Mitas Enduro Trail Rally or Enduro Trail XT

[er-minio]

It's tyre change time on my DRZ.
For the last years I've been running Mitas C-19 EAGLE Super at the front and EF-07 Super at the rear. Both yellow stripe.

Those tyres are way an overkill given my (limited) greenlaning abilities, but since the DRZ is my dedicated "offroader" learner (I already have a spare set of wheels with TKC80s for my GS when I take it off-tarmac) I initially considered putting some "good" specialised tyres. My idea was: no need to put 40/60 tyres on the DRZ.

As it turns out, I do have to cover a fairly large amount of tarmac from inside London to the lanes and back. I'm heavy and the tyres get minced on the inevitable A road bits at 55/60mph.
Plus, again, since my abilites are limited, I might switch to a slightly more "rounded" tyre type that can handle offroad and not be obliterated quickly on tarmac.
I do not really care about handling on tarmac, I was fine with the C-19 and EF-07 (rain apart), the bike is slow and it was fun making it wobble out of corners . I just want something that behaves in soft terrain and mud given we're in England.

The idea was to put something like the Enduro trail XT+ (I wanna stay within Mitas for now) but everywhere on their site these seem to be indicated for Adventure (heavier) bikes, while the Enduro Trail-Rally, that are very similar, are marked for adventure and dual sport.

Are these pretty much the same tyre, but the two models come in different weight/sizes according to bike category?


Also: big drawbacks in mounting a 90/90-21 at the front instead of 80/100?

Thanks in advance.

 

[MotoRevive]

I've just prepped my DRZ for the Trans Moroccan Trail.

I've gone with Mitas Enduro Trail XT+. But opting for the harder Dakar version on the rear for longevity as it's going to be a 4000 mile round trip. FYI, the Dakar version is SUPER difficult to fit by hand. Consider that for trailside repairs. I'm going to fit Super heavy duty 4mm tubes too so hopefully avoid punctures altogether.

The DRZ with some luggage is midweight adventure bike. It's not a lightweight dirt bike. Don't worry !!


The difference between an 90/90 and 80/100 will obviously be the width and height. But I doubt you'd notice. I've never fitted anything else on DRZ's than 90/90 for the last twenty years.

 

[er-minio]

Thank you!

The DRZ with some luggage is midweight adventure bike.

The DRZ with me on top weights like a GoldWing

I won't go for Dakar version: first, as you say complex to fit by hand if needed, but also I don't think my DRZ does >1k miles in one year.
I have heavy duty tubes on it already!

 

[PitaNaanRoti]

DRZ? Michelin Trackers all day long.
However, as you want Mitas then use the Trail XT. Don’t use the Dakar as the DRz is not heavy enough to need the reinforced side walls unless you’re into 790/890R weights.

 

[er-minio]

My usual tyre place doesn't have them and apparently the fronts are on backorder.

I'll check online maybe, as I was gonna fit these by myself anyway.

@PitaNaanRoti do the Michelin Tracker resist long-ish asphalt transfers?

 

[MotoRevive]

The Dakar has a harder compound. You get about 30% more mileage out of one. I'm fitting it for longevity as it's an Overland trip I'm doing. Not because it's the best performance tyre. I would never put one on the front. Too hard. Less grip.

Trackers are good. Great road legal off-road tyre. But they're just an update of the AC10. They are soft. They get eaten by asphalt. I got less than 1000 miles out of a rear one riding road/off-road around Wales.

But if you're not doing a lot of miles then if sacrifice the wear for off-road performance.

Always buy the tyre for the job you want to do.

 

[PitaNaanRoti]

The Dakar has a harder compound. You get about 30% more mileage out of one. I'm fitting it for longevity as it's an Overland trip I'm doing. Not because it's the best performance tyre. I would never put one on the front. Too hard. Less grip.

Trackers are good. Great road legal off-road tyre. But they're just an update of the AC10. They are soft. They get eaten by asphalt. I got less than 1000 miles out of a rear one riding road/off-road around Wales.

But if you're not doing a lot of miles then if sacrifice the wear for off-road performance.

Always buy the tyre for the job you want to do.

The Dakar only has a harder compound in the centre. It’s the reinforced sidewalls that make them unsuitable for lighter stuff.
It’s the same with Trackers - the 140/80 was designed specifically for when the 690R Enduro came out. Anything under 160kgs you need the 120 as the sidewall is a lot softer.

WTF were you doing to get less than 1k miles?
There are numerous users in our SWTRF group using them for full euro trips and still having tread left when back here in south Wales for lane use.
My OH’s EXC-F 500 has one fitted that did 1500 miles on her CRF250L before the almost 1500 it’s done on this.

 

[PitaNaanRoti]

My usual tyre place doesn't have them and apparently the fronts are on backorder.

I'll check online maybe, as I was gonna fit these by myself anyway.

@PitaNaanRoti do the Michelin Tracker resist long-ish asphalt transfers?

Contrary to what’s been posted- yes. The ONLY time I’ve got less than 2k miles from a rear was on a 701 with motorway mileage/speeds in the mix. Even then it still had loads of grip

 

[MotoRevive]

I have a rear 120. It's a Drz. Never had problems with any rear Mitas Dakar on any smaller trail bikes. But I only ever fit a rear. Like I said, I wouldn't have one on the front of any bike. But with lower pressures on a loaded up DRZ, they're absolutely fine.

With the tracker, I ran low pressure. Mud and lot of rocks. And then riding hard on the road. But now I'm second guessing and that might have been an AC10..

I've sold that bike now.

They were by no way near illegal at 1000 miles. Just very tapered and rounded knobs. Plenty of mileage on them. But crap grip. So for me, they were spent. I don't fuck around on worn out tyres. Life is too short and too valuable.

Tyres are different for everyone. There is no right and wrong. Very little point sharing opinions because they generally never translate.

One just has to experiment for themselves and see what suits their style.

 

[er-minio]

There seem to be a shortage of offroad tyres' stock.
Went for the Trackers (I need new tyres for Saturday) as those were available. Will try the Mitas at the next change.
I can see my Thursday evening swearing in the garage to change tyres

Thanks all for the advice!

 

[er-minio]

Rear Tracker is on
Tomorrow the fromt.

Out of curiosity, what pressures do you ran on tarmac and off tarmac?

 

[PitaNaanRoti]

On a DRZ? Mousses.
However if you are using tubes then around 14-16psi

 

[MotoRevive]

On my DRZ (no luggage) I run 18psi front and rear off-road for rocky stuff. Any less and the risk of punch flats is quite high if you're a spirited rider.

Sand, mud, grass I will go down to about 14psi. But you're in front rim lock territory here too. Especially if you're on the brakes going down steep hills.

I've never felt the need for a rear rim lock on a DRZ.

Mitas are very stiff. So you can drop another 2psi across the board to compensate.

 

[er-minio]

if you're a spirited rider

I really am not off the road

The bike has rim locks on both wheels (previous owner "kitted" it up for an offroad trip in Portugal).
To be fair I never ran very low pressures with the Mitas. Actually, from what I am reading here, the opposite.

 

[MotoRevive]

If you have rim locks and just pootle off-road, Knock your pressures down to 15psi front and back and enjoy loads more grip and comfort.

For the road , I generally run 22 front and rear.

When I load it load for Overland travel I put 26-28 in the rear.

 

[er-minio]

Thanks!