Thanks for the leap of faith and trying our new tire. That tire works everywhere. It's the only front tire I have ever found to do it all and it's DOT. I just wasn't sure how heavy of a bike it would go on, obviously okay for the Terra. We have actually sold out of our tires, but have placed a new order. Should be out of Customs in a day or two.
Now we need to work on a rear tire. Now that Dunlop discontinued the Geomax MX 51 for me the best all around rear tire for all the different types of races I do. and there so called replacement does not come in size 18 Maybe Golden will make a all around rear tire
I'm pretty lucky (again) ... I've purchased a few used bikes that arrived here with different front and rear tires that I read about often here ... Nothing really beats an IRC ~soft rubber tire on my Huskies for this clay dirt that get hard as rock or as gummy as bubblegum, daily ... -- Good luck with your rubber choices ...
Good to see IRC are still around Ray. I remember them from my then new '84 XR250 RE. IRC Volcanduros were the original figment
GT does make mega choices for tires just gotta find the "one" . GT is the ultimate niche size/compound tire brand.
now I really see why your crew railed up at the Idaho City qualifier---almost like hometown advantage!! Nice shot man!! that tire is phaaaat!!
Jake and I were commenting on how a lot of this looks like Idaho. It is huge and made me feel invincible in the jagged embedded rocks. Did not even slow down. The rear Kenda 270 with full coverage knobs felt bullet proof too. I'm really liking my long lasting and crazy durable summer setup. That Golden Tire seems to stick to everything and is showing very little wear. Crazy stopping power too.
GT has a 216AA 90/90 and a 216/X rear at 120/90. I am seeking possible replacements on the 310 but wonder if this tire is unique in the 90/100 or that folks just liking a larger/fatter front tire. Might the 90/90 have similar good characteristics? My question really to do with slowing steering and inducing more push when you do hit pavement or fast sections. My interest is less bashing through stuff but steering precision at slower speeds and more grip in front in powder. Considering the Parkers and others at standard dimensions when my Metzelers start to wear...
No idea as this is the only one I have tried but it is now my favorite front tire. I like that it likes 14 psi when I usually run 12 and the big tire makes me feel like a pinch flat would be really hard to do. I feel zero down side to the large format so far other than it looks a little strange. Tinken suggested I put it on my 511 but wanted to test it on a 250 2 stroke as others had already commented on how well it works on the big bikes. I love it.
I for one am glad you put it on the lightweight 2T, that was going to be one of my questions. Hows the tire + tube OA weight? Sharp Rock deflection? even with your higher pressure? Does it have that dead hit (good energy absorbtion) feeling I like that I get with mousses? I would run HD (@3mm) tubes (not X HD 4mm). Im not a fan but this may really be a good tire to run with Tubeliss....big and fat with low pressure. Are the sidewalls stiff or flexxy? Dont think I would like to budget in 2x mousses to slice and dice to fit.
I found it works better with higher pressures than usual. At 12 it feels and looks semi flat. Lots of energy absorption but feels loose like it is going flat. I checked it many times and even pushing on it with my hand felt like 8 PSI when it had 12. Increased to 14-15 and found it feels like a normal sized tire at 11-12. At 14-15 it still has a ton of energy absorption but feels more planted, less float and more precise. Feels very normal and does nothing odd. That big carcase and 15 PSI makes you feel invincible but has none of the tradeoffs (deflection) of running higher pressures like smaller tires do. I think with a tubeless and low pressure it would feel weird and squirmy. I did not weigh it but it didn't seem heavy. Did not feel the need to change my fork settings. Great traction on everything, amazing in rocks and silt, crazy stopping power, seems to wear like crazy. From the GT web site - Front tyre with rolling diameter and larger section width made to handle all kinds of uneven and difficult terrain with exceptional results. Use of 90/100-21 mousse is recommended.
Come on Robert you have spent so much money on the TE 300 why not go for it. Put a mousse in it. Whats a flat cost you in the fun dept ? You already have a mousse just purchase another one and cut around 5 to 6 inches add it in and go trouble free riding or racing. I will let you know how it works after this weekend in Reno round 9 National
Update. Had to cut my trip short to get home fast. Will do 600 miles of interstate today at 70 mph. Torture test for dual sporting. Expect higher wear rate today.
You just may be surprised how little they wear dual sporting. I have over 1200 on mine and it shows little wear. I guess temperature will play a big part. I was riding in 60 deg weather most of the miles. Let us know how it fares.
