What tyres?

[BigAl&Andri]

Just interested to know what tyres you got on your '08 1200GS.

What do you think of them and what do think are best for the bike for mostly on-road use?

Al

 

[wully]

Anything but feckin Anakees....

 

[John Armstrong]

Or Bridgestone Trail Wings

 

[The Bede]

... For road use ... erm ... use road tyres
... The selection is limited because of the skinny rear wheel and 19" front hoop.
... Bridgestone BT020s have been well rated and I'll add my own seal of approval too.
... Continental Road Attacks find favour with many

... For "hybrids," Metzler Tourrances (not the Tourrance EXP) are well regarded and give very good mileage.
... I found Dunlop 607s to be a better road tyre than the Tourrance but much lower mileage. Not everyone would agree.
... Some like Bridgestone Battle-Wings, some prefer Michelin Annakees, there seems to be greater variance in opinion.

... But unless you seriously plan an off-road foray stick to road rubber.
... "Hybrids" are really only good for dealing with grit and looser surfaces.
... Mud and the gloopy stuff really requires a pukka dirt tyre, TKC80s are a popular choice.

... Try using the 'search' function, you won't find yourself short of opinions and feedback.

 

[North]

I have Anakees and don't have a problem them. I have done some really rocky off-road stuff with them. They are no good in any kind of mud though.

I am doing a lot of daulsporting now and I am going to get some TKC 80's.

 

[brassmonkey001]

You've got to ask yourself: What tyres would Hitler use?

 

[R1200GSA]

Conti Trail Attacks on my 08 GSA. Seem to be ok so far. Had Anakees on my 06 GSA and found them very good, if a little too quick wearing (4000m on a rear) Depends on the type of rider you are and how you use your bike.

Watch out for the who would rather attribute their "scare the shit out of you moments" to their tyres, instead of their own crap observation and riding skills. Happens a lot.

Probably not a massive difference between most major tyre manufacturers today. Soft compounds heat up faster & stick better, but wont last as long, or cover as many miles as harder compounds. Tyre pressures are incredibly important too.

My 2pwurf.

 

[mikepg]

I can't see the problem with the Anakees

Maybe it is because half of my journey to work is on badly pitted and holed farm track where they are absolutely first rate. On smooth roads, they are a bit noisy, and create a fair bit of vibration up through to the handle bars, but nothing really to complain about.

My last bike had road tyres and the same route to work was a bit perilous and the back end slid all over the place.

Having said all of that.......when the rear tyre goes, I think I will go for BT020's just for the change.

 

[Captain GSA]

I've jut had new tyres fitted on my 1200 GSA by Rubber Ranch.....mobile motorbike tyre fitter-Biggin Hill

He said that Metzeler Tourance - (V rated) still outsell any other out there- he recomended them in any case- for dual purpose there is nothing out there that performs or lasts like them.. 9mm tread!

If you go for EXP expect to change them regularly........they square off quick too..too soft?
I was advised by a number of people to avoid them so I stayed with old faithful...

If you go to him....£199.00 fitted- He came to me...not cheap £139.00 but he does everything- removal/balance etc- wiped liquid all over to remove the new tyre coating...took him the best part of one hour and fifteen minutes-very methodical, even checked my brakes etc.

I had Metzelers on before- I had Metzeler Tourance on my 1150GSA...love them.....and for those of you that know my riding style-I'm not a straight line merchant!...they give me confidence to play hard

Went out for the first scrub last night- now the weather is great- I'm off again.......

 

[GSmonkey]

Got battlewings on at the moment. They're OK in the dry and shite in the wet. Will be going back to Anakees when they're finished.

 

[Captain GSA]

.....just got back from Bexhill on sea......with my new Tourance's- they are now very nice.......scrubbed in and ready to rock n roll on the infamous Captn's loop....monkey-try some Metzelers-if you haven't before......

 

[GSmonkey]

monkey-try some Metzelers-if you haven't before......

Just realised I've probably got to change my tyres before I go to Italy next month. Might give the Tourance a go...

 

[Captain GSA]

Price error on previous post!

Just realised I've probably got to change my tyres before I go to Italy next month. Might give the Tourance a go...

Sorry everyone........

Rubber Ranch prices....If you go to him it's £199 all in- he removes and puts back the wheel etc...

If he comes to you it's £239 and NOT £139 as I posted earlier...sorry ...

 

[John Armstrong]

My 2p after havin Anakees, Trail Wings, Tourances and Battle Wings on a variety of GS's. All but one were sufficiently good for my riding ability on tarmac ie I was happy with them.

Anakees, ok, just more expensive than the Tourance to fit ok wear rate.

