Tires for modern KTM

[skiracer]

I need to change both tires on my KTM 200 EXC.  I currently have a Kenda Millville on the rear, and a Dunlop on the front.  Any suggestions, comments on what is working best in the New England woods with rocks, roots, mud, and a little dirt, etc?  

I am either thinking of:
  another set of Kenda Millvilles  (110/100 18, and 80/100 21)
  Maxxis  SI M7311 front with a SI M7312 for the rear
  Michelin S12 XC series for the rear and rear

Thanks, James

[brian kirby]

DO NOT buy Maxxis, the only people I know that like Maxxis tires are getting paid by them. Kenda Millvilles are OK, but only in soft and I've had problems with getting flats with the soft sidewalls. Michelin S12 XCs are fantastic in soft, but only in soft, the knobs roll over and squirm around in anything moderately firm and I get half a day of riding out of them in anything hard. I currently have a set of S12 XCs on my YZ125 because that is what was on it when I got it, I'm not going to replace them with more S12s. If you want the best all around tire get Pirelli MT16s, they last and are very flat resistant, I swear by them and use them on both vintage and modern bikes. My second choice would be Pirelli XCMS (used to be the MT44 front and MT32 rear).

Brian

'72 Berkshire

[Dave Withrow]

Brian's right on about the Pirellis.  None better.  I keep hearing talk about running trials tires and would like some input on how they stand up in a hare scramble or enduro?

[chicagojerry]

hey brian. i disagree on the maxxis tires. though your tire choices are great, maxxis tires have served me very well with both traction and longevity.tho they are a pain to mount they do have very strong sidewall strength. about a year back mxa magazine actually rated them very highly. and many of the gncc guys run them, like fred andrews race team, and paid to run them or not, IMHO,they wouldn't use them if they didn't work.  chi jer

[brian kirby]

They did work well on your 250 I rode at Marion this year, it could be the ones I tried (on other people's bikes) were the wrong tires for the type of dirt I was riding in. I've mounted them for other people and they do have very stiff side walls which makes them hard to mount, but I would guess that makes them very flat resistant too.

Brian

'72 Berkshire

[David Laite]

Any Metzler ratings? Just curious as these were o.e.m. on several earlier Penton/KTM's. I have been running Dunlops on my YZ, D952 in the rear D745 front and they wear and hook up well. I do like the slightly harder compound in the rear which increases your ability to slide the bike, but then the YZ does has some unfavorable habits. Same goes with my CRF with the exception that the Honda goes where you pretty much point it.

A lot of guys over in the NEDR forum are liking the MS3 Starcross for performance and wear and they are quite reasonably priced.

1973 Penton Jackpiner
1982 Yamaha XT200
1982 Yamaha XJ650J Maxim
1987 Yamaha YZ490
2005 Honda CRF450R

[brian kirby]

Metzler is owned by Pirelli now and they are made on the same assembly line in Brazil, might as well buy the Pirellis.

Brian

'72 Berkshire

[Britt Boyette]

I bought a set of Metzeler MC4's and they are very nice tires. They even weigh less than my Dunlop 756's that I have. I still like the 756's as an all around tire and you can still buy a set for under $100 shipped from Rocky MT ATV.
http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/productDetail.do?&navType=type&brandId=77&webTypeId=139&navTitle=Tires+and+Wheels&webCatId=8&prodFamilyId=4407

Britt Boyette
1976 125 MC5
1975 250 HS

[skiracer]

quote:Originally posted by chicagojerry

hey brian. i disagree on the maxxis tires. though your tire choices are great, maxxis tires have served me very well with both traction and longevity.tho they are a pain to mount they do have very strong sidewall strength. about a year back mxa magazine actually rated them very highly. and many of the gncc guys run them, like fred andrews race team, and paid to run them or not, IMHO,they wouldn't use them if they didn't work.  chi jer

So Jerry, what kind of dirt are you riding on? Would they be suitable for the soft dirt, rocks with roots that we have here in the Northeast enduros?  Thanks for your input, James

[Jeff D]

I have a trials tire on the back of my '00 400EXC and it performs quite well.  Really slick clay might give it a fit, but for the type of riding I do it works well in all conditions.  Oh, you do give up some cornering traction in grass tracks, but for the guy who's not trophy hungry they are fine.

Jeff DeBell

[chicagojerry]

hi james. i think the model that i use is the s-21. i'll have to look for sure. i live in ohio so the dirt here should be the same as you are describing. they are a good all around tire that seem to work well on most types of terrain, moderately priced and hold up well. one of the guys that rides my bikes has a tire deal with maxxis so he throws me some from time to time but when i buy tires, they are what i buy.
chi jer

[wfopete]

I think based on your riding conditions, you should give a trials tyre a shot.  Yes, there are times where they come up a little short like grass track and sticky, gooey, wet clay but how many knobby work well in that? You might ask yourself: What is worse, slowing down a notch on a grass track or sucking your lungs out from being stuck on a hill after your 5th attempt?

When it comes to wet muddy rocks, roots and hills a trials tyre shines. It's kinda like the feeling riders get after riding a Rekluse clutch bike on technical hills: You feel like your're cheating a little. Just remember to run H/D tubes and a low T/P  for best performance (like 10 psi as a MAXIMUM). Oh yeah, expect to get at least 5X the tread life compared to a standered knobby tyre.

Where I live/ride in Arkansas I have many riding buddies that, after going with a trials tyre won't go back to a knobby.

Pete Petrick
175 Jackpiner
Slow but Good

[Dennis Jones]

Trials Tires ?

Are you guys that are using them using the soft sticky radials that actual trials riders use like the Michelin Comps or are you using something else?

I need a new tire on my 05 400 EXC and have a new Michelin in the rack.
Thanks

Dennis Jones

[Rain Man]

James, I've been running Perelli MT16 on the rear and a MT19 on the front for years up here in the Northeast.  Many guys in the Netra circut run theses in the New England Woods. Dont use the MT 16 on the front, they follow roots and down branches and cause your front end to be a bid greasy at times.
 I installed a set of Maxxis mid summer, b/c  they had a lower profile rear and dropped my seat height an inch.  They work real good on cliffs and rocky areas, and seem to hold up as well as the Perelli. I'm running an 07  Katoom XCW 200 also.

Raymond
 Down East Pentons

[Kip Kern]

Dennis  I ran a rear Michelin Trials on my 200 KTM and loved it.  It won't corner worth a darn for MX or high speed braking is bad in tall grass but if you want to go through the woods quickly, it is great!  Traction city:D