I'm new to riding an GSA, the bike came with knobblies, to be honest I can't see me doing much un sealed roads just yet, I was wondering how quickly the knoblies wear out, I've been offered a good price on some dual compound road tyres, but am wondering if it's worth the cost of maintaining a set of road tyres and a set of knobblies.
You can either wear out the knobbies and then fit some Metzler Tourances or swap Tyres now and either sell the knobbies or keep them for possible future use. It probably depends on what condition they are in, you are unlikely to get much for 2nd Hand Tyres.
I use theTourances most of the time and they are ok for gravel roads as well.
My suggestion would be wear them out, one border run should put paid to them
I've got twinduro on there at the moment, and I'm quite please so far with their grip on Tarmac, I do plan on gaining on this BMW off road course in October, and do plan on going on unsealed roads.
I also use my bike for commuting, 100k a day of freeway, so the centre of the tyre is going to wear fast, just trying to get a feeling got using Ramon tyres most of the time and swapping the tyre for the ( at the moment) odd occasion off road stuff, or do I keep the twinduro on all the time, but up with the cost so them wearing out on the Tarmac, but then I don't have to worry about swapping them if/when I plan going off road...
Swapping Tyres is a pain unless you have a spare set of rims, you also end up spending more on tyres as you are unlikely to re fit Tyres with 30% or less tread. So the others school of thought (borrowed from a member by the name of Robin) is fit your preferred off road or dual purpose Tyres and then use those for everything. That way you learn their characteristics and limits on and off road. Yes they will wear out faster on road but you should be a better rider and more in tune with your bike on the upside. Probably the best way to go, I would rather that,than swapping Tyres regularly.
By the way if you have TPM installed you want to minimize swaps as it is easy to damage the sensors when changing Tyres.
if you are doing the off-road course then make sure that you have Continental TKC's or Karoo's on, don't go down there with a more road biased tyre on. Trust me you'll get sick and tired very quickly at having to pick your pride and joy up out of the dirt.
Picked up a bloody nail in my back tyre which I discovered today following a pressure drop which was picked up by the tyre pressure monitor.
The tyre probably has another 3-4K of tread left on it but I have been somewhat unhappy with the touraces which came with the bike so I probably will replace it rather than just putting a plug in the hole as I have heard that the plugs aren't a exact science when it comes to safety and reliability.
So I am in the market for new tyres also.
Which brands are experienced GS owners recomending for 70% tar, 30% dirt? I was finding the Touraces a bit of a handfull in the dirt, as they seem to not grip the dirt due to the rounded smooth shape of the tread, especially the front tyre
fix that tooth
09-R1200GSA
12-Suzuki DR650
09-Yamaha T-Max
1999 K 1200 LT
I have these TKC's on, only had th bike a couple of weeks and am pleasantly surprised with the grip on the Tarmac, not taken it off he tarmac yet. I realise hey may wear quicker on he road, but I'm going to see how they do before I make my mind up.
Bill and CAdams I am well impressed with the Heidenau Scouts on my GS. I now use them 70% of the time. The wear is good, road handling is very predictable and they roll very confidently into corners. Off road is good although not as good in tougher going as the TKC's which as Bully says are the best (definate must for the off-road course) and have the best life expectancy of the knobblies. I usually achive 6+000, and a few times 8+ from a rear (need to be on the rims unused for a couple of months and then run in) and 10-12,000 from a front which usually comes off because the blocks have become very shabby.
It is very important to keep up to the recomended pressure on the road otherwise they will chew-out much more quickly than that.
I have done around 200,000 kms with knobblies fitted to my GS now. Most of this has been with TKC's fitted interspaced with others when the Continentals were not availiable, I will always use the TKC's when possible. The other 90,000 kms have been done on the road rims with a selection of road tyres fitted. Michelin were the favorite until the current Heidenau Scouts, I will now stay with them until someone finds somthing better, not likly soon me thinks...
I was finding the Touraces a bit of a handfull in the dirt, as they seem to not grip the dirt due to the rounded smooth shape of the tread, especially the front tyre
I am well impressed with the Heidenau Scouts on my GS. I now use them 70% of the time. The wear is good, road handling is very predictable and they roll very confidently into corners. Off road is good although not as good in tougher going as the TKC's which as Bully says are the best (definate must for the off-road course) and have the best life expectancy of the knobblies. I usually achive 6+000, and a few times 8+ from a rear (need to be on the rims unused for a couple of months and then run in) and 10-12,000 from a front which usually comes off because the blocks have become very shabby.
very happy with them, (exluding their anti-gravity capability in March) 
