Best Dot Tire For A Te450?

[MattS]

I am planning on switching to more aggressive tires for my '10 TE450 but need to stay DOT legal for the occassional street jaunt. The Pirelli XCMH appear to be good tires but I'm not sure if I should switch the rear to the 120-100 in place of the stock 140-80 size. I will be using 13/49 gearing (stock is too tall for my taste). The 120 is slightly taller but a little narrower. Is this a good choice or will the 450 spin it too easily? FWIW - this bike will see more desert scrambles and H&H events than street rides. Any and all thoughts are appreciated.

 

[OlderHuskyRider]

130 is probably as narrow as I would go.Get the Dunlop D606, it is a fantastic DOT tire.

 

[dirt_rider93561]

I am running the Kenda Parker DT which is a 120 and I like it a lot. Good wear on the street and works good for the D-37 races out here in the desert. It is also a 6 ply tire which will help with tire punctures. The only issue is that it is getting tricky to find. I think they are coming out with an updated version and trying to get rid of the older style.

 

[MotoXotica]

miclein AC10 makes a real meaty dot rear tire.dan

 

[Motosportz]

The Motoz Enduro IT DOT tire should be here in about 2 weeks. Should be am awesome 80/20 dirt/street tire.

 

[Dirtdame]

I am going to install the IRC Battle Rallys on my TE 450. I ran a set of them on a smaller bike and liked them. If I didn't already have a set of these in the garage, I'd be ordering up some of the Motoz (I'll try those next). The largest rear Battle Rally is only a 4.50, but it looks plenty big enough.

 

[OlderHuskyRider]

Here's 4 DOT tires for your consideration, the Dunlop 606 is a damn good tire

 

[DougW]

Here is a link to some tire pictures that I just mountd. both are dot.

http://helibuf.com/pictures/TE310

The tire on the left is a kenda k775 washougal sticky. the middle tire is kenda's new k772 parker dt tire. It has some different nobby's on the outter edge. it will be interesting to see how it hooks up.

The tire on the rt is a dunlop mx51 inthe same size for comparison. Sorry I couldn't post the pictures, my Ipad does't let me.

 

[MattS]

Thanks for all the replys. I think I'll wait and see what the Motoz look like. I know I'm not satisfied with the Metzler so thats out. The knob spacing on the Parker is unique - how does it hook up on loose soils? It seems like a good rock tire. A friend has the 606 mounted on his Husaberg so I'm going to ask him how he likes it (we ride the same type of terrain). I've run the sticky Washougal on my KTM and liked it alot except that it wore way too quickly for my budget. Choices, choices, choices...

 

[JasonfromMN]

Michelin AC-10
Kendal trackmaster 2 760.
Pirelli scorpion pro.

 

[BadMotoWeazal]

Pirelli MT43 trials tire..... Kelley, how's yours been holding up on the DS 449?

 

[DougW]

Rode on my new tires today ( the k772 parker and the washougle sticky) and they worked exceptionally well for me so far. I rode about 10 miles blacktop, 40 miles on dirt roads, rocky single track. So far the tires never felt out of control or never wanted so slide out. On downhills and braking, the bike stopped well and didn,t slide far. The big question still to be answered is longevity and how they will do in the desert and sand washes.

 

[ghte]

I commend the Motoz tyres and 606's. Either way if you are mixing it up don't over tyre the rear and stay with a 120 or 130, it makes the bike more flikable. You can always use super heavy duty tubes and run doen to 10 psi on the dublops in the wet. The Motoz are famous for tolerating low pressure due to exceptional side wall construction. I have riden all day at 6 psi on my previous 450 in wet conditions and not flats whatso ever.

 

[ray_ray]

Here is a link to some tire pictures that I just mountd. both are dot.

http://helibuf.com/pictures/TE310

The tire on the left is a kenda k775 washougal sticky. the middle tire is kenda's new k772 parker dt tire. It has some different nobby's on the outter edge. it will be interesting to see how it hooks up.

The tire on the rt is a dunlop mx51 inthe same size for comparison. Sorry I couldn't post the pictures, my Ipad does't let me.

The k772 parker dt tire looks just like the Carlsbad tire they made a couple yrs back ... hard as a rock and a great knobby but I can't see it lasting on the hardtop .... The kenda k270 dual sports works well ... 5.10 is the largest size ....

Will that 606 tire actually last if run on the hiway?

 

[K7MDL]

The k772 parker dt tire looks just like the Carlsbad tire they made a couple yrs back ... hard as a rock and a great knobby but I can't see it lasting on the hardtop .... The kenda k270 dual sports works well ... 5.10 is the largest size ....

Will that 606 tire actually last if run on the hiway?

On my TE610, with 75% of time on freeway commuting, I got 8K miles from the front D606 and over 5K from the rear 606. Very hard carcass though. Running the T61 on the front now as an experiment, but staying with D606 on the back, worked really well.

MT43 on the TE450 is doing well with significant 60 mile pavement highway sections included. Does not like the super dry loose dirt of eastern WA in my opinion, but good enough relative to the upside of the wetside goodness. Have another TE450 we are shopping for a new rear also. AC10 is on the list for a try.