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A set of quick questions...

2K views 7 replies 5 participants last post by  anyexcuse 
#1 ·
I am looking into a KLR (once the weather gets better!) The tires may need to be replaced. I would want to replace them with a good 50/50 tire. All the reviews are based on new tires. What are they like after a couple of thousandish miles on them. How do they wear. How do they ride a with some rough roads behind them. Were the tires worth the money you paid for them, etc… I am still in the learning curve as I have not ridden in several years so all information is great.
 
#2 ·
I'm sure you'll get recommendations about tires, but what you're asking is extremely hard to quantify in any meaningful way: i.e. how they stand up to mileage and how long they last.

The same tire that lasts somebody 5,000 miles might only last somebody else 2,000 miles depending on temperature, load weight and probably most importantly what surfaces the tires are used on. It might last somebody else 10,000 miles.

If you want to browse a lot of opinions on tires without waiting for replies, just use this site's Search function to look for applicable threads. There are lots of them. It probably won't take you long to get tired of reading them all and is the reason most people dread or avoid tire threads. But, there's certainly a lot of information available with such a thread search.

It's not that folks' appraisals of their chosen tires aren't honest or valid, but unless you are that person, you most likely won't experience the same thing from the tire. Thus, instead of helping, most of the time the opinions just overwhelm and confuse. Same with oil threads, etc.

That being said, I trust the opinions of members on this site regarding a particular tire more than I do any "review" that is linked to a "motorcycle superstore" web site.

Good luck in your quest.
 
#3 ·
planalp's right; opinions regarding tires are as diverse as their number! And, performance, longevity, etc., depend largely on the rider.

For a KLR650 with only one set of wheels, I'd favor inexpensive Japanese 50/50 tires. Mileage? They're so cheap, who cares?

Blessed with two sets of wheels, I run a pavement-friendly tread (Continental Trail Attack) on one set, and Kenda TrakMaster II knobbies on the other. When I had but one set of wheels, Kenda K270s gave good, versatile service; YMMV!
 
#5 ·
I hear you, akalogan. There are quite a few tires out there, especially if you haven't paid any attention to the World Of Tires recently.

Me? I don't mind tire threads because I'm dedicated to the Korean-made "Stinko" 244's and am sticking with them. For the record, I use them about 70% on gravel roads and 30% on pavement to include interstate speeds. A rear tire lasts me around 5,000 miles and a front around 10K with no true degradation in performance aside from the taller lugs wearing off the rear wheel like they're supposed to and some scalloping on the front tire, but that doesn't concern me. By the time the scalloping becomes advanced, it's usually time to change the tire, anyway.

Unfortunately, I've never seen a one-source compendium of popular KLR tires that discussed their virtues and drawbacks.

Even the ratios like 50/50 or 70/30 dont mean that much, but they at least give you a starting point for general tread design.

If you're looking for a 50/50 tire, I would do a search for tires in that field and throw a couple of possible choices out here and see if anybody has any experience with them.

It's all relative. A lot of guys on here ride more "street"-oriented tires in places where I probably wouldn't venture with my "50/50" tires simply because they're better riders than I am.

If I were in your shoes, I would also lean toward a more 50/50 tire because to me a knobbed tire on the pavement is definitely less of a concern than having a slick tire in the dirt or mud. The only drawback I've ever seen from a tire of this type on the pavement is that they're louder and usually have a speed rating in the 90mph range, but the KLR won't go that fast, anyway.

Once you get your first set on and do some riding, you'll figure out what you like and don't like about that particular tire or design and can make those changes with your next set. It all depends on how much money you want to spend.

I will throw out the recommendation to try a pair of Shinko 244's as a baseline tire if you're largely going to split your riding between pavement and moderate off-roading like gravel and dirt roads and dirt single tracks. You can get a set for less than $100 so if you don't like them, you're not out much. Unless you ride way beyond your capabilities, they won't get you into any trouble either on-road or off.
 
#6 ·
When it comes to truck tires I am a total geek. But now I am learning about and planning to get a klr in the near future. It is fun to look into new things. Most of my riding in the past was dirt. So I don't want to get to far from that but I also want to be able to commute to work and not get 12 miles to the gallon (my truck has a 460). So thanks Planalp, for the input...
 
#7 ·
When I first got my KLR I found this web page quite useful when it came to looking for tires. Some of the info is dated though as the tires are no longer available and new stuff has entered the marketplace. Surprisingly I ended up buying a Kings KT966 tire on the road away from home. It was the only one in the size and it turned out to be one of the best tires I owned. No longer available.

http://www.standoutnet.com/extras/mike/motorcycles/klr650/tires/

.
 
#8 · (Edited)
I like Kenda 270's and Shinko 244's. Their cheap and work fine and it's easy to change tires on our bikes. Everybody has their opinion and they are all valid

If you are riding the newest BMW S1000 RR, or CRF450R, to their fullest potential the tires might make more difference than us folks riding our KLR's as intended. Again, my opinion. :)
 
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