Dirt Tires
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Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1
Dirt Tires
Hey all
I am new to the forum so be gentile!
I have been out of the dirt bike arena for a long time. Last dirt bike was a 1984 KDX250, ya i'm older than dirt
I just bought a 2009 KLX250s that will be used primarily for work. Very little road riding will be involved. Currently I map and inventory BLM routes with my Jeep, so I am off road 10 hours a day. We have areas that are motorcycle/atv use area's that will be mapped and inventoried. Some of these routes will be two track but most are single track, up in the mountains, rocky washes,old mining routes ect. I go through a set of tires every season with the Jeep. What would the best all around tire be for front and rear for the KLX. I know this is a broad question but I have not bought knobby tires for a long time and I am sure things have changed over the years. The only road riding I will be doing will be from base camp to the work area, so my focus is on dirt tires.
Thanks for any input.
I am new to the forum so be gentile!
I have been out of the dirt bike arena for a long time. Last dirt bike was a 1984 KDX250, ya i'm older than dirt
I just bought a 2009 KLX250s that will be used primarily for work. Very little road riding will be involved. Currently I map and inventory BLM routes with my Jeep, so I am off road 10 hours a day. We have areas that are motorcycle/atv use area's that will be mapped and inventoried. Some of these routes will be two track but most are single track, up in the mountains, rocky washes,old mining routes ect. I go through a set of tires every season with the Jeep. What would the best all around tire be for front and rear for the KLX. I know this is a broad question but I have not bought knobby tires for a long time and I am sure things have changed over the years. The only road riding I will be doing will be from base camp to the work area, so my focus is on dirt tires.Thanks for any input.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,050
From: Abilene, TX
1st Gear Member
I've almost quit recommending rear tires...quite a few different ones work well. You didn't mention what terrain.
I always have a recommendation for the front...Kenda Parker DT. Ideally created for desert use this tire has been amazing in every terrain I've ridden...rocks, mud, sand, good dirt.
The KLX is a little heavier than most real dirt bikes, of course, and it tends to rip side ***** on the front tire...and even the other ***** on some fronts. This tire is durable yet still provides amazing traction in most all conditions.
For the rear, I use a Kenda 760 Trakmaster tire. It is also an amazingly good tire for a wide variety of uses. The front 760, not so hot for me.
I've used a bunch of tires from Dunlop, Michelin, Metzler, and others. There are some good tires out there. I haven't found anything on the front to work as well as the Parker DT.
I always have a recommendation for the front...Kenda Parker DT. Ideally created for desert use this tire has been amazing in every terrain I've ridden...rocks, mud, sand, good dirt.
The KLX is a little heavier than most real dirt bikes, of course, and it tends to rip side ***** on the front tire...and even the other ***** on some fronts. This tire is durable yet still provides amazing traction in most all conditions.
For the rear, I use a Kenda 760 Trakmaster tire. It is also an amazingly good tire for a wide variety of uses. The front 760, not so hot for me.
I've used a bunch of tires from Dunlop, Michelin, Metzler, and others. There are some good tires out there. I haven't found anything on the front to work as well as the Parker DT.
Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 49
From: NE Ohio/Northern Michigan
1st Gear Member
The rear stock tire on my 2013 KLX lasted about 3,000 miles, 1,700 of them from a PO which I was told were mostly gravel road stuff. My 1,300 have been 70% road 30% off road.
Is this the normal life for the tires you guys are recommending? Cuz I'm in the market as well.
Is this the normal life for the tires you guys are recommending? Cuz I'm in the market as well.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 302
From: Milton Ont Canada
1st Gear Member
I ride hilly, rocky single tracks mostly, with some mud thrown in for fun.
I run a trakmaster II front and rear with a bill blues 351cc and pumper carb (so quite a bit more grunt than a stock klx).
The rear is awesome. It hooks up great in pretty well anything, wears well (pavement wears more obviously). Probably 600 miles, mostly off-road, at it looks almost new, with no lugs ripped off, and I can be hard on it.
The front......is ok... It tends to wash out more than I'd like, even with the new side lugs on the new version. Next tire will probably be something with more side bite. I find it unnerving when the front end goes unexpectantly.
But for the price, the rear is well worth it... Pay a little more and get a better front tire.
Just my 2 cents
I run a trakmaster II front and rear with a bill blues 351cc and pumper carb (so quite a bit more grunt than a stock klx).
The rear is awesome. It hooks up great in pretty well anything, wears well (pavement wears more obviously). Probably 600 miles, mostly off-road, at it looks almost new, with no lugs ripped off, and I can be hard on it.
The front......is ok... It tends to wash out more than I'd like, even with the new side lugs on the new version. Next tire will probably be something with more side bite. I find it unnerving when the front end goes unexpectantly.
But for the price, the rear is well worth it... Pay a little more and get a better front tire.
Just my 2 cents
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