I'm sure this has been discussed before... but what is everyone's opinion on the best dual purpose tires?

I have had my KLX 250S for about a month now and have put about 250 street miles on it. I feel the tires performed well on the street, but today was the first time I took the bike off road and was not happy with the stock tires for off road. The trails were soft and wet and the bike was sliding all over the place, the stock tires just wouldn't "hook up" when you needed them to.

I plan on riding 50/50 (on road and off) and was wondering if there was a better option?

 

I have the dunlop D606 and I'm very happy with it. Paid $77 including shipping from dennis kirk. I had a problem getting to 70 mph with this tire so I changed the front sprocket to a 13 tooth. This tire is taller than stock but not by that much. I've only had the tire off roading once, and it worked great for me. Expect alot of different answers to your question. There is no one tire that's the best. It's going to be what's best for you!

 

Maybe the 606 would be liked better in non-desert terrain...I didn't care for it on the rear in the desert. Carcass is a bit stiff, and it doesn't really bite well in slippery rocks. Mostly because of the softer carcass, I just put a Kenda 270 on the rear, and I'm not thrilled with it, either, although it is better for me than the 606. Probably should have put on a Pirelli Trials 43...it has a wider footprint than the Kenda, and is at least as soft, if not softer carcass.

DOT Trials tires are gaining a lot of believers in desert riding. It depends upon what bike and what terrain you are riding. My KLR650 does GREAT with Kenda 270's front and rear. I prefer something like the Geomax 71 on the front of my KLX. The heavier-front-end KLR bites very well with the less aggressive edges, but, the KLX needs that aggressive edge to bite and track well.

One thing is for certain, your choice will be a compromise.

 

Kenda Trackmasters K760.

 

Michelin AC10.

They are a compromise on the road but I find them excellent in all offroad types and great durability for such a aggressive nobby. Dot and reversible.

 

Pirelli MX eXtra 110/100-18 on the back (non DOT,) holds 100kmh on the road at 28 psi no sweat. Works fantastic in mixed terrain at 14 psi (rimlock,) and drives great in sand at 8 psi.

Pirelli XCMS 80/100-21 on the front (DOT,) as above, no worries in the corners at 100kmh with 28 psi, in fact fine on the bitumen in corners at 14 psi (rimlock.) Great bite on mixed terrain at 14 psi, and again in sand at 8 psi (rimlock.)

All in the dry of course, I live in Western Australia.

5 out of the top 10 finishers were running this combo in the 2011 Finke desert race, (larger rear tyre of course,) and I'm stoked with the performance on our unique AUS terrain. I've stocked the garage and have 3 rears and 2 fronts waiting to be shredded over the next 18 months or so.

Pinned in fifth, pushing 150kmh. *****.
http://youtu.be/v-yIyybWiKU

2011 DVD Intro Clip - Tattersall's Finke Desert Race - YouTube

Highlights Package - 2011 Tattersall's Finke Desert Race (SSTV) - YouTube

 

WOW! That was some jump for a dual-sport suspended bike!

 

AC10's have my vote. They are a compromise on the road but hook up well off road

 

you spoke of mud. ill assume your not in the dry/sand/desert. i run in the northeast in the coal mountains which cover pretty much every type of terrain you can encounter. from fine coal silt to wet rocks to loosely packed woods dirt to shaded spring covered clay mud trails. trakmasters tear **** up in the loose stuff and mud but i had one or two scary situations occur power on (hard) from a stop turning onto blacktop from dirt. D606's are the best all around tire i have ran. they dont quite have the aggressive edge bite the traks have but they never caused an adrenaline bloodstream dump either.

unless your running competitions with your machine the D606 or the Trakmaster is what id recommend. if your not worried about blacktop and you enjoy power on slides (what i refer to as being "slideways") with 100% confidence run the Trak's. if this isnt you, D606 is your tire.

Loose coal pile with the D606: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx-yROzh5MA

*edit: removed comment about the ac10.. after googling an image im definitely not right on the tire i described... the ac10 doesnt look to bad though. but i do not have any personal experience with it. also.. forgot to mention wear.. dunlop d606 gave me 2000 miles.. traks are good for 1000 miles.

 

WestOZ, although we live in the same state I can't remember the last time I rode in dusty dry conditions. This winter has been so wet, even for you guys in the city hey.

Great video. I'm looking forward to helping a mate out this year at the Finke.