I got a set of K60 Scouts that are going to be installed on July 2nd. I have read a lot about them and they sound really good for being a 50/50 though I would like to hear more about everyone's experience with them on the streets and how well they handle.

I've been using the K60's for over 110k miles now...not the same tires! I get approximately 18k miles per set. I do mostly asphalt riding, with dirt now and then. I love the tires. I ride year round, and have no issues with rain. Great high mileage tires...

~Kam

 

Thank you for the reply! High mileage is really nice to hear.
How do they handle in hairpins and switchbacks? All of my previous road bikes I always put sticky super sport tires on so I could corner deep and fast. I am sure these won't give me the same performance and I am interested in the limits that people have experienced with them.

 

I don't have first hand experience with K60s but have read lots of reviews. Consistent trend seems to be occasional complaints of wet weather grip with lots of positives on wear/longevity. It makes sense as a harder compound will struggle to grip well. Some are not a fan of the center strip off pavement, but again that is what gets it the huge miles.

For a 50/50 with life better than knobbies, it is either the K60s or the Mitas E-07/E-07+. I like the E-07+ as the big blocks grip well but still won't match a 80/20 or 90/10 if you are pushing it hard in the corners.

 

Somehow Ive been very happy with the Shinkos I have used. Been through 4 rears and 2 fronts. My buddies make fun of it being a cheap tire though!

 

I’m also in the market for a set of tires here fairly soon, it’s between the k60s, and the Dunlop trailmax mission

 

I have had three sets of K60s. Always got 18k in front and 11 to 13k on back. handle well but do not be overly aggressive on wet asphalt. The rear end can drift at times. Also, the front tire has a tendency to wash out in deeper sand/gravel. The first time it happens it can really make you pucker. Never stopped me from loving them, just have to know it could happen and be ready to react. I really like them especially over the Mitas.

 

Thats good to know. As of right now I am still running the stock tires. They are 90/10s from what I can tell. They like to fishtail off road a lot. New tires are supposed to be put on both my bikes over the next 3 weeks. Just waiting on the shop.

 

Loving my K60s! They run great on road though they are much louder than the road tires. I am now using Phoneplugs to block out the excess sound. I have been able to make high speed turns in the canyons without any noticeable traction loss. They preform great off-road as well. I am 100% happy this these tires. Thanks for everyones input. 😁

 

Go with the K60s. They are a lil pricey but worth it.
great all around traction & good mileage wear!!

 

i think K60’s are the Swiss Army knife of bike tires. They can do it all and last forever.
Yes, the front can howl like a banshee on some surfaces. Yes, the front washes out horribly at the first site of mud and they don’t like tar snakes.
They’re good on the highway, wet or dry. Good, not great. They’re good, not great off road. But they last.
I wouldn’t use the Swiss Army knife to carve a roast or skin a deer, but I could.

 

Update!

Wanted to give everyone any extra info I can to help them decide if they are looking at the K60s. I like them and am going to buy them again.

I have put a little over 8,000 miles on these tires and only need to replace the rear. Its been great! Mostly been highway riding as you can see the center is worn out on the rear though the front still looks great! It might actually last 3 rear tires. I also burned the rear tire a bit practicing coming off the center stand. Left a lot of rubber behind each time. Still learning. Mostly I take it off the center stand by hand instead of riding off of it.

Rear

Front

 

Update!

Wanted to give everyone any extra info I can to help them decide if they are looking at the K60s. I like them and am going to buy them again.

I have put a little over 8,000 miles on these tires and only need to replace the rear. Its been great! Mostly been highway riding as you can see the center is worn out on the rear though the front still looks great! It might actually last 3 rear tires. I also burned the rear tire a bit practicing coming off the center stand. Left a lot of rubber behind each time. Still learning. Mostly I take it off the center stand by hand instead of riding off of it.

Rear
View attachment 36674

Front
View attachment 36675

Thanks for the update. I have a set of K60s waiting in my basement for a trip to Alaska, where I hope one set will last the entire 9000+ miles it will take to get there and back.

But what exactly are doing with your center stand that leaves a lot of rubber behind?

 

Update: I replaced my rear tire at about 9,000 miles and it was almost completely smooth in the center. I still have the front one on and I am almost at 17,000 miles with it. I need to replace it because the way it has warn down gives me a speed wabble at lower speeds if I ride hands free. No problems at higher speeds though. I'll likely put another 1-2,000 miles on it before replacing it. I will update with photos and miles when I finally replace the front.

I really have been enjoying the K60s. The best part about the front tire lasting as long as it has, you only need one spare rear K60 for your 8k+ trips.

 

I just did a trip from Oregon to Alaska, 6200 miles on a set of k Thank you 60s I did the Alcan, Dalton Highway, and top of the world Highway no issues whatsoever and I still have quite a bit of tread when I got back to Oregon the other day. Rain,, mud, calcium chloride, dust, sharp gravel. chopped up crappy pavement, and two forest fires, the Dalton Highway up and back, which is nothing but rocks and sharp crap., top of the world Highway and all the way back to Oregon with an issue This is my second set of K 60s and I will be buying a third of eventually. They can be allowed, but above 50 miles an hour they get silent. I had a 1250 GSA and they were great. my buddy had them on a triumph explorer and he has more tread than me because they’re taller tires. Highly recommended, the extra price is worth it.

 

Update for K60 Rangers.

I decided to buy the K60 Rangers as a winter tire because of its softer compound. With nearly 300 screw in studs installed, I was ready for winter

I can honestly say I was please with the results. I had to be sure each and every stud was no taller than 3/32 of an inch above the surface of the rubber. The whole process took me nearly 4 hours but it was worth it.

After installing the studs I had the tires mounted and balanced. I replaced my rear tire yesterday after finally wearing it all the way down. All the studs stayed in all winter, though once it got warm out I started doing hard accelerations and studs began to fall out. This caused the tire to go out of balance after quite a few went missing. I had the rear tire rebalanced once after this.

You can see that the rubber was being torn open though it was only on the lugs. None of the surface rubber was damaged as you can see with the next photo.

The tire tread was smooth in the center and sadly I only managed to get about 3,000 miles out of the rear tire.

This is the front tire. It is missing a few studs and has only gone through a little less than half of its tread. I would say, you could easily get 6,000 miles out of the front tire.

I really enjoyed these tires and they preformed very well in tight corners at high speeds. This is likely due to the extremely soft rubber. I would gladly buy these again just for winter use as the summer range on them is not very far at 3,000(rear) and 6,000(front) miles.