Motorbike Tyres - Talk about tyres you've owned

[spacey1]

There will have been material / technology changes in the tyres over the years.

Are the compounds used on the different tyres sizes the same? The larger having to deal with more hp that is...

You could infer that Conti have gone too far on a particular tech/compound aspect of the tyre and need to pull back a bit from the direction that they are heading.

Tyres are sleeper technology really. On the outside, they're just black and round. I'm still in awe of the advances made to tyre technology in my years of motorcycling. Grip, lean angle, durability to cater with huge horsepower.

My 60 hp bikes in the 70's chewed through rubber, any rubber in less than 6000 km... and didn't grip that well.

A thought, maybe the traction control on the new bike is limiting wheel spin and coincidentally improving tyre mileage, therefore more issues are cropping up?

Just like us humans getting older...

[spacey1]

Regarding Raider's reference to longevity of the TKC 80 on his various GSA models.

http://forum.bmwmccwa.asn.au/viewtopic. ... =30#p17947

The evidence would appear to support that manufacturers do muck around with tyre compounds within tyre models.

My first front TKC 70 had 27,000 km with maybe 3,000 km left. I replaced it due to some cracks appearing around the tread blocks.

http://forum.bmwmccwa.asn.au/viewtopic. ... =15#p16415

The second front TKC 70 fitted to my bike now has just 19,000 km and really needs replacing before summer is over and the rain starts.

That is a huge change in the durability of the tyre, more in-line with the durability of the rear.

Maybe the manufacturer made them too durable at the first iteration, and has since changed the compounds to ensure riders buy fronts and rears at the same time, ergo, spend more $$$$...

[spacey1]

OK, some might get the impression that I'm lovin' these TKC 70 tyres.

Fitted another Continental TKC 70 on the front at 187,500 km.

[spacey1]

Continental TKC 70 - 150/70 R 17

Replaced my rear Continental TKC 70 at 199,150 km on my R1200 GSA 2008, fitted at 178,566 km.

Previous fitment: http://forum.bmwmccwa.asn.au/viewtopic. ... =30#p18020

Comments: Continental TKC 70 rear tyre @ 20,534 km

No sentimental reasons for sticking to this tyre.
It's a simple value /performance / cost / durability proposition.

Similar wear and durability to the previous usage.

This tyre started leaking about 1 psi every two days about six weeks ago.
After discovering a tiny leak at the bead, I removed the tyre and cleaned up the rim. There was a lot of scale(?) in the leak area.
Figuring that I had fixed the leak, I re-fitted the tyre to get the last thousand kilometers or so out of it.
It still had a 1 psi leak over a couple of days...
I finally tracked it down to tiny micro-cuts on the very worn centre tread.

Summing up:

• I have never had this many kilometres on a motorcycle tyre 'EVER'. Typically 6,000 to 8,000 km from a rear.
• These are Western Australian kilometres - ie. Flat straight bitumen roads; commuting on freeways 18 km (x2) every day, rain or shine. Club bush rides on dirt roads (eg. Farm ride to Albany).
• The TKC70 tyres have never let me down on-road or off-road, wet or dry (still haven't experienced mud - hardly a surprise in WA).
• No pucker moments, they just let you know what's going to happen next.
• They still stick like the proverbial on the sides when pushed to the lean limit.
• Quiet when originally fitted. Get progressively noisier with time but still quiet. But never Heidenau LOUD (Where you want 'em to wear out to stop the noise).

Would I fit them again > Already have

4th rear Continental TKC 70 tyre fitted now...

[spacey1]

Fitted a set of Continental TKC-70 tyres to the BMW R1250 GSA.

Fitted front and rear at: 3596 km

A vast improvement over the Bridgestone Battlax Adventure A41R road tyres fitted as standard, and substantially quieter... I'll save them for a Nullabor crossing one day...

Comparing notes with Robin who fitted very aggressive Bridgestone Battlax AdventureCross AX41R knobby tyres to his BMW R1250 GSA. He noted how great the knobbies are off-road. However, he did note that sand and mud still present issues.

I can confidently add that with the less aggressive Continental TKC-70 tyres fitted to the BMW R1250 GSA, sand and mud present issues...

[Digger]

G’day Slackers,

This might be of interest for those of you who are a fan of the TKC70 or who might want to introduce themselves with a bit more of an off road tyre that will still meet their on road use.

https://youtu.be/duwIOAFexIw

[spacey1]

Nice spotting digger, FortNine puts out some pretty interesting perspectives...



I will certainly be giving the Continental TKC70 Rocks a go on the rear of the R1250 GSA when the summer / restrictions / lockdowns / fires / floods / heatwaves abate... and the current TKC70 eventually wears out.

Example supplier: https://pablos.com.au/products/tkc70-rocks

Here are a couple of review videos...





Will report back when the tyre is fitted. Another 5k - 6k to go on the rear TKC70.

Interested to hear back from anyone with some experience with these Continental TKC70 Rocks.

[spacey1]

This'll be interesting...

ROAD NOISE: a pleasantly quiet tire thanks to an enhanced lug arrangement to suppress noise

[spacey1]

BMW R1250 GSA: Continental TKC 70 front replaced at 19,392 km.

19,392 - 3,596 = 15,796 km

Not my usual nearly 30,000 km out of a front (as on my 2008 R1200 GSA).
This is, however, the first TKC 70 set on my BMW R1250 GSA.

The AirHead ride to Nannup was a turnout for the books... About half-way to Nannup, the front TKC 70 started losing air. After the second pump-up and inspection, I discovered that the steel belt was ruptured across the tread.



With 85 km to go, I topped up the air and bolted. An air leak is a time thing so I figured I should get to Nannup quickly. I was quite concerned about the tyre exploding on a corner. Not so much about the slow leak. But I did make it into Nannup on one squirmy front end and parked it up on the trailer that should have been reserved for one of those pesky airheads...

For reference: http://forum.bmwmccwa.asn.au/viewtopic. ... =30#p21418

OK... I had some hope that I would get some resolution from the agent, but alas. I was informed that the tyre was technically illegal and required replacing anyway.
I did get looked after with the price of a new one.

This raises a new issue really. Have Continental changed the tread compounds on these tyres. The front tyre normally outlast the rear easily.

The rear TKC 70 has plenty of tread on it at now 15,796 km. Normal replacement around 20,000 km per 2008 BMW R1200 GSA experience. This looks likely to be replicated on the R1250 GSA rear.



I've used these beauties for nearly 120,000 km without issues. With this early failure and tread wear, my love affair with these tyres may well be coming to an end...

Will give them one more try on the front and hope that this was merely an anomoly...

Thanks to Club members who assisted along the journey and the luxury ride in the Suburu on the homeward journey.

Some said it was 'unlucky'. However, I thought that it was the luckiest of circumstances. Travelling at low speed with 17 riding companions, a car with trailer backing up the posse, on a bitumen road and, in a populated area.