I am running a MT43 rear at 7 lbs with heavy duty tube on my 2009 wr300 in the northeast rocky,rooty, muddy terrain and so far I really like it for the most part. I also read about the Michelin competition trials tire and thought I'd like to give that a try. The only thing is the prices are ridiculous. Is the Michelin that good or is it no better than the mt43? Has anyone tried both?
The Pirelli is a very old design of trials tire. The Michelin is a state of the art radial competition tire. So is the Dunlop 803, for a more reasonable price. Both will be more sticky and run well at low pressures, but neither will probably last quite as long as the Pirelli.
I used the Michelin when you could get them for around $100 (Tube type). Traction is FAR superior with the Michelin over the MT43 (I would imagine the tub less is even better). The MT 43 is a good tire and I use one now but the traction form the Michelin was unbelievable. You can not ride a Michelin flat as the side wall is very soft but that makes it very easy to change the tire as well. I never ripped a knob from the Michelin or the Mt43 for than matter. Be careful if you get a Michelin as you will now be paying $175 for each tire and you will not want to buy any other cheaper trials tire.
4-5 lbs. Ok. Sounds a bit low but Ill try it. How is it when the trail opens up a little to a faster section with the pressure that low?
The MT43 is a non radial DS tire. Works fine for that. If you want the good trials off road experience the Dunlop 803 is the tire to have. Radial and lasts better than the uber expensive Mich. i would run the 803 more here but tore a few up and you almost cant ride you bike at all when they are flat.
I prefer to run a tube. I would hate to be out in the middle of the woods with a flat I cant fix. Those prices are steep.
You will feel the back end step out a few inches but in one ride you will get used to it. I have not use a trails tire on my Husky as I go to the track evrey so often but when I ride my old bike with a trials tire and auto clutch I wounder why I do not have both on my 310. (I am to cheap for the $900 Rekluse) (
I have the rekluse exp2.0. It is the cheaper model but it does its job for two years now. It really comes in handy in the gnarly tight stuff .
I switched last summer to a trials tire for the 1st time. Due to price and long life, I went with the Pirelli MT43. I'm super impressed. I tend to run mine around 8-9 psi. It hooks up like crazy at 5-6 psi but I get a little worried about pinch flats...
