KX Riders

Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: hughes on May 01, 2006, 11:53:03 AM

Title: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: hughes on May 01, 2006, 11:53:03 AM

I wanted to try the Teraflex 150/90/18 but The best price I found was 78.00 shipped to the door but they didn't like my credit card. Everybody else wanted 78.00 to 86.00 just for the tire not including shipping.

I am leaning toward the Maxxis IT Desert tire.

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: kiwikx500 on May 01, 2006, 12:15:53 PM

Have you considered putting a metzler in the mix ?

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: Timbowe on May 01, 2006, 12:34:51 PM

Metzler fan here also. Road and track.

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: 2001KX5 on May 01, 2006, 01:18:11 PM

I liked the Maxxix IT on my kx250. Tried the Carlsbad and even though the wear was good I found it too stiff.

Currently running the millvile and I really like the bite!

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: r1ray on May 01, 2006, 01:46:51 PM

Millville. :-D

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: YUNGGUNNAZ on May 01, 2006, 02:02:32 PM

i like the shinko for soft to mid terrain.

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: KXcam22 on May 01, 2006, 03:14:27 PM

Hughes,
 Kenda has a couple of new tires out this year.  One of them might suit your terrain. Cam.

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: Spider on May 01, 2006, 03:15:26 PM

Whats a shinko?

Dale

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: gowen on May 02, 2006, 03:29:38 AM

I don't like any of the bunch, but if I had to choose, I'd get the carlsbad, as I've had decent luck with it on my 250.  But, again, I hate it because it grips too much and doesn't break well in the corners at the track.

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: hughes on May 02, 2006, 03:59:01 AM

I have heard the carlsbad was a good track tire but have not seen anybody at the riding places with one.

Anybody running the Milleville in rocks?? My trails change often from clay to top soil and then to rocks. Just want to know how the knobbies hold up.

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: gowen on May 02, 2006, 04:01:21 AM

Quote from: hughes on May 02, 2006, 03:59:01 AM

I have heard the carlsbad was a good track tire but have not seen anybody at the riding places with one.

Yeah, I have one on my 250. It isn't that great. I can't break loose in the corners and half the time nearly overshoot the berms.

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: Spider on May 02, 2006, 06:05:30 AM

We have a lot of roots here and they ripped the knobs off my previous tire (Kings) but no problems with the Millville. The Carlsbad is a hardpack tire Im not to sure how it would like that slippery Ga. clay.

Dale

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: KXcam22 on May 02, 2006, 06:59:27 AM

I run the Millville in rocks.  It seems to hold up Ok. Best tire I have found so far for my local.  Seems ok on dried clay hardpan but haven't tried it in wet gumbo clay. You can't expect miracle lifetime on the back of a 500. The K5 is definitely a tire eater. I notice my front Millville is a bit rock worn but it still seems to turn like new. I think a lot of tire choice has to do with your riding style and dirt type. My hero tire could be your zero tire. Alot of the new tires are cheap enough to try out then make your own opinion. I once had a Yokohama tire sponsorship - the tires were great, but only when brand new, a teeny bit of wear and they were horrible (but an unlimited supply).  Guess thats why I'm good at changing tires: a typical week was, put on new tires, race once, flip the rear tire around, practise the week, wrench on a new set for next weekends race. Give the old ones away to friends. Ah those were the days.........Sorry to digress. Cam. 

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: hughes on May 11, 2006, 12:35:32 AM

Millville won the poll. I should have it next week and hope to try it out the same weekend.

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: b0dem on May 11, 2006, 01:35:33 PM

Not trying to hijack the thread, but I also need help finding tires.
I want something that hooks up pretty good, but not too bad. Any ideas, or decent brand names (not too familiar with bike tires).

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: kiwikx500 on May 11, 2006, 02:15:42 PM

You could go for the winner of the pole,must be a pretty good one being the clear winner  8-)

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: KXcam22 on May 11, 2006, 04:28:03 PM

I just did a 2-day rock ride. Lots of sharp rock cliffs to climb. Out of a Mich S12, a pirrelli and my millville, the millville cam out the clear winner in reduced rock damage. The other tires were on smaller engines (300 & 250) and lost lots of knobs, especially the pirrelli who lost about 20 full knobs. I lost 1/2 of one. Cam.

