Knobbly pressures?

King Rat

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These TKC 80s that everyone raves about.....they are HORRIBLE, but it could be I have the pressure all wrong.

What pressure should I be blowing into them please?

Do you alter the pressure for going off road, or do they work as they are?

1150 Adv. they are on.
 
Are they still new?

If so then just bear with em because they do get better. I used to run them at 36/42 unless I was off road. When new they feel a bit edgy, but as the knobbles wear they become much more like a normal tyre.
 
I'm no expert but I run them at 28/34 for off road and at 36/42 on road.
 
Back in the day when I ran them on my 1150 and did a lot of green laneing I had them in the low 20's for all local use and would only pump them up if I was doing a trip - you get use to them
 
I ran mid 20s off road, 36,42 on road. They are compromised on road. Not as good as a road tyre,but at least over time you get used to them being worse though - but they're still worse.
 
Cheers chaps. I'll put a bit more wind in them and see how I get on....but initial thoughts are so tentative I can't relax whilst riding the thing. i am waiting for it to bite me the whole time, unless I am bolt upright. the rumbling of those knobbles isn't comforting either.
 
Cheers chaps. I'll put a bit more wind in them and see how I get on....but initial thoughts are so tentative I can't relax whilst riding the thing. i am waiting for it to bite me the whole time, unless I am bolt upright. the rumbling of those knobbles isn't comforting either.

It's all in your head :beerjug:
 
I've been given a pair of Karoo 3s to test and so far finding them far better than the Heidenau and TKC 80 in all respects.

Fairly easy to fit yourself, which is important for me.
Pic taken just after fitting.
 

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I will be interested to see what kind of mileage you get - out of interest, why were you given tyres to test? :tarka
 
Probably, but I have to overcome that problem, which I don't get with the Tourances on the other bike. I won't be buying TKCs again. I might give the 70s a go, or the Heidenaus.

But the 70's are a TKC70...

I just got some TKC80 put on for a trip am doing.
Have about a 500km liason to get to the dirt, all but about 75km on bitumen. will put the pressure up to what the book says for road tires and then maybe a bit more. it is some long straight sections and then let them down when on the dirt for about the next 2500km

Yes, they are different but last time I had some, didn't have a problem with them, just be aware that they are different and will handle differently and you need to react differently
 
I'm sure in the past I've read that TKC80's with low pressure (20's) provide a lot of on Tarmac grip, just not in the way people are use to...

I also seem to remember from the days when an 11xx was the bike most talked about that this thread would have pictures of scrapped pegs on TKC fitted bikes.

When I think I'm a long way over I just remind myself that there are others who on the same bike could ride around me
 
I've been given a pair of Karoo 3s to test and so far finding them far better than the Heidenau and TKC 80 in all respects.

Fairly easy to fit yourself, which is important for me.
Pic taken just after fitting.

I had them on a 1200LC in South Africa for a 4,500km trip in 2014. They are fantastic tyres in dry conditions, they're very sticky on warm tarmac and performed very well on loose gravel. In the wet, they were horrible. I had no confidence in them on wet tarmac and dropped the bike on the first proper bit of mud because the thread filled. Having said that, the feet nearly went from under me too because it was very slippery mud.

EDIT: Oh, and they were due for a change by the end of the 4,500km. We were "making good progress" on motorways which seemed to just melt the Karoo 3s.
 
I had them on a 1200LC in South Africa for a 4,500km trip in 2014. They are fantastic tyres in dry conditions, they're very sticky on warm tarmac and performed very well on loose gravel. In the wet, they were horrible. I had no confidence in them on wet tarmac and dropped the bike on the first proper bit of mud because the thread filled. Having said that, the feet nearly went from under me too because it was very slippery mud.

EDIT: Oh, and they were due for a change by the end of the 4,500km. We were "making good progress" on motorways which seemed to just melt the Karoo 3s.

Dear God - if that was MILES I would say they were expensive.......Tourances on my other Av return a minimum of 13,000 MILEs (the least I have got out of a pair) and the best I got was 15,400, never done it since mind. I have had 9 sets of tyres on her now (I am sad and log when they get changed in the back of the Haynes manual, along with any other major maintenance) I also keep a log of fuel consumption - when you have to pay for your own, it makes a major difference on low income - all you banker and insurance sales types earning fantastic amounts won't need to worry.
 
13000 miles out of a tyre ?? What pressures you running 60f 100r ???

Nope, just normal road pressures. 36 front, 42 rear....it is done by riding economically. Brakes last years, tyres and fuel go further!

You are probably using your bike as a toy / pleasure device. For me it is everyday transport and use it to save money over a car - and avoid traffick jams. I enjoy the ride to work and back, whereas sitting in a car to do the same journey is just tedious, only endured if I have to carry stuff I can't carry with the bike.
 
I've been given a pair of Karoo 3s to test and so far finding them far better than the Heidenau and TKC 80 in all respects.

Fairly easy to fit yourself, which is important for me.
Pic taken just after fitting.

Tim how are you getting on with those Karoo 3

Can you post a short review here please
 


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