Continental TCK 70

Ted said:
Tread blocks were badly cupped and worn and when I took the wheels off to change tyres tried to roll them and they just would not run more than a couple of feet before falling over due to tread distortion.
Click to expand...

I had a tyre fitter tell me that was a good test to see how well and progressively a tyre had worn actually - interesting point Ted...

he had just rolled my knackered PR3 away at that point (K1200S) and said look how smooth that runs... He did the same to an Avon and that was all over the place...
 
The TKC-70 is 25% off road biased so will never feel as planted as a 100% road tread. If you never go off road use road tyres though not all are available in 19" rim diameter. PR3/4 will fit.

If you have to deal with muddy and gravel strewn lanes the TKC-70 is great. It's obviously not so good on mud etc as the TKC-80 or Heidenau Scout K60 but its horses for whatever.

Stability at motorway speeds? Yes, I had a nasty weave at "pressing on" speed but the pressures were low. How that happened who knows, but once back to 36F / 42R they have been fine. They are not as stable as full road treads but they never can be and with the right tyre pressures mine have been fine. So far, Ive done three Torbay to London runs and back plus some local East London commuting with all of no problems. They also cops a lot better on the back roads at home. Roads that gave me some very nasty moments when I had a road tread on the back.

I had seriously considered the Heidenua K60 but given my larger than expected tarmac mileage, I'm glad to have the -70s.
 
Think we had some of the "bad batch" that seems to be buzzing around on various bike forums. Both of us are used to riding on the sort of packed gravel (picture) and that slippery muddy fire road type and have used 80s in the past as well as old Tourance, which I still think are a good 80/20 tyre. We know when the bike moves about on loose and bars move for grip etc but these were just wrong. They got worse with mileage as well, on way home down M62 they were almost buzzing and bars oscillated due to vibration at 70/80 cruise. I think we were just unlucky as there seems to be a definite split between great/best tyre and get it off my bike now!. Can see difference in tread block hight in pics.
 

Attachments

  • front 1.jpg
    front 1.jpg
    74 KB · Views: 419
  • Roads.jpg
    Roads.jpg
    89.1 KB · Views: 402
  • Front with arrow.jpg
    Front with arrow.jpg
    126.8 KB · Views: 422
OK, took the plunge and ordered a set, will be getting them on in 3 weeks (salary time!!!) I'll give a good honest appraisal when the time comes.
 
Mine are wearing with that differential block heights but that may be unavoidable on any off road style tyre. I can't compare with the TKC-80 or K60 Scout but I'd expect to see similar wear patterns. I'm having no tarmac handling problems with mine though they are less well planted than when new. How much of that is greasy roads and cold tyres affecting my confidence I can't say. Yesterday I took a back lane that looked like a farm track. No mishaps no events no fully slides. Tthe only stress (a lot TBH) was that every bend was blind so you are always covering the brakes and looking for a way out.
 
I have Pirelli Scorpion Trail 2 on mine at the moment, the front is wearing unevenly, before them I had Michelin PR4 trail, the front wore in a very strange Manor.

I think it's bike specific (to the GS) and the fact that with the telelever suspension, I find myself trailing the brake with the bike tipped over.
My bike also spends most of its time getting ridden (trashed) very hard across a fast, undulating mountain pass.
I fully expect the TKC70 front to wear in a peculiar manor.

Sent using a Jedi mind trick!
 
My brother's bikes when he lived near the Italian Alps would scrub away the shoulders leaving the centre looking half worn.

Try steering a GS (or any Telelever or Hossack) when parked - it's like hauling the car steering with the engine off. Bikes with "normal" forks roll the tyre left and right so parking the bike is easier. When the bike is moving the vertical suspension of the fancy front end allows harder cornering and braking into bends so the tyre will suffer more shoulder wear. Normal forks transfer a percentage of suspension forces back into the frame hence the well known soggy front end weave. GS feels a lot more stable but steers a whole lot faster
 
67a7e5b601cf9f78ae423698fbd86cb4.jpg


Good shot of the TKC 70 in action.

Sent using a Jedi mind trick!
 
