Michelin SIRAC 'review' + What to get next? - .: XT660.com

uscincpac · # 1 12-08-09, 21:11

Right, my baby had Siracs fitted OEM. Advertised as 90/10 on/off.

Done 3500 hard miles so far and barely showing signs of wear.

Pretty much faultless on the road, quick up to temp and excellent in all weathers. Holds lines well through corners, predictable steering. I am finding the front was 'tracking' road imperfections slightly - white lines, tarbanding and so on, but nothing to worry about.

Off road then:

Ok on 'hard' packed trail. Skittish and unpredictable on loose gravel, not really suitable. Didnt try it on sand.

However - a warning - do not even think about anything soft. I don't even mean mud - its more like 'stay off your lawn'. I got caught out by coming off a road in the Alps and down a 15-20% dry grass incline. (Wasn't even planning anything exciting - a call of nature). Done my business but couldn't get back up. The tyre would scrub off the top dry layer of grass, find moist earth and spin like mad - no traction whatsoever. Loaded up and with full tank I tried pushing it up, and just about gave up to start unloading when a passing Italian VFR rider offered assistance...

So, avoid anything even potentially soft. However if you are happy to stay on tarmac/commute SIRACs are great.

My planned riding mix is 90% London commute / 10% week-end easy off-road fun. The off-road bit is now suspended until more suitable tyres are fitted. Given that, which should I go for next - which is better off-road? (they are both �130/pair on eBay)

Continental TKC-80

Bridgestone TrailWing302

Gas_Up_Lets_Go · # 2 13-08-09, 12:02

I've got Tourances on the Tenere, and I'd say they are pretty much the same as the Siracs on anything but firm-ish ground. Great on fire roads, gravel, rocks etc but the front washes out at the first sign of grass, mud or sand (apart from deep sand for some reason!). That doesn't mean they behave the same on an R, I can't comment on that.

I've just ordered a pair of TCK80's for the Tenere, as the Metz is down to 2mm on the back and 3 on the front, and will be verging on legal after this weekend!

The Tourance are a good tyre, and great for touring with some off-road ability - on road they are hard to fault.

I'm not sure about the Bridgestones, I had deathwings on my Varadero and they were tourture in the wet - I've never gone back to them since (other than the XJR where the road tyres seam OK)

NickW909 · # 3 13-08-09, 12:10

I've got TKC80's on at the moment and prefer then to the Tourances that came off, even in the wet.

However, if your commuting then I dont think the rear will last you very long, the front still looks like new.

I'm probably going to try Mitas E07 as I'll be 90% on road for the next few thousand miles.

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.p...dsco=110&m_s=1

Nick.

uncle ricky · # 4 14-08-09, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by uscincpac

Right, my baby had Siracs fitted OEM. Advertised as 90/10 on/off.

Done 3500 hard miles so far and barely showing signs of wear.

Pretty much faultless on the road, quick up to temp and excellent in all weathers. Holds lines well through corners, predictable steering. I am finding the front was 'tracking' road imperfections slightly - white lines, tarbanding and so on, but nothing to worry about.

Off road then:

Ok on 'hard' packed trail. Skittish and unpredictable on loose gravel, not really suitable. Didnt try it on sand.

However - a warning - do not even think about anything soft. I don't even mean mud - its more like 'stay off your lawn'. I got caught out by coming off a road in the Alps and down a 15-20% dry grass incline. (Wasn't even planning anything exciting - a call of nature). Done my business but couldn't get back up. The tyre would scrub off the top dry layer of grass, find moist earth and spin like mad - no traction whatsoever. Loaded up and with full tank I tried pushing it up, and just about gave up to start unloading when a passing Italian VFR rider offered assistance...

So, avoid anything even potentially soft. However if you are happy to stay on tarmac/commute SIRACs are great.

My planned riding mix is 90% London commute / 10% week-end easy off-road fun. The off-road bit is now suspended until more suitable tyres are fitted. Given that, which should I go for next - which is better off-road? (they are both �130/pair on eBay)

Continental TKC-80

Bridgestone TrailWing302

Should have let so air out of your rear tyre

tripletom · # 5 14-08-09, 14:23

Am I the only one who got low miles from the Siracs?! by 5000 they were toast. The rear was smooth in the centre, and the edges were chunking. The front was wearing funny on the trailing edges of the treads as well and would move about and push out in bends.
Nick, if you are doing primarily road miles like me then I can heartily recommend the Bridgestone Battlewings. Loads of grip wet or dry, I almost had the pegs down this morning

Maybe time to dig the one piece and the sliders out and go roundabout surfing on the weekend

deiaccord · # 6 14-08-09, 14:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by uscincpac

Right, my baby had Siracs fitted OEM. Advertised as 90/10 on/off.

Done 3500 hard miles so far and barely showing signs of wear.

Pretty much faultless on the road, quick up to temp and excellent in all weathers. Holds lines well through corners, predictable steering. I am finding the front was 'tracking' road imperfections slightly - white lines, tarbanding and so on, but nothing to worry about.

That pretty much matches what I found for the Sirac's in the 12k miles I had them. As they wear and square off the 'tracking' characteristic seemed to get slightly worse.

Currently on Bridestones BT-45's which are probaly better the dry (I'm not good enough to explore their limits), not as good in the wet but track much better and seem to be wearing a bit less (my Sirac's were not worn to the limit after 12k miles - still had about 3mm at the rear)

Can't really comment on off-road.

From what i've heard I'd suggest the TCK's, but as said your rear will wear pretty fast (4-6k miles) judging by what JMo got from them.

Personaly as I don't go offroad I'll be trying the Tourances next to give a full comparison with the common tyres

uscincpac · # 7 17-08-09, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle ricky

Should have let so air out of your rear tyre

Was about to do exactly that when the italian geezer helped me haul it up. Don't think it would have helped much though, the tread/profile are just not suitable for soft stuff.

Gas_Up_Lets_Go · # 8 17-08-09, 14:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keithblade

Not too good on diesel either - laugh!!!!

That might have been something to do with the rider too...

danial · # 9 22-08-09, 05:35

Try the Michelin Anakees. They are good on my GS's and DR

gregor · # 10 22-08-09, 10:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by tripletom

Am I the only one who got low miles from the Siracs?! by 5000 they were toast. The rear was smooth in the centre, and the edges were chunking. The front was wearing funny on the trailing edges of the treads as well and would move about and push out in bends.
Nick, if you are doing primarily road miles like me then I can heartily recommend the Bridgestone Battlewings. Loads of grip wet or dry, I almost had the pegs down this morning

Maybe time to dig the one piece and the sliders out and go roundabout surfing on the weekend

Not tried the Siracs but my rear tourance lasted less than 5k, I've been swapping tyres a lot for greenlaning jaunts so I have no accurate record of actual tyre life but in 10k miles I've used the following rears:

1 x Tourance
2 x MT21
1 x TKC80

and the TKC fitted at the moment is past its best.

I like the sound of these Battlewings, think I might try them next and stay on tarmac over the winter.Looks like roundandblack on ebay do them for a shade over �120 delivered which ain't bad.

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