I'm gearing up for a long dirt ride through the outback of Australia this June. The bike is pretty much ready apart from the fitment of Mustang's excellent pegs and a set of TKCs. My question relates to the tyres.
I've run either Tourances or Anakees in the four years I've had the bike and they've been fine for the gravel work it's done.
The other day a bunch of Australian Journos took some new Yamaha Tenere 660s for a spin in the bush. They let down the knobbies that Yamaha had fitted for the day to around the 16psi mark and had some issues with tires spinning on rims and destroying tubes ( obviously no rimlocks fitted).
I've never let my tires down below 22 psi except for very short periods of slow straight line running when I've been bogged in deep sand.
However the journo's experience has got me thinking that with all Tigger's 105 horses trying to find their way onto the road surface am I at risk of spinning a tire on the rim with the extra traction on offer from the TKCs?
If anyone has had experience of this I'd be grateful if they shared it. I'd rather not fit rimlocks if I don't have to, just wanting to find out if there have been issues.
Cheers
I have used TKC-80 on the steamer for the last few years, most of the time with around 22-26 psi, doing a lot of dirt and gravel, and I have never had that problem. I think you'll be fine, just don't go much lower.
On gravel the TKC are a hell of a lot better than the other tires you mention, and on tarmac they're fine with me. I don't grind foot pegs though.
PM happyman, I know he runs TKC's
I would say that if you don't get tyre slip on roads with good grip and good tyres you're most unlikely to get it off-road where the grip is inevitably less.
Unless you drop the pressures of course.
Simple answer is to seal the spokes & convert to tubeless......
I have used TKC's off road with no problems, and on road too, but don't try pushing the boundaries if you are on road with them....
I drop the pressure to 25 front 35 rear, no rim locks, and no problems.
Cheers fellas, TKCs it is and an extra tube just in case, or maybe I'll look into sealing the rims, it is a good idea thanks Ian
Suggest you try taking the tyres off at home before you try it on the road/track - you may need to upgrade your repair kit....
The tyres are designed for tubeless, and the rims are actually tubeless rims: and the beads are bloody-near impossible to break, and to re-seal.
DAMHIK.