I don't see any Mefo Super Explorer tires on the web site you posted. Just the Mefo Explorer tires. There was no 140/80-18 size either.
I just emailed Javier asking what is the lowest psi I can safely run the Mefo. I'm not a fan of a rock hard rear tire aired up for the street. My current Pirelli MT-21 was happy with 19.5 psi on and off road. I'll post what Javier recommends.
I'm surprised the 606 isn't completely gone. I thought I read somewhere Kenda's are the old Cheng-Shin we used to see way back when? Do they make a bigger tire than the 120/100? That's all MCSS has on their site. $77. BTW, thanks for helping out on the wobbly thread on ADV. Got 'er dialed!
He's gonna tell you to run 30-35lbs in it. You're right, that's thing is gonna be a rock. No wonder they're known to spin up offroad.
I do not have a fish scale available. No pun intended but it's certainly implied . The Mefo Super Explorer, 140/80-18 weighed 16.2 LBS on my digital bathroom scale. My wife looked at me sideways while I carried the bathroom scale to the garage.
BTW, I got a Bridgestone Ultra HD tube yesterday. 4mm thick and lists all of our tire sizes on the tube imprint. It's made in Japan, not china/taiwan. It's SUPER HEAVY DUTY! They are $24 at rockymountainatv.com Definitely da shiznit! I really don't want to be fiddling with flats in Death Valley.
Looks like the same tire, same price. I shot them an email for clarification on their product listing. This looks like a 140/80-18 size in the Explorer from their website: View Full-Size Image MEFO EXPLORER 140/80-18 REAR $169.95 The MEFO Explorer is thelong distance professional dual-sport tire. Customers have reported to us that a set of Explorers can routinely take about 7,000-9,000 miles of use under the harsh adventure-touring conditions of Alaska. With secure, stable handling on dirt or wet pavement and high mileage performance, the Explorer has excellent all around versatility. Recommended for 50% street and 50% dirt riding.
Oh well, I'll give it a try at 30 psi and see how it handles. I could drop it down to 22-25 psi and keep my eye on the lugs. I've had experience with Trailwings, Dunlop 606's, Pirelli MT-21's, Karoo's and Six Days tires. Ironically, the Six Day got its name from lasting six days on the street . (Kidding) I'm ok with trying something new and expect some mixed results. If the tire falls apart after 2,500 miles because I ran 22 psi, who cares. It would of cost around the same for me to get two MT-21's which I am happy with. I was looking for more mileage and the ability to ride aggressive on the street and off road. Time will tell if I made the right purchase. I have 422 miles on the MT-21 now. That's about halfway through its usable life. Soon I'll throw on the Mefo and report here.
Damn, they are fast. Erik from SWMototires replied to my request for clarification on the tire: >> Janet, All of the Explorer's we get are Super Explorer tires, Mefo only makes one version. Thank you Erik >>
Email Erik the following link: http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productlist/765/ Mefo makes an Explorer and a Super Explorer tire. With regards to the 140/80-18 size, the Super Explorer is the only tire available. I'm not a tire expert but this is what I've read online.
Ever since Ive gotten rid of the stock tire Ive only used another 140 ONCE on my 610. Its way to big and heavy and overkill for the 610 IMHO... I usually use a 130 or 120, depending on the tire and avalability.... Mostly 606's, Desert IT's, or T63's.. Coincidently, I'm trying a MIchelin AC10 for the first time now. Pretty good, def the best off road of those bunch, kinda tied with the MT 43, but in different terrains the winners for offroad. ON road its perfectly fine, and SO FAR the wear has been ALOT better than I thought for something that looked like a barely DOT MX tire. I usually get around 800- 1100 miles on my rears, depending on how far down I run em. Back to size. THe AC10 I could ONLY find in a 110 at the time, so I decided to still try it..It's been AWESOME. The bike feels down right flickable, it turns so quick and sharp compared to with any other rear on there... It's been SSSOOOO fun, off and on road because of that. So, bigger most certainly isn't always better for a middle/smaller sized ADV bike.
I had to check on that.... Shinko has a link to Yokohama, and are still designed in Japan, but produced in Korea. Cheng Shin is related to Maxxis (I had no idea until I started digging) and a Chinese company.
And trellborg was made by somebody else, I forget who, and also heard they've closed up shop. Metzler is owned by ?? Continental? I think... The players are hard to keep up with. And yeah, you don't have to run a 140 tire on the 630. It is a 2.15 rim, anything with some load carrying and 4.60-5.10 size is fine. I bought the T63 based on these photos, and the good reports on them everywhere: http://www.ridetherock.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4832 Knob height is 13mm/1/2", good 50/50 tire. Pics from Michelin on the retailers sites are crap.
Tires of the same size vary in actual size by mfr'r..... a 140 Bridgestone ED04 is smaller than the beastly Terraflex in 140
K-60 Scout, Same tire easier to find and the same price. The set I have on a 1200GS has 14,000 miles on it!!
I called into the dealer on the way home from work today to have a look at these tyres. Not suitable at all for my riding & very surprised the dealer ordered them in when I'd asked for D606s. These MT90s look to be about 20/80 dirt/road, although the dealer said they are regarded as 40/60. I think they would be next to useless for any proper off road work. Anyway, have now got a set of MT21s on the way, so much happier with that.
