It's not really a dual sport tyre, it can handle some light off-road action but if its wet or muddy then don't even think about it. I think the 'dual sport' label is more of a marketing thing. I imagine very few Distanzias actually ever go off-road. Good point about the gsxr, but you wouldn't ride that like an XT!

The shape of the tyre is just the same as a road tyre, but with a deeper tread pattern. You can't feel any vibrations or bumpiness as you would from an off-road tyre, which is what I think you may be imagining.

They warm up quick, stick to the road, are fantastic in the wet (even on white lines etc). I have never had any sort of slip or felt like the bike was about to go, and that is with some hard riding and lean angles even in very heavy rain. See what other members have had to say, and you can get an idea of tyre life etc:

http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?...ght=what+tyres

I have no hidden agenda about recommending them, I just like them and felt more confident than with the standard tyre.

The important thing is for you to get some tyres and get riding! :thumbsup[1]:

Harry

I've got them on my DRZ (on the big wheels)and find them to be a good tyre but have got Pirelli Supercorsas on the 17" SM wheels I've got. I do like round about surfing on the XT and getting my knee down so for more normal restrained riding I expect the Distanzias would be ok on the XT. I may try a set to finally put my mind at rest.

If you do get a set let us know how they compare to the Supercorsas! And if you don't like the Distanzias then let me know, I would be interested in purchasing part worns.

I had a set of Metzeler Tourance EXP on my Bmw F650, which I soldtrhis week to make space for the xtx i'm collecting tomorrow :P

with those tires and wp suspension I used to run circles around sport bikes in the twisties

Surely the whole point of supermoto rims is that you can fit any street/sports-bike tyres you like (up to about 160 on the rear because of the swingarm of course)?

What do other track-day monkeys use? Anything sporty from Pirelli, Michelin etc ought to work (I heard good things about Michelin Pilot Powers for example)...

That said, I can see how a pure sportbike tyre might not be ideally suited to a supermoto bike - if you consider the respective weight of the machines (sportsbikes tend to be a bit heavier); the position of the rider in relation to the bike/wheels/centre of gravity (you as a rider make up a significant proportion of the all up weight); and not least the steering angle rake/trail and other geometry issues which may all have an effect on how a tyre 'feels' on a particular bike...

If you are looking for ultimate grip, I'd fit whatever [road legal] tyre the supermoto racers use?

Jx

If we're talking proper supermotos, then yes. However I would have thought an XTX is in the same ballpark as most sportsbikes

There's always these...

http://www.aaa-racing.com/home.php?cat=87

Nice. Are they really road legal?

I agree an XTX is the lardy end of the supermoto spectrum - similar to a sports 600 as you say... which is why I mentioned where that weight is carried in relation to the centre of gravity probably has a significant effect too... tyres eh? love em!

Jx

Amazingly yes. A mate of mine who had a 525EXC 'moto used to swear by the combination of a cut slick rear and intermediate front.


Ahh yes, tyres, the only ever correct answer being "suck it and see".

That said, I'm amazed to see people suggesting Supercorsas in a thread titled "road-only tyres". I have actually run them as a road tyre, but that was:

a) on my ZXR400, which got trackdayed a lot, and

b) because I bought them as race scrubs from a mate at work for �40 a pair and would then get another 2500 miles out of them.

Actually, (b) is the main reason :D. Have you seen how much SCs cost new? :incon_aargh[1]:

That said, they weren't as horrific a road tyre as the D209GPs I had on it. They were quite nice on track, but I set off to go to work one cold, wet morning and at three successive corners had the front slide, then the rear, then a nice two wheel drift. Then spun up the rear through three gears pulling off a roundabout - and it's not as if a ZXR is a torque monster :D

If you think you can ride an XTX hard enough on the road to need something like Supercorsas over mere 'sport touring' tyres, then I might respectfully submit that you have fallen for marketing hype. Or you are an utter nutbar, like my friend with the KTM above :D

I was very skeptical about the distanzias and they felt weird after the original tyres, which lasted about 800 miles!! Now though, I love the distanzias, fantastic tyres. The fronts do wear out quick tho'. Apparently the pro extreme wet lasts better?? Fran do you still stand by this?

I've used supercorsas for a couple of thousand miles and absolutely fine. Ok in the wet as well.