Tkc Tires

[multiplu]

how quick do these things wear out,please tell us of your experience with these tires.

[Beemer]

Hi,

My experience based on two bikes, Honda AfricaTwin and GS 1200, with a mix of 60% tarmac, 40% gravel, light load in average and easy throttle; 6 000 km rear, 12 000 km front.

Cheers,

Beemer

[kook]

When i was running TKC's, i would generally get around 9,000 miles out of the front. On the rear, it would be between 3-4k depending how hard i was running. 4k would be about the max for me on the rear.

I love running TKC's front and rear, they stick like glue. I remember the first time i scraped pegs, i was running TKC's. The down side is the cost of replacing a rear every 3-4k miles.

kook

[DavidPetersen]

Normally I run Metzler Tourances, which are widely regarded as the acme of dual purpose tires, with good highway performance and acceptable off road traction.

That being said, I can't tell you how many times I've said to myself, "I sure wish I was running knobbies (TKC80s) right now."

On those occasions that I've been running the TKC80s, there's never been a time when I've said to myself, "I sure wish I had the Tourances right now."

Quite frankly the main reason I run Tourances has nothing to do with tire performance, or tire mileage, or even the cost. It has to do with the desires of SWMBO.... She likes the comfortable ride of the Tourances, but complains about the noise and slighly bumpy ride of the TKC's.

TKC80's rock. Forget the short life span and learn to change your own tires, then for a little over $100 you can mount a fresh rear tire every 3000 miles.

[sqd8r]

My mileage runs in about the same as the aforementioned. What I like about TKC80's is that while they lose the best of their dirt ability early on, as any tire will, they still provide a nice ride overall. Only when slowing and starting do you really notice them. Otherwise they ride like regular road tires.

Dale

[papawheelie]

I put about 400 hard miles on my new rear tkc's. Wow, it looks about half warn. I rode the pine barrens in NJ and a couple of hard highway runs. 80mph plus.
Lots of roosting and hard asphalt runs under full power. They perform amazing. I had them at 110+mph and still feel stable. I love this tire. Let them heat up, real slick when cold. I will never get more than 1500 miles on the rear tire. My tourances will go back on asap. I will use the conti's for offroad and rally days only.

[WOJO]

Just mounted up a new set of TKC-80's, what air pressure do you guys run in them when off-roading?????????

When I'm on pave, I run approx. 35-front, 39-rear... in my Tourance's
I usually carry a lot of stuff, that's why I run a little more pressure.

Wojo

[StuWG]

WOJO,

I run mine at 20 front and back when off-road, maybe a little lower if it's muddy.

[WOJO]

Got a chance to try out the new TKC's, I did some dirt, gravel and fire roads to scuff them up. Didn't get a chance to read Stu's post about the air pressure before I departed so I ran them a little harder but even with the tires being hard they felt great. (Stu, thanks for the info, much appreciated!!!!!!!!!!) I then hit the tarmac, they felt almost as good as my Tourances.

You guys are right, they're a good all around tire, I especially like the extra traction when off road, gives me an feeling of security.

Wojo

[DavidPetersen]

Check the sidewall for the Manufacturer's Recommendations - they specify a maximum load rating at 35 PSI, if I recall. That doesn't mean you MUST run them at 35.

If you run higher pressures you'll not really contribute to the tire load capacity, but you will wear out the center of the tread on highway surfaces, and you'll have poor handling off road because the tire won't conform to the dirt and gravel.

I like to run 31/33 two-up on pavement, and 26/28 two-up on dirt or gravel. Dropping those extra 5 PSI makes a huge difference in how the bike handles off road. If I have a stretch of highway less than 20 miles long, I leave the tires at the lower pressure and keep my speed down to 60, that way I'm not airing-up-airing-down several times a day.


FYI - Tourance and tires generally have a higher maximum load PSI rating.