Tyre question

[funkman]

My newly acquired XRV is fitted with a Michelin Anakee at the front and Bridgstone Trail Wing 152 on the back. They both have plenty of tread left but I found them very sensitive to the road surfaces, especialy here in the Highlands of scotland you do encounter some gravel and mud and bad road surfaces. Also to ride to my house I need to go through about 2 miles of gravel road.
With current tyres the bike seems very twitchy as soon as the surface become anything other then a smooth tarmac.
I am tempted to go for Metzeler Enduro 1, but are they ok on the normal tarmac? How does it behave at steep leaning angles round the corners.
What would you guys recommend if not Enduro 1?

P.S. Just been to the Metzeler site and they suggest Tourance or MCE Karoo?

[Maverick]

Funkman,

I had bridgestone trail wings on for the last 13k and lasted a long time. They are a bit twitchy in the wet although not much but also expierenced some hairy movement in gravel when going through some country lanes.

Subsequently fitted the TKC80's and very happy with them. They took a few miles to get used to as your steering becomes very direct and it feels like it falls into corners. Nearly done 700 miles on them now in rain and dry so far no problems and no slips even in some country lanes with lose gravel. I followed my mate on his 1200GS on Sunday for a while and was on his tail in the turns no problems.

Unfortenately have not had the pleasure trying out the other tyres you interested but can recommend the TKC80's. The average seem to be between 3500-6000k on a rear and double that on the front. So you looking at 2 rears and one front over 12k miles and at about £170 for the three tyres not to bad in comparison with trailwings.

[icenian]

For a contrast, I have Metzler Tourances, which are called dual purpose but are really just chunky road tyres. General feedback seems to be that they are similar to Michelin Anakees, probably a little better (YMMV!) than Bridgestone Trailwings, far superior to the OE Michelins.

These seem fine on bumpy, muddy, gravel strewn back roads - around Edinburgh and the Borders I think the roads are just as bad or worse as any I've come across in the UK. I know a few roads that have lost nearly all the tarmac over short stretches. Also perfectly fine on the farm track my house is on. Though these are bumpy and loose surfaces, they are not soft.

I suspect that narrow tyres, 21" front wheel and compliant suspension count for far more than tyre tread on the roads I ride? I wouldn't dare venture onto anything even faintly squidgy on the Tourances; I nearly got stuck on my lawn (maybe better described as a small field) in the snow.

I think I'll get a good 50% more mileage that people are reporting for TKC80s though. That's a good reason to stick to Tourance (or Anakee) if you're staying out of deep mud, sand or snow?

[usatic]

I've managed to get 28,636Km on the original Trailwings delivered on my 2000. I suspect I need a new set since the tread depth at the tire's centerline is at ~0.1 inch for both the front and rear.

I've been extremely satisfied with the performance and life I've received from this set and will probably replace them with another set of Trailwings.

80% of my driving has been on tarmac. When a majority of teh ride I'll be on will be off-road for a good deal of the time, I'll drop the pressure to between 25-30 PSI from the 40 PSI I try and maintain them at.

Maintaining the correct tire pressure is the key to optimum tire life IMO.

[icenian]

I've managed to get 28,636Km on the original Trailwings [at] 40 PSI

40 psi

Maybe this is one of those strange colonial things like your small pints, but if not you must have grown up watching too much Dukes of Hazard and you think it's normal to go completely sideways in every bend

[Dilbert]

I had over inflated tyres on mine when I got it, handles much better now they're both down to 29psi, if your tyres are wearing more in the centre this is a classic sign of over inflation, can't imagine why anyone would need to run at over 32psi (maybe a bit higher in the back if you've got a pillion)?

[funkman]

So I understand that no-one realy tried any semi-off road tyres?
Where do the poll results come from then?
I think I'm going to go for Metzeler MCE Karoo if someone localy can supply them.

[icenian]

So I understand that no-one realy tried any semi-off road tyres?
Where do the poll results come from then?

there are lots of threads recommending TKC80s - try the search (menu at top of screen), you'll find threads like this

[mal]

Are trailwings the same tyres i sometimes see here referred to as deathwings due to there lack of grip in the wet, my @ is fitted with Pirelli mt80's which i find really good.

[Maverick]

Are trailwings the same tyres i sometimes see here referred to as deathwings due to there lack of grip in the wet, my @ is fitted with Pirelli mt80's which i find really good.

Correct, they could be one and the same tyre In all fairness I never had it leave the road under me in 14k worth of miles.