When I bought my XTR I thought it would be used just as a road bike, so I stuck some new Scorpion Trails on it and all was good.

Now, a KTM EXC-owning friend has convinced me to hit some simple trails with him, so I've ordered up a set of TKC80s. I'm interested though in the reality of such tyres on a bike that is used on road too.

I know they're meant to wear quicker, and to be noisier, but really I'm interested in safety. Is the grip really that much less in normal riding? I'm not a racer - I didn't even manage to get my knee down on three trackdays!! So I'm no hooligan, but I don't know whether I should be pootling around as if I'm riding on snow, or whether the reduction of grip is insignificant if the pegs aren't scraping.

Am I turning my bike into a death trap?