I then realised how much more confidence inspiring Tourance are, particularly in the wet.

Ade

 

[Zwerver]

One more thing though.............is there anyone out with a standard 1150 who has tried fitting chunkies? I guess rear will be fine but what about front mudguardwise, any interference(ooh err) problems?

Combination TKC80+Standard mudguard is no problem, as long as you dont go into the real mud which can get stuck .. For normal winter use and gravelriding its ok, and IMHO the TKC is the best compromise you could take...

 

[Diavoletto]

I'm agree about white lines ...anakee is slippy on the lines ....

I've done 8500km with tourance and 11000 km with anakee.

 

[rugbug]

Very uselful feedback about tyres from you all.

I am looking at changing over to TKC's but am curious as to why they wear out quickly, from all the quotes above. I don't do a lot of motorway riding, just in and out of London on the commute and get about 12k on a rear Tourance. Would the TKC's wear away quicker? And is it worth changing over?

 

[GSmonkey]

I've just done a rear Anakee in about 3.5k around London and can agree with previous comments about slides on white lines.

Overall wet / poor performance however is qutie good and dry performance is excellent.

Next set will be Tourance to see what you bunch of Tossers keep going on about

 

[Madmountainman]

I used to get 4-5K at best from the road rubber and around 3-3.5K from TKC's. Given their cheaper costing they work out around the same pence per mile but the feed back and road holding's far superior IMHO... even if i sometimes get through a TKC at 2.5K i'll still have em on my bike, year round from now on unless doing a long tour on the road.