Although I have an XTR, it seems the majority of you have Teneres..so, I am looking at some tyres that will cope with mud and loose gravel/rock as well, while being ok on the road.

Choices I have been looking at are:

Continental TKC80
Pirelli MT21
Dunlop 606

Has anyone tried all three? I would be interested to hear feedback from anyone who has tried two out of the three choices.

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2008 XTR Mods : DNA Stage 3 Airbox, PC111, Carbon Cans Ovals, Steve Ruth built XTR734cc Big Bore with - High Desert Dyno (HDD)/ Cuervo Racing Gas Flowed / Ported Head fitted with +1mm Valves & uprated Springs, HDD 5050 Camshaft, HDD +3mm Throttle Body, CP 105.5mm 11:1 Piston, Custom Mapping, Piasini ECU, Renthal 613-01, Barkbusters VPS, Pivot Pegz, Touratech Bashplate, Foam Grips, Kev's O2 Sensor Mod, Kev's Extra Coolant Cooler, Wilbers Progressive Fork Springs and Rear Shock

No experience of any of the above, mostly because I get on so well with the Mitas E-09s that I've had three pairs now and not felt the need to try anything else .



Cheaper than TKCs, good enough road manners for me to run them all the time. Easily lasted the run down to Spain and back with the HUMM in the middle.

They will still get a bit clogged up if you ride on wet clay...



...but you need a proper enduro tyre to avoid that, which would be horrible on the road. They shed normal mud fine.

TBH though, you need to just bite the bullet and buy a set of something. Everyone has their own taste in tyres.

__________________
I spent a lot of money on travel and racing motorcycles - the rest I just squandered.

XT660Z - Commuter, Adventurer...Racer?

www.dashmoto.net

Other bikes >> MT-03 / CG125BR-J / ER-6F
Departed >> ZXR400L3 / EC300 / DR-Z400E / DR800S / GPZ500S / GS400

Hi Rich.
I have used Conti TKC's and Pirelli MT21's.

When I got my XTZ last April I fitted a set of TKC's...a great all round tyre and fine off road on anything but wet grass and mud.

When we had the Plain ride-out I had then fitted a MT21 on the front but had left the TKC on the rear as I thought it would last longer,but by 2,500 miles the rear was over half worn, so I fitted the MT21 I had,and that is how it is today.Mind you....if I did not allready have the MT21 then I think I would have run with the TKC for another thousand miles and then fitted another.

So my choice-
Pirelli MT21 on the front (for more off road grip when wet and will last for ages).
Conti TKC on the rear (wet off road grip not so much an issue on the rear and more miles on the road).

BTW...on my XTR,all I ever used were the Pirelli's.

Cheers,
Andy.

thanks Andy...yes the Dunlop 606 and Pirelli MT21 look more "offroad" on the front , in that the blocks are wider apart.

__________________
2008 XTR Mods : DNA Stage 3 Airbox, PC111, Carbon Cans Ovals, Steve Ruth built XTR734cc Big Bore with - High Desert Dyno (HDD)/ Cuervo Racing Gas Flowed / Ported Head fitted with +1mm Valves & uprated Springs, HDD 5050 Camshaft, HDD +3mm Throttle Body, CP 105.5mm 11:1 Piston, Custom Mapping, Piasini ECU, Renthal 613-01, Barkbusters VPS, Pivot Pegz, Touratech Bashplate, Foam Grips, Kev's O2 Sensor Mod, Kev's Extra Coolant Cooler, Wilbers Progressive Fork Springs and Rear Shock

I think there is a thread where Jenny talks about tyres,and from what I remember,she prefered the Conti's over the Pirelli when riding in the states.
I will say though,I found the MT21's great on my XTR.

I haven't used any of the other tyres on your list, but settled on a combination of MT21 in front and Karoo in the back.

And since I have my manual tyre changing machine I'm thinking of switching back and forth between these and a set of TrailWings or something for the longer tarmac trips (5000km tarmac trip planned for this summer)

will the MT21 shorten my braking distance offroad too, Andy?

__________________
2008 XTR Mods : DNA Stage 3 Airbox, PC111, Carbon Cans Ovals, Steve Ruth built XTR734cc Big Bore with - High Desert Dyno (HDD)/ Cuervo Racing Gas Flowed / Ported Head fitted with +1mm Valves & uprated Springs, HDD 5050 Camshaft, HDD +3mm Throttle Body, CP 105.5mm 11:1 Piston, Custom Mapping, Piasini ECU, Renthal 613-01, Barkbusters VPS, Pivot Pegz, Touratech Bashplate, Foam Grips, Kev's O2 Sensor Mod, Kev's Extra Coolant Cooler, Wilbers Progressive Fork Springs and Rear Shock

I think a bit less right hand might help.

BTW...are you up for another Jolly when it warms up a bit.

I am, but only if Richard promises to take the advice above

__________________
I spent a lot of money on travel and racing motorcycles - the rest I just squandered.

XT660Z - Commuter, Adventurer...Racer?

www.dashmoto.net

Other bikes >> MT-03 / CG125BR-J / ER-6F
Departed >> ZXR400L3 / EC300 / DR-Z400E / DR800S / GPZ500S / GS400

of course! Andy....I have lessons with Patsy meantime, so hopefully we will see less damage claims at the end of the day's ride.

And I am coming on the SuperTenere weekend at Salisbury, sometime in early May too....I know you're on that one....


Here's to lots more fun and laughter in 2011!

__________________
2008 XTR Mods : DNA Stage 3 Airbox, PC111, Carbon Cans Ovals, Steve Ruth built XTR734cc Big Bore with - High Desert Dyno (HDD)/ Cuervo Racing Gas Flowed / Ported Head fitted with +1mm Valves & uprated Springs, HDD 5050 Camshaft, HDD +3mm Throttle Body, CP 105.5mm 11:1 Piston, Custom Mapping, Piasini ECU, Renthal 613-01, Barkbusters VPS, Pivot Pegz, Touratech Bashplate, Foam Grips, Kev's O2 Sensor Mod, Kev's Extra Coolant Cooler, Wilbers Progressive Fork Springs and Rear Shock