Trail Wings, not ok, never had confidence in them, couldn't wait to get rid of them.

Tourances, ok, seem to last long enough without squaring up, keep going back to them.

Battle Wings, ok, squared off and less mileage than the Tourance, can't comment on cost as they were on on delivery.

Tyres on the F650 Dakar and 1200 GSA now, old style Tourance

 

[SpyInTheCamp]

... I found Dunlop 607s to be a better road tyre than the Tourrance but much lower mileage. Not everyone would agree.

I would agree. My bike came with the D607s and they were fab. Great confidence and lean angles, but didn't last that long! Since then I have had two sets of Tourances. I'm due for a tyre change soon and will be going back to the Dunlops.

Bike mag did a tyre test for the GS last year and the Dunlops pretty much came out tops on the dual sport tyres. There didn't seem much between them and sports touring tyres like the BT020s.

Kai

 

[RogerJ]

What Tyres?

Always been a Tourance fan on the 12GS or GSA. Have a Tourance EXP on the front now while the traditional rear Tourance wears out. Do like the way the EXP turns in better in the twisties compared to the older style Tourance front. Also better feel and tracking in gravel. Will put an EXP on the back soon. Grip, wear, predictability as they wear makes stay with Tourance.

 

[patboy]

Rubber Ranch sounds like a dodgy bar in the mind west
Where in Biggin Hill are they? I will keep that in mind when my tyres are on the way out.

 

[wadham]

Pure road tyres such as the Conti Road attack or Michelin Pilot road have profiles that allow faster turn in to corners. They have more rubber on the road due to the fact that they do not have big gaps between the blocks. They generally have softer compound rubber as well that does not last as long as block tyres of course.

Long tyre life is important for some and some riders prefer to not use the outer 2" of the tyre and are very happy when the Tourance last a long time. Many people can ride really fast on all sorts of tyres, but its mostly the rider that makes them fast so they can ride around or through the lack of grip that block tyres such as the Tourance have and get the long tyre life.

I would prefer to have more rubber on the road by using a road tyre such as the P/roads or R/Attack IF, thats IF, I was not going off road.
I find that Tourances let go when lent over and powering out of corners because I push them harder than they can cope with, this does not happen with road tyres. This is worse in the wet when the lack of rubber in contact with the road when lent over is a real slowdown. I can put my thumb between the blocks on a Tourance and when you consider that you only have a cigarette packet size of rubber in contact with the road, a thumbs width is about 1/3 of available grip lost.

Your call - Mileage or grip - Off road or road.

 

[Captain GSA]

Pure road tyres such as the Conti Road attack or Michelin Pilot road have profiles that allow faster turn in to corners. They have more rubber on the road due to the fact that they do not have big gaps between the blocks. They generally have softer compound rubber as well that does not last as long as block tyres of course.

Long tyre life is important for some and some riders prefer to not use the outer 2" of the tyre and are very happy when the Tourance last a long time. Many people can ride really fast on all sorts of tyres, but its mostly the rider that makes them fast so they can ride around or through the lack of grip that block tyres such as the Tourance have and get the long tyre life.

I would prefer to have more rubber on the road by using a road tyre such as the P/roads or R/Attack IF, thats IF, I was not going off road.
I find that Tourances let go when lent over and powering out of corners because I push them harder than they can cope with, this does not happen with road tyres. This is worse in the wet when the lack of rubber in contact with the road when lent over is a real slowdown. I can put my thumb between the blocks on a Tourance and when you consider that you only have a cigarette packet size of rubber in contact with the road, a thumbs width is about 1/3 of available grip lost.

Your call - Mileage or grip - Off road or road.

I agree......I like to push on my Tourance and they have there limits-when I replaced my last set of Tourance they were not squared off really ...I had just 1.5mm tread at centre and 3 mm at 3/4 and 3.5 at edge. Thanks to avoiding long motorway rides and twisty Surrey roads.
We are talking about getting a dual purpose tyre right? If that is the case then the Tourance IMHO is the best out there for over all grip, life and off/on road. Yes you can buy a road bias tyres that will out perform the Tourance on tarmac and yes the Conti TKC80's are better off road...
It's all about getting a happy balance- for me knowing I can ride off road to a certain degree (subject to terrain/weather) whenever I like without changing tyres wins it for me every time...that and a longer lasting tyre...

 

[Captain GSA]

Rubber Ranch...

Rubber Ranch sounds like a dodgy bar in the mind west
Where in Biggin Hill are they? I will keep that in mind when my tyres are on the way out.

Check them out...... RUBBER RANCH


The name does sound sort of ........