tires that last... with decent hook ?

M

mole1

Member

Jul 14, 2002

33

0

• Oct 19, 2002

• #1

hi
just wondering what kind of intermediate terrain tires your running and how well they last . i wan't to switch to a tire that will give me some decent traction and last more than 6-7 rides before rounding off useless . are michelin m-12's any good compared to the 755 dunlop i'm running now ? any suggestions ? thanks

 

C

Camstyn

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Oct 3, 1999

2,246

2

• Oct 20, 2002

• #2

Not sure about the M12, I've never run one, but I got a whole season out of an S12 rear. The thing looked like somebody's nightmare by the time it was done (I sold the bike with it still on) but it still hooked up great and had sharp edges. It was chunked badly but it didn't seem to affect performance.

 

M

MRKRacing125

Member

Oct 24, 2000

507

0

• Oct 20, 2002

• #3

I have heard of great things from Maxxis

 

J

JohnE

Member

Aug 22, 2002

21

0

• Oct 20, 2002

• #4

I agree that Maxis tires (I've only tried the rear tire) last a long time, great traction and great price.

 

B

bigred455

"LET'S JUST RIDE"

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Sep 12, 2000

782

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• Oct 20, 2002

• #5

I am sold on the S12 for the rear, inter-soft,hook up is very good and the wear compared to any of the dunlop's is 2.5 times longer.I am going to try a m-12 in the front instead of the s-12.

 

A

Anssi

Member

May 20, 2001

868

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• Oct 20, 2002

• #6

S12 wears pretty good, but it's not amazing. Don't fall for a starcross MH2, they chunk like nobody's business.

 

M

mole1

Member

Jul 14, 2002

33

0

• Oct 20, 2002

• Thread starter
• #7

do the s12's run with the same sizes like a dunlop 110/90-19 or do i have to run a different size ?

 

F

fatty_k

~SPONSOR~

Jul 3, 2001

1,274

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• Oct 20, 2002

• #8

Ive had great wear with my IRC M5B. At first it wore very quickly, but after 3 rides or so the wearing has basically stopped. I have had this tire on for 2 months and I can easily see how you could get5 months out of it. The S 12's are also awesome tires. I am going to try to M 12 rear next.

 

C

Chili

Lifetime Sponsor - Photog Moderator

Apr 9, 2002

8,062

17

• Oct 20, 2002

• #9

I put M12's on my RM this year and while I'm certainly no expert and don't have alot of experience with other tires since I just got back into riding I felt they wore alot better than I expected them to and I put in a fair amount of hours and they barely look worn. Traction also never seemed to be an issue for me except in extreme hardpack that I would expect trouble regardless of tire choice.

 

R

Razorback

Member

Jul 12, 2002

55

0

• Oct 21, 2002

• #10

I'm always surprised when the subject of tires comes up and noone says Kenda Unadilla's.I have been running a set on my KDX for over 150 MX miles(according to my trip meter) and they still look great.I think the rear will go at least another 80 before the center knobs will be worn out.The front will last longer but I may change them both at the same time.I'm also running one on the rear of my XR and it works great on it also.The Unadillas work much better than the Dunlops that came stock on both my bikes and just as good as the dunlop 756's I had on the KDX before going to the Kenda's.I haven't tried the Unadilla on the front of the XR yet.It seems a little narrow for desert riding on a heavy bike plowing through sand but I may give it a try.I can always put it on the KDX if it doesn't workout on the XR.The bite on the track has been excellant.They work best when the track is dry.I have yet to see any other tire last any longer.The price is almost 20 dollars cheaper for the rear and about 16 for the front comparing with Dunlop 695's and 490's. From now on these are the only tires I will buy unless Kenda stops making them.

 

S

steve talley

Sponsoring Member

Oct 17, 2002

94

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• Oct 21, 2002

• #11

I RUN M12 FRONT AND REAR ON MY 99 RM. GREAT WEAR GRIP ON WELL PREP TRACK IS #1 TREAD ON SIDEWALLS ARE LARGE SO IT WILL LET YOU SLIDE HIGH SPEED CORNERS THE M12 IS GREAT YOU CANT GO WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

the Eel

~SPONSOR~

Sep 23, 2000

1,747

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• Oct 21, 2002

• #12

KENDA 257D

Don't laugh ... they work and they last.

