D/S Tires

[Canadian FJR]

I have been running Dunlop 606s on my old KLR for last number of years really like these tires for both woods riding and street. I have been looking at the Mefo Stone Masters but I have found little to no feedback on them. Does anyone her have experience with these tires, they look awesome.

Canadian FJR

 

[HotRodZilla]

Did you Google it? I got a couple good hits right away on my phone.

Read this review. Hope it works as I'm posting from my phone: https://farkledadventures.com/product-reviews/mefo-mx-master/

Sounds like pavement wore it really fast. I will say from experience that the D606 is probably the best DOT knobby on the market for the KLR. They grip well, wear well, and are almost as cheap as my mountain bike tires.

Metzler I think makes the Big Block tires, and then there is the Karroo (sp?) series of tire. Of all these, I like the 606 the best. Why mess with a good thing??

 

[Mr Bill]

I have been running Dunlop 606s on my old KLR for last number of years really like these tires for both woods riding and street. I have been looking at the Mefo Stone Masters but I have found little to no feedback on them. Does anyone her have experience with these tires, they look awesome.

Canadian FJR

I'm happy with mt21 rallycross. I keep the pressure right between the book recommended pressure for mud vs hot top. If I run the street pressure the front likes to skip out on the street.

 

You ever screw your tires? Get your mind out of the gutter, I'm talking about ice screws. I used to do that when I was a teen and thinking about doing up a set next winter for the ktm.

 

[CAJW]

I'm doing a little of both. I run a Pirelli MT21 on the front and the Dunlop 606 on the rear. Sounds like a 4X4 running on pavement, but who cares as I like to spend most of the time getting my DRZ dirty! Sorry, no knowledge of the Stone masters.

 

[dcarver]

Big Block's wore out quick on my DL650, and hard to mount too.

The front not so bad.

Rear sucks on mileage.

I'm back to TKC80's...

 

[yamafitter]

You ever screw your tires? Get your mind out of the gutter, I'm talking about ice screws. I used to do that when I was a teen and thinking about doing up a set next winter for the ktm.

Studding tires properly for the ice is an art form and when done properly works great. We have a local that ice races that sells studded knobbies for about $500 per tire which is actually very reasonable when you realize the work involved. It starts by installing a small street tire inside the knobby so that you have more rubber to screw into and you need the extra length or you just end up ripping the screws out of the tires. The screws are special in that the screws are hardened edges of the heads are sharpened to give extra bite. The average tire usually gets about 650 screws per tire depending on intended use.

Here is a link to one of the tire builders up here in the Great White North that explains the process better...

Ice Racing Tires

 

[beemerdons]

You ever screw your tires? Get your mind out of the gutter, I'm talking about ice screws. I used to do that when I was a teen and thinking about doing up a set next winter for the ktm.

Studding tires properly for the ice is an art form and when done properly works great. We have a local that ice races that sells studded knobbies for about $500 per tire which is actually very reasonable when you realize the work involved. It starts by installing a small street tire inside the knobby so that you have more rubber to screw into and you need the extra length or you just end up ripping the screws out of the tires. The screws are special in that the screws are hardened edges of the heads are sharpened to give extra bite. The average tire usually gets about 650 screws per tire depending on intended use.

Here is a link to one of the tire builders up here in the Great White North that explains the process better...

Ice Racing Tires

So Bill, do they also work pretty well in soft sand? I am with HotRodZilla regarding the Dunlop 606 knobbies, I agree that they still are the best dual sport tires for a Kawasaki KLR 650. And I agree with Don Carver, for the heavier dual sports such as the DL650 and the BMW F800GS you still can't beat the Continental TKC80's!

ICE??? The only ice that we have here in Arizona is in our Margaritas or in our beer coolers! Fecking Ice, damn Hombre you are just one funny Canuck!

 

[Mr Bill]

Fecking Ice, damn Hombre you are just one funny Canuck!

Hey I ain't no Canuck! They kicked my French relatives outa there a generations ago. Your welcome to join in on a three day dirt ride I'm leading in the spring to invade Canada (only kidding we are turning around at the border, maybe ).

 

My ktm is only 300 lbs and it goes ok in the dirt and mud, but I really have to get it spinning in the sand and loose stuff. This may be because I run the air a little high too at around 22lbs. I should probably try the 606.

 

[Mr Bill]

Studding tires properly for the ice is an art form and when done properly works great. We have a local that ice races that sells studded knobbies for about $500 per tire which is actually very reasonable when you realize the work involved. It starts by installing a small street tire inside the knobby so that you have more rubber to screw into and you need the extra length or you just end up ripping the screws out of the tires. The screws are special in that the screws are hardened edges of the heads are sharpened to give extra bite. The average tire usually gets about 650 screws per tire depending on intended use.

Here is a link to one of the tire builders up here in the Great White North that explains the process better...

Ice Racing Tires

Here is a do it yourself video for the lazy way without dual tires

 

 

[huron52]

When I bought my WR250 last spring it still has the factory tires on it... but it also came with a brand new set of Kenda K-760. The claim is that they are as close to a dirt tire as possible and still have a DOT. As I said they are not on the bike so I can't say one way or the other.

