Tire choices

[dgunther]

This summer, I think I want to do a little bit of exploring and hit some forest service roads and stuff up in GA/TN/NC. I'm thinking about going with some Avon Distanzias - they seem like a good mix of street/light dirt duty.

I also commute frequently on my Baggi and have a bit of a hike to and from the twisties, so I need something that is going to hold up for some boring pavement miles.

So, is anybody else running Distanzias? How do you like them? FWIW, the stock MT60s were OK for me - I didn't bother changing them before they were toast, but only lasted one "fun" weekend and a few weeks of commuting.

[phlat65]

I can get 3,000 miles out of the MT60's, the Distanzas lasted about 1500 on the rear. any tire will do ok on simple dirt roads, don't worry too much about getting the best off road tire. Remember, SM racers use cut slicks. I did about 75 miles off road with my current tire (Pirelli Dragon Supercorsa) and even rode in the snow. I found myself doing 45-50 on dirt roads very comfortably. sure a dirt tire would have been better, but for graded roads, they worked very well. It just can't be wet!!

[keithcross]

I have found the oposite to Phlat, about 2000 miles out of a rear MT60 and 3500 out of a rear Distanza. Ran a front Distanza for a while and didnt really like it. It didnt give much confidence on the tarmac. I still run teh Distanza rear but with an Avon Pro-extreme Rain on teh front. Totally different tyre, loads of grip and really gives confidence whatever the weather. The cobination works quite weeel on easier off road stuff to. Wear rate on teh Avon rain is about 6-7000 miles. Not sure what the front Distanza would do as I took it off after about 500 miles and put it in the back of the garage.

Keith

[roge-a-billy]

IF you are going to ride hard supermoto style on the road then its got to be Maxxis road legal cut slicks. No good for any type of distance work, and may be unstable at high speeds (85+ mph), but in a word WOW

[keithcross]

I like the look of these myself. Wicked design, wonder how long they last.

Keith

[DAVID THOMPSON]

i have road a lot in winter and IMHO wet mud on a country road
is slicker than ice on a paved road i road winters from 1972 to 1980
as i had no car and the work location was 1 mile up a dirt road what a mess!!

[roge-a-billy]

2500 miles average, this is from Grays Bikes (Husaburg in Herts) who have just opened up near me. Expensive but as fitted to a day off/ weekend toy they would just about last a year. No good for your all year use Kieth. Have got track day booked for 17/6/06 will report later.

[keithcross]

2500 miles average, this is from Grays Bikes (Husaburg in Herts) who have just opened up near me. Expensive but as fitted to a day off/ weekend toy they would just about last a year. No good for your all year use Kieth. Have got track day booked for 17/6/06 will report later.

How much you paying for them?

Keith

[roge-a-billy]

180 unfitted 200ish on bike, I felt as though i had swallowed somthing hard and jagged as i handed over the cash . Triple A racing are the main dealer so you might be able to save by cutting out the middle man

[keithcross]

180 unfitted 200ish on bike, I felt as though i had swallowed somthing hard and jagged as i handed over the cash . Triple A racing are the main dealer so you might be able to save by cutting out the middle man

Feck me, proper race tyres arnt that much. Dunlop slicks are about £150-160 ish If I decide I want cut slicks on my bike I will do what a Husky owner about 3 miles from me does. He runs proper cut slicks on the road, but says they get a bit skittish on the Basingstke ring road in the wet

Keith

[roge-a-billy]

these tyres do have the magic letter E stamped on the side so are road legal so no MOT / Police problems. still say worth it, though will go Triple A next time and fit myself in the bike club on the base were i work. Needed tyres for next day this time, and "enthusiastic" riding had left a line of white canvas showing on the old rear