 

B

BEEF706

Sponsoring Member

Jan 24, 2002

1,566

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• Oct 21, 2002

• #13

I run an M-12 front and a S-12 rear, this combo works better than anything I've tried or heard about for conditions around here. Anything from grade a loamy clay with sawdist mixed in to kaliche (picture cement with a little sand on it.

 

J

jho410

~SPONSOR~

Apr 30, 2002

272

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• Oct 21, 2002

• #14

I've heard good things about the M and S -12's. I run the MH2 or MS2 and love them. I also like the Dunlop 756 but found that the Michelin's last longer.

 

N

nate97kaw250

Member

Sep 30, 2002

39

0

• Oct 21, 2002

• #15

There is only one tire to buy, S-12 front and rear. They are the best all around. The M-12 works ok but falls short on the side bite, doesn't work well on the grass in corners. Like I said, S-12 and you can't be wrong.

 

S

Steve47

Member

Nov 23, 2001

103

0

• Oct 22, 2002

• #16

I have to agree, Michelin S-12 is the way to go. THe front tire is great but I'm mostly impressed with the lifetime of the rear tire. It hook up really well and last forever compared to a dunlop

 

Lorin

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Jun 25, 1999

948

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• Oct 22, 2002

• #17

Although I will agree that the M-12 rear lasts a long time, I would question the amount of sidewall "bite" or traction on the bike when turning or sliding. I favor the IRC M5b myself.

 

the Eel

~SPONSOR~

Sep 23, 2000

1,747

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• Oct 22, 2002

• #18

M5B ... very nice. Great wear. Huge knobs for sand but they work pretty well in hard stuff too. A very aggressive tread pattern.

 

W

whyzee

Never enough time !

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Dec 24, 2001

2,282

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• Oct 22, 2002

• #19

I gave quite a bit of thought to the S-12 up front but saw it only came in a 90/90x21, went for the D756 80/100x21 (stock size) up front because of a very good recommendation. Would there have any fitment concerns with running a different size tire?

 

J

Joepro9

Member

Feb 17, 2001

503

0

• Oct 22, 2002

• #20

my kenda on my xr lasted for 4 months of riding on and off road, and hooked up pretty good. I run dunlops on my cr, and they wear very quick, but i get them for free so I can't complain ;)

 

J

JohnnyRCP

Member

Sep 9, 2002

1

0

• Oct 22, 2002

• #21

I run an M-12 front and a S-12 rear, this combo works better than anything I've tried... Anything from grade a loamy clay with sawdist mixed in to kaliche

I could not have said it better.. Three years in a row, one set per year and I ride twice a week at local tracks in So Ca.

 

B

bud

Member

Jun 29, 1999

433

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• Oct 22, 2002

• #22

Most soft-intmediate rear tires I've tried work well when new though they all "feel" slightly different. The rate of wear doesn't vary much either, short of chunking. To me the differences become more noticable after they have worn a bit. All I've tried except the s12 get a bit unpredictable especially when steering with the rear. I don't think s12s have the best traction, but they have predictable traction as they wear. But...my new metzler mc4 rear has better traction than an s12 and was a fair bit cheaper. I'll withhold judgement for 6 months or so ;).

 

C

Camstyn

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Oct 3, 1999

2,246

2

• Oct 23, 2002

• #23

Michelin sizing is goofy. My bike came stock with a 80/100-21 front and a 110/90-19 rear. The Michelin equivalents are a 90/90-21 and a 130/70-19.

 

W

whyzee

Never enough time !

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Dec 24, 2001

2,282

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• Oct 23, 2002

• #24

thanks Cam

 

0

00kx2fty

Member

Aug 26, 2002

13

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• Oct 23, 2002

• #25

I have a friend that runs maxxis and he loves them. he has raced three or four times with several track rides in between and they still hook up really good!! check 'em out......