By the way Don, who is that having a nap with their bike? You perhaps?

 

[beemerdons]

When I bought my WR250 last spring it still has the factory tires on it... but it also came with a brand new set of Kenda K-760. The claim is that they are as close to a dirt tire as possible and still have a DOT. As I said they are not on the bike so I can't say one way or the other.

By the way Don, who is that having a nap with their bike? You perhaps?

Who else, Paco? As Blance DuBois, Bungie and Papa Chuy always say: "We survive through the Kindness of Strangers!" In my case down in Mexico's Copper Canyon: I had yamafitter, rushes, fjrrider and CHRIS_D to help pick me up whenever I took my regular dirt naps; Tucson Joe also, Loco Jose is just as crappy off road as I am!

Here in Arizona, my AZ Beemers Buddies help me get up. They had me sew hand loops on the shoulders of my riding jacket, easier to pick my fat old Irish ass up!

 

[beemerdons]

Fecking Ice, damn Hombre you are just one funny Canuck!

Hey I ain't no Canuck! They kicked my French relatives outa there a generations ago. Your welcome to join in on a three day dirt ride I'm leading in the spring to invade Canada (only kidding we are turning around at the border, maybe ).

 

My ktm is only 300 lbs and it goes ok in the dirt and mud, but I really have to get it spinning in the sand and loose stuff. This may be because I run the air a little high too at around 22lbs. I should probably try the 606.

First Bill, I truly do apologize for calling you a Canuck; mea culpa, I had not had my morning coffee and whiskey yet! Second, my 2009 BMW F650GS Twin is an absolute disaster in sand. Mi "Salma Hayek" weighs 465 lbs. when outfitted for a day's worth of desert riding. That is why our yamafitter calls her "Miss Piggy"!

 

[yamafitter]

My ktm is only 300 lbs and it goes ok in the dirt and mud, but I really have to get it spinning in the sand and loose stuff. This may be because I run the air a little high too at around 22lbs. I should probably try the 606.

I run in a lot of sand with my WR450F which is why I run Michelin S12 knobbies at 10 psi. If you are up to 22 psi it is small wonder that you can't get the bike to track straight. For off-roading you should never under any circumstances be above 14 psi and that is only when you are pounding through the rocks on a bike as light as a 300 KTM.

When we rode Copper Canyon I used a set of Dunlop 606 DOT knobbies that worked fine on the sand roads but they would wear out pretty quick on pavement. With the 650 KLR's you need a tire with more sidewall strength due to the bike's extra weight. All the Adventure guys on ADV Rider seem to worship the TKC80's.

I number of the faster guys around here have switched to a trials tire on the back for running in the rocks. The softer compound and larger contact area of the trials tire offers superior traction when traveling across the Pre-Cambrian Shield that we have just north of me.

The guys that do this are not worried about tire life. All they are looking for is grip in the rocks.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Stupid me...I forgot all about the TKC80s. Those are good tires too. I hit a couple more reviews of that StoneMaster on ADVRider forum, and those guys didn't seem that impressed. Especially about the price.

Lessee...

TKC80: 90/90-21 front: $138.95; 130/90-17 rear: $156.95

Dunlop D606: 90/90-21 front: $137.95; 130/90-17 rear: $141.95:

Mefo StoneMaster: 90/90-21 front: $137.50; 130/80-17 rear: $175.99

There you go...I know which tire I'd buy...

 

[Mr Bill]

For off-roading you should never under any circumstances be above 14 psi and that is only when you are pounding through the rocks on a bike as light as a 300 KTM.

Owners manual says 18. If I get a flat I'm going to blame you :lol:

 

[HotRodZilla]

For off-roading you should never under any circumstances be above 14 psi and that is only when you are pounding through the rocks on a bike as light as a 300 KTM.

Owners manual says 18. If I get a flat I'm going to blame you :lol:

Fat guys prolly shouldn't go much below 18. It plays Hell with the sidewalls and rims.

 

[beemerdons]

For off-roading you should never under any circumstances be above 14 psi and that is only when you are pounding through the rocks on a bike as light as a 300 KTM.

Owners manual says 18. If I get a flat I'm going to blame you :lol:

Fat guys prolly shouldn't go much below 18. It plays Hell with the sidewalls and rims.

That's funny, why are my ears burning?

 

[Mr Bill]

Fat guys prolly shouldn't go much below 18. It plays Hell with the sidewalls and rims.

Who you calling FAT? Oh ok I guess I fit that bill. My kids rub my belly and ask how the baby is doing. I hate kids!

 

The NH dirt club checks your tires and won't let you ride under 15.

 

I do 22 lbs just so I can go pavement/dirt on the same ride. The dirt in this area does not last very long and your back on black top.

 

[Fred W]

Well... This weekend I'll be trading my cherry '98 VFR for a WR250X (that has been converted into an R). I know, I am most likely totally insane for doing it, but I have a serious demented lust for dirt. The WR has the D606's on it now, which I feel is probably a good choice, but I'll be scrounging around for the best rubber setup going forward.

Also FWIW, I'd love to buy myself some TKC80's for my Man'strom, but in the size needed they are obscenely priced, for some reason.

Maybe they are the same size as used on some of those propeller head bikes? :huh: