Tyres.....

[Martin.]

Now I know it`s a subject without a definitve answer, depending on use, mileage, price, etc etc, BUT, any suggestions as to an off-road biased set of tyres for an R100GS?
At the moment I`ve got Avon Distanzias front n rear and they`ve been o.k.
I`m off to Estonia in June and look to make the most of the gravel roads out there.
We`ll be 2 up with camping gear but do like getting off the tarmac when possible.

 

[Rob Farmer]

Metzler Saharas 3 were designed around the Paralever GS and work very well on and off road. There's some vibes at high speed but they do handle well. The Heindenaus are a cheaper alternative but don't grip anywhere near as well as the Saharas on the road.

Tourances are still the best all rounders in my opinion but are obviously road biased.

 

[Martin.]

Thanks again Rob!
I did have Tourances a while back, and they did have the egde on the Distanzias.
Might have a look at the Metzlers though. Fancy a bit of a change.
I did look at the Dunlop 606 but they may be a bit much for the 90% road use!

 

[John Armstrong]

Continental Trail Attack, definitely not a mud tyre, but I was impressed with them when I had them on my para.

 

[Rob Farmer]

I'm running a pair of trail Attacks on one Paralever and a pair of Tourances on another to see how they compare.

The only thing I'm wary about with the Trail attacks is how thin they get when the tyres wear. Ballistic had a tyre split in the middle of Wales, no chance of fixing it.

Any excuse for Yet another 1200 on a trailer while the airhead stands by Picture (sorry Brian but I couldn't resist)

 

[Padmei]

I always use Mitas E07s on the rear. Great for everything but deep mud.
On the front I usually use 606s however that is for their off road grip. They wear pretty well & never had any probs with grip on the road. The knobs do get cracked looking around the base of them but i think they all do that.

In saying that I'd prob go for a more road biased front next.

 

[Rob Farmer]

This seems to be a decent site for tyres http://www.tyretectrading.com/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=394

Metzeler classifies their tyres -

Tourance EXP 95% street, 05% off pavement
Tourance: 90-10
Enduro III Sahara: 50-50
Karoo T: 20-80
Karoo II: 10-90

 

[toadjam]

tyres

i've been using conti escapes for the last 4 years . not as good as saharas off road (60/40 ) , but they last longer and cost less .

 

[VAL. H.]

My vote is for Continental TKC 80s.

Jill's had them on her 100GS for three years now. We've done three trips to Europe (Alpes and Pyrenees). Mostly on road but some gravel roads too. Jill has a habit of heading off down a gravel track or just as likely, up a ski slope without too much thought of what might be down it. Even fully loaded occasionally

They work well in all weathers and are much more confidence inspiering on the wet off road sections than Torences and the like. They're good enough to touch 90mph up the longer sections of the Stelvio too. All be it on my 1200GS.


Val.

 

[Martin.]

Hmm ! Might even try those. Always felt a bit put off by fears of wear rates nd wet weather handling.
Do like the look of them though!

 

[pete.keys]

Metzler Saharas 3 were designed around the Paralever GS and work very well on and off road. There's some vibes at high speed but they do handle well. The Heindenaus are a cheaper alternative but don't grip anywhere near as well as the Saharas on the road.

Tourances are still the best all rounders in my opinion but are obviously road biased.

+1.

Had a set of Heidenaus on my R100G/S as they were recommended to me. Thought they were ok. Went back to Metzler Saharas 3 and they are soo much better and much more stable at high speed. Worth paying the extra!

 

[VAL. H.]

Hmm ! Might even try those. Always felt a bit put off by fears of wear rates nd wet weather handling.
Do like the look of them though!

Ware rats depend on the way you ride. On my 1200 I get 11000 from the rears and 14000 from the fronts. I'm not thrashing around like I'm on a sports bike, but I doo sometimes like to play and it ain't unusual for my foot to touch the ground on tight turns


Val.

 

[Beemerboff]

I recently fitted a set of Pirelli Scorpion A/T s and am very impressed with thm.

They have a more aggressive tread pattern than the M/T s, Tourances, Distanzas , etc, and a good bit more grip on dirt, without giving up much, if anything, on black top.

I am running them with 24/26 F/R which gives a good feel of road, and they work fine on the road at these pressures too.

And in OZ they are almost half the price of Distanzas or TKC 80s.

The TKC is actually made by Mitas, and they sell it branded as a Mitas E10?a decent bit cheaper than Continental do.

 

[fayeslane]

I recently fitted a set of Pirelli Scorpion A/T s and am very impressed with thm.

They have a more aggressive tread pattern than the M/T s, Tourances, Distanzas , etc, and a good bit more grip on dirt, without giving up much, if anything, on black top.

Had the same on my R100GSPD for a trip around Tassie. Excellent on tar (even when metal bits were scraping ), predictable and good grip at speed in pissing down rain, OK on the dirt. As BB said very cost effective all terrain tyre. Mileage about 6500km from the rear, can't remember front. This is about all I can get from any rear.

 

[Martin.]

So, what about Bridgestone TW302s ? Anyone had any experience of those?
There really does seem an enormous choice these days. I remember when off-road tyres for a Land Rover were either bar grips or T29 Trak grips !
Typically, the front Distanzia is on the wear bars and the rear is fine. A spare set of wheels would be nice......