On my 2nd set... So I must be pleased. A bit noisy at the front. Sensitive to white lines, but in a safe predicable way. Sound on simple green lanes. Stable at 3 figure speeds. Stable enough to touch down the extra engine bars when cornering. You know, those which wrap round the heads on a TC GSA. Does all I want it to.
 
Got them on this morning and put about 300kms on them today........on all types of roads (except off road), motorway, A road and about 100kms in the mountains. It's going to be difficult to compare because my Pirellis where completely destroyed. They steer very quickly and I think I can feel the bike moving on the thread blocks. I think I can feel a very slight "wobble/weave" at speeds from about 80 up into 3 figures but nothing to make me worry because I never felt my GSA was particularly stable at high speed with any of the different brands I've used in the last 20,000kms
I get the feeling they will hang on when put under severe pressure in the corners........I like them......and I really like the chunky thread pattern, it really suits the look of the GSA.
 
younger06 said:
Got them on this morning and put about 300kms on them today........on all types of roads (except off road), motorway, A road and about 100kms in the mountains. It's going to be difficult to compare because my Pirellis where completely destroyed. They steer very quickly and I think I can feel the bike moving on the thread blocks. I think I can feel a very slight "wobble/weave" at speeds from about 80 up into 3 figures but nothing to make me worry because I never felt my GSA was particularly stable at high speed with any of the different brands I've used in the last 20,000kms
I get the feeling they will hang on when put under severe pressure in the corners........I like them......and I really like the chunky thread pattern, it really suits the look of the GSA.
Click to expand...

Pretty much my thinking after about 3000 miles. The back has flattened off just a little but I don't push the limits on cold salty roads. The front has clearly developed a stepped wear pattern in the head blocks but it hasn't affected my enjoyment of the bike. Grip may be reduced but as said Im not chucking it about on cold roads. They are still great on gravel over tarmac Im not butch enough to try 1/4 ton if bike on mud.

I swapped with my brother for a few miles who has Tourance tyres. His steering felt leaden compared to mine. He commented that my bike felt a lot lighter than his yet both are 08 Adventures.
 
Looks great fun. Can we have a follow-up shot after its rained. ;)

I have a lot of single track gravel strewn roads to cope with. On road tyres you take your life in your hands every time you cross that untouched centre line. The TKC-70 just rolls over it all, no drama, no fuss.
 
Bendy toy said:
Looks great fun. Can we have a follow-up shot after its rained. ;)

I have a lot of single track gravel strewn roads to cope with. On road tyres you take your life in your hands every time you cross that untouched centre line. The TKC-70 just rolls over it all, no drama, no fuss.
Click to expand...

I'd says that's more good technique than tyre...
 
just having a set of 70's fitted today on my GSA LC.....off to Morocco on Sunday for a couple of weeks ...ferry to Spain and then riding to sahara.......should be a fair test for these....will report back ..
 
Just done 100 miles on these new TKC70's to scrub em off...... all i can say is if anyone has a doubt about these tyres ....forget it. They are a superb tyre, less noisey than PR4s, handle well in dry country lanes with gravel around, no problem at all in the wet and performed no worse or better than the PR4s...a little slippery on white lines but what tyre isnt... handle well when tight filtering through trafic....no wondering around when the road surface is being repalced.... and at a similar speed to my grandads age (and hes been dead for a few years..) there was no wobble or weave at all ( i think that is only caused by panniers and other added items that change the dynamics of the bike anyway..)
All in all im more than happy.....now off to Morocco to give them a proper try....will report back
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

  • Locked
Sold Continental Sportcontact 7 225/40ZR 18 XL (92Y) New tyre
Replies
1
Views
74
Brodie13
Can anyone advise on Continental TKC 70 tyres please BMW R1250 GS te
2
Replies
23
Views
978
boatman
boatman
pegasus
For Sale Oxford continental jack and trousers
Replies
1
Views
177
pegasus
pegasus
Arsey
Continental GT750
Replies
0
Views
180
Arsey
Arsey
Continental Road Attack 4
Replies
10
Views
990
roundincircles
roundincircles


Back
Top Bottom