Road tyres for KTM 1290 SAS

[dirtybiker]

Looking for recommendations for a new set of road tyres for my 2021 1290 SAS. (New shape)
I’m lucky enough to have another set of spoked wheels with off road tyres on them so just looking for a good ‘on road’ tyre to go on the alloy wheels. I still have the original Mitas tyres on for now but they haven’t been the most confidence inspiring so would like something else.
What you been running?
Cheers.

 

[Paul S]

Pure road tyres - go for Michelin Road 6's

 

[Dirty Ming]

I had several sets of Conti Trail Attack 2's and 3's on my 1190Adv and 790Adv and they're brilliant at pretty much everything. Warm up quickly, wear well and grip like feck

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

I also run Conti Trail Attack 3's and find them great.

 

[EVskiy]

Conti Road Attack 3 for me. Have had a set in my GSA and two sets now on 2018 SAS. Love them.

Be mindful that the recommended above Trail Attack 3 are a different tyre to Road Attack 3.

 

[Orbit]

Conti Trail Attack 3 great dry and wet.

 

[dirtybiker]

Cheers chaps, thanks for the input. It’s been a while since I’ve bought an out and out road tyre.

 

[Smartbazza]

I’ve ran both the CTA3 and road 6s on my GSA and they’re both great.

Barry

 

[Dirty Ming]

I've got Road Attack 3's on my 790 Duke now and don't find them any different to the TA's. Obviously different wheel sizes but I never had an issue with the 19 and 21 inch wheels on the Adv bikes.

 

[Rasher]

Whats with all this trail stuff.

Metz Roadtec 01
Dunlop Roadsmart 4
Conti Road Attack 4

Clues in the name "Road" - where its gonna be used.

Depending which mag test you look at these have all won some comparison or other at some point, all tend to come in top half of group tests and are all premium brand.

Left off Michelins as I hated Road 5s on my last gen 1290, I know many swear by them, but they felt like they were about to let go, and although they never did I just hated the feel of em, possibly the compund changes or where it goes from treaded to slick.

Conti ROad Attack 3s were next - much nicer, 4's would of followed, but at the time no stock, so got Roadtec01SE instead - brilliant!!!

 

[Dirty Ming]

I also can't get on with the Road 5's or 6's I've got on my little CB300. I preferred the trail variants as an awful lot of the roads in Devon have a generous smattering of gravel and grass down the middle of them - I tend to stay away from wide open A roads and enjoy the back roads more. More than enough grip for when the roads do quicken up too.

 

[Bounce]

Another for the Conti Trail Attack 3.

 

[GDS968]

Metzler Tourance Next 2's on mine and have to say so far they are great, warm up quick and seem to have plenty of grip, turn in seems better than the Pirelli Scorpian Trail 2's i had on before and they were good.

 

[Troppo]

Pilot road 6. Excellent.

 

[daviedevs]

I ran PR6 on my 2019 SAS....great tyres. Now I have a 2023 SAS and on its original Mitas. MCN say they are a great tyre..is that not true?

 

[Greenman14]

Some Interesting views. I’ve seen awful user reviews of Tourance Nexts on Tiger 800 forums, though I found them just fine for an adventure bike. Not seen a bad review anywhere for Michelin Road 5s or 6s on adventure bikes. Maybe it’s just some bike-tyre combos that don’t work.

 

[Dirty Ming]

Some Interesting views. I’ve seen awful user reviews of Tourance Nexts on Tiger 800 forums, though I found them just fine for an adventure bike. Not seen a bad review anywhere for Michelin Road 5s or 6s on adventure bikes. Maybe it’s just some bike-tyre combos that don’t work.

Think your last line may have some truth in it. My tiddly CB300R came with new PR6's and I hate them. Did a 20 mile motorway run to meet up with some guys for a ride and the tyres were barely warm in the middle and cold on the edges. 36 front, 38 rear. Bike is only 145kg so maybe there's not enough weight to generate the heat. Conti RA3'S on my Duke warm up by the end of my street

 

[dirtybiker]

I ran PR6 on my 2019 SAS....great tyres. Now I have a 2023 SAS and on its original Mitas. MCN say they are a great tyre..is that not true?

I’ve had no issues with the OE Mitas tyres. My original post was only to see what else was out there.

 

[Rasher]

I hated road 5's on my 1290 SAS and on my CB500X they weren't much better, grip seemed good wet or dry, but the front felt like it was gonna fold - think I did not get on with either the sudden change in profile, or the transition between different compounds.

Tested a 2022 1290SAS on Mita's and a few miles from dealer on first "proper" corner the rear slid a little, maybe not fully warm? Either way having ridden that way back from dealer many times over the years on a variety of tyres that had never happened, so if I bought a new bike the deal would include swapping them out prior to pickup.

Mates fitted Metzeler M9RR's to his 1290 which are probably the only sports tyre available in a 19", they will give more grip and faster steering and be great in the dry, but probably a long way behind any of the major brand touring tyres in the wet, although allegedly very good in wet - for a sports tyre.

I would be tempted if I only rode locally, but fitting sports tyres would just tempt the gods to unleash hellish storms on any tour I embarked upon, but I would love to try some if I could afford to spaff almost £300 to appease my curiosity.

 

[Dirty Ming]

Having had the 1190 and 790 Advs over to pannier scraping angles with no issues, I don't think you'd need anything "sportier" than Conti TA3's.