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: Danger4u2 on May 12, 2006, 03:58:39 AM

I'm still on whatever came on my 04, it's only worn a 1/4 of it's usefull life. Most of my riding is sandy or soft dirt. I don't get to ride as much as I would like to. I'll go up to the house and get the tire size and type.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. Sometimes it's nice living where I work, never drive in rush hour traffic. Getting up late can be 7:57 and still not be late to work @ 8:00, and I can ride my track at lunch time. Bad things... I'm the one that stays for late customers, I'm the one that deals with early customers, and they show up all the time when we are closed. I am thankful for the job I have, when I worked the oilfields my drive could be anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 1/2 hours one way. We did get free fuel (had to convert my truck to propane).
 

These are the tires that came stock on my K5 '04

Front:Dunlop Sports K490 J       80/100-21   51M
Rear :   "          "     K695         120/90-19

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: KXcam22 on May 12, 2006, 03:36:22 PM

I know this is preference, but I didn't care much for the 490/695 stock tires.  For the first year or so I couldn't figure out why my bike didn't corner well - I thought it was the bike.  With every tire swap the bike has gotten better in the corners.  The present millville combo has been the best to date (for me). There may be an even better combo out there. Cam.

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: Timbowe on May 13, 2006, 03:21:21 PM

Just put 2 new Metzlers on for last weekend. Fanbloodytastic! as allways.

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: KXcam22 on May 13, 2006, 05:04:42 PM

Tim,
  I haven't run metzlers on a dirtbike since the old days.  They were the ONLY tire to run back then.  That's all I used to run on my street bikes as well Me33/77 combo. What model are you running on the 500? Cam.

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: alan on May 14, 2006, 12:21:43 AM

Quote from: KXcam22 on May 13, 2006, 05:04:42 PM

Tim,
  I haven't run metzlers on a dirtbike since the old days.  They were the ONLY tire to run back then.  That's all I used to run on my street bikes as well Me33/77 combo. What model are you running on the 500? Cam.

I will second that Cam! My 1971 501 Maico came with them on it and it was an awesome tire. The knobs went over 180 degrees around the tire. Since all this tire talk I have been looking at them again and I can't find anything they bake any more that I like. :-D

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: Timbowe on May 14, 2006, 07:34:47 PM

Ahhh Metzler... They ooooze goodness.  I've allways been their biggest fan. When i was racing production i allways used Metzlers. 8 years ago when they discontinued the MEZ 1s I bought up the last 10 fronts and 10 rears in the country. They were the great!!
 I'll have to have a closer look at the knobs on the dirty 5 and tell ya what they are. Winter setting in here these days. Not so keen to get down to the shed on the colder nights. But they are pretty bloody good in the mud. The ol story: ya pay for what ya get.

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: Timbowe on May 15, 2006, 06:32:49 PM

METZLER MC4. Thats what the big bitch is shod with.

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: hughes on May 23, 2006, 01:41:50 AM

Well guy's I installed the Kenda Milleville at 5:30 a.m sunday morning(buddy coming by at 7:00 a.m to pick me up for a ride).  :-D  :-o The Milleville is know my hero tire. WOW this tire worked great. We rode about 45 miles sunday. Everything was dry trails. We rode on dry clay, black top soil, fire roads and rocks, and the tire worked great. This tire worked better than my Maxxis IT. Thanks guys for the info on this tire.

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: Spider on May 23, 2006, 07:47:52 AM

The millville has a mean look to it doesn't it.

Dale

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: hughes on May 23, 2006, 08:00:55 AM

I like this tire. It does look mean. I wish they made it in a 130 or a 140. My riding buddy complained about the rocks that was flying out the back  :-D

Title: Re: Help Me Pick A Tire
Post by: KXcam22 on May 23, 2006, 04:26:36 PM

Hughes,
  Glad to hear the Millville worked out.  When you're in the market, give the front millville a try.  Has been working very well for me.  Cam.