Alright, let’s talk about them motorcycle tires, the ones for ridin’ in the desert, you know, where it’s all sandy and rocky. I ain’t no expert, but I know a thing or two about what works and what don’t.
First off, you gotta understand, there’s all sorts of tires out there. Some are good for the road, some for the dirt, and some try to do both. Now, if you’re gonna be doin’ a lot of desert ridin’, you want somethin’ tough, somethin’ that can handle the rocks and sand without gettin’ chewed up too quick. They call them “all-terrain” tires I heard.
What to look for in a desert tire?
- Toughness: You need a tire that can take a beatin’. Them rocks in the desert ain’t no joke, they’ll tear up a weak tire real fast.
- Tread: You want a good, knobby tread. Them knobs dig into the sand and dirt and give you grip. The bigger the knobs, the better it’ll grip in the loose stuff, I say.
- Durability: Desert ridin’ is hard on tires, so you want somethin’ that’ll last. You don’t want to be changin’ tires every other ride, that’s for sure.
Now, them fellers at the tire shops, they talk about all sorts of numbers and stuff. Like “50/50” or “80/20.” What’s that all about you ask? Well, from what I gather, a “50/50” tire is supposed to be good for both the road and the dirt. But if you’re mostly ridin’ in the desert, you want somethin’ more like an “80/20” or even an “85/15” tire. That means it’s mostly for the dirt, but it can still handle a little bit of pavement if you need to ride on the road to get to your desert spot.
Some tire brands them fellas talk about:
I heard some folks sayin’ good things about Michelin, Dunlop, Bridgestone, Pirelli, and Maxxis. I reckon they all make good tires, but you gotta pick the right one for your kind of ridin’. Don’t just go buyin’ the first tire you see, ya hear?
Tread Depth, what they saying:
Them tire fellas, they always talkin’ about tread depth. Sayin’ you gotta replace your tires when the tread gets down to 2/32 or 3/32 of an inch. I don’t know about all that fancy measurements. I just look at the tires, if they look worn down, I change ’em. It ain’t rocket science.
Specific Tires I’ve Heard About:
Now, there’s this tire called the Heidenau K60 Scout. Folks seem to like it. Say it lasts a good long time. I ain’t used it myself, but I heard it’s good for adventure ridin’, which probably means it can handle some desert stuff. Then there’s the MOTOZ Desert H/T. They say that one’s mostly for off-road, like 85% off-road. Sounds like a good desert tire to me. They say it can handle the hard terrain and them rocky fire roads. If you’re gonna be doin’ a lot of that, that might be the tire for you.
Wet Roads and Other Stuff:
Now, if you’re gonna be ridin’ on wet roads, I heard them Continental ContiCity tires are good. But we’re talkin’ about desert ridin’ here, so I don’t know why you’d be worried about wet roads much. Unless it rains, of course. But mostly in the desert, it’s dry and dusty.
Final Thoughts:
Look, pickin’ the right tire ain’t always easy. You gotta think about where you’re gonna be ridin’, how hard you’re gonna be ridin’, and how much money you wanna spend. But if you’re doin’ a lot of desert ridin’, you want a tough, durable tire with a good, knobby tread. Go talk to them fellers at the tire shop, tell ’em what you’re gonna be doin’, and they’ll help you pick out the right tire. And remember, don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s your money, and you want to make sure you’re gettin’ the right tires for your ride.
And one more thing, always check your tires before you go ridin’. Make sure they ain’t got no holes or nothin’. And carry a spare tube and some tools, just in case. You never know what might happen out there in the desert.
Tags: [Motorcycle Tires, Desert Riding, All Terrain Tires, Off Road Tires, Motorcycle Gear, Tire Review, Heidenau K60 Scout, MOTOZ Desert H/T, Motorcycle Maintenance, Adventure Riding]
