New tires for my KDX

[Petorius]

Never purchased dirt tires before, any recommendations for a tire to use on my KDX? 99% woods use, occasionally on road to connect trails.

[typeone]

i'm a fan of Motoz Tractionators, Kevin's Cycle stocks them now

[maxim_X]

Golden tire gt216aa fat front. Vee rubber 300 tackee out back.

[tls25rs]

The standard NE woods tire set of Bridgestone M59 front and Pirelli MT16 in the back if you have 21/18. Had these on my bike when they still sold the 19" MT16 and loved them. MT16 wears fairly rapidly but great tire while it lasted.

What the other have recommended

I run IRC VE33/VE35 combination and have good luck with traction as well as wear.

[flippedr6]

Joel is your 33 up front or in back? Funny you said that combo a set of 33/35 should up at work for me today. I did 35 front and 33 rear RM only had 35 front and 33 rear.

[breakdirt916]

Needs DOT? What kind of riding (hard or soft)? Do you want them to last a long time?

[Petorius]

Needs DOT? What kind of riding (hard or soft)? Do you want them to last a long time?

I don't really know the answers, but I'll try- Does not need DOT, unless required for Turkey Runs and such. Hard, or if there is something in between, then that probably (rocks/roots/woods trails). I'd hope that they can last a season riding 1-2 days a month. Not sure if that's even reasonable.

[Chippertheripper]

"Need" dot is subjective.

[Petorius]

"Need" dot is subjective.

Would it ever be an issue at organized events?

[Stromper]

Real Dunlop Trials tire on the rear

Washugal up front

[Chippertheripper]

Would it ever be an issue at organized events?

As far as the event is concerned: no. As far as you getting stopped by Johnny law, mayyyyyyyyybe, but pretty unlikely.

You may have to find someplace cool to get a sticker, if that's your thing.

[nhbubba]

Sticker. Yeah, keep forgetting about those.

[Rada]

I've become a fan it the MT 16 rear. I had a hard time buying it when it was recommended to me. I mean it looks pretty mundane. Boy does it stick. At some point I want to try a Golden to see how they compare.

[Chippertheripper]

Oh, uh, yeah. I like the irc ve3(whcuhever number goes here) front and mt16 rear. It's good everywhere.
I'm not a fan of the m59 front because the side knobs rip off if you look at it wrong.
The Vee tacky 300 rear is a fantastic tire. Hooks up like whoa, but being as it has the soft rubber sheath, it wears fast.

If you want a little extra stick up front just buy the mt16 front too. I like the irc (same straight up knobby pattern) better because it wears like iron (it's a harder compound) and it has a good stiff sidewall with a big lip to protect the rim. It's a little more slippery than the mt16 (not by much at all), but it's strengths more than make up for it.

[Kurlon]

Kenda Trackmaster 2 for the rear. It's heavy, it's stiff, wears like iron and does decent in New England terrain.

[tls25rs]

Joel is your 33 up front or in back? Funny you said that combo a set of 33/35 should up at work for me today. I did 35 front and 33 rear RM only had 35 front and 33 rear.

Yup front is 35 and rear would be 33

[tls25rs]

I like the irc (same straight up knobby pattern).......and it has a good stiff sidewall with a big lip to protect the rim.

I always forget to mention the big lip that protects the rim, love that thing riding the rocky terrain we call home. Can run the soft tire pressure for the traction and you are far less likely to ding up your rims. Pretty much every time I ride I'm washing rubber off the rim from where the rim protection strip saved me a scratch or possibly worse.

[nhbubba]

You guys rule. So glad I don't have to randomly experiment here.

[tls25rs]

You guys rule. So glad I don't have to randomly experiment here.

Can't speak for the other guys but my recommendations came from the knowledge base that was on the old, now defunct nedirtbikes forum. Can't take credit for others knowledge.

[ZX-12R]

I'm running a Vee Rubber 300 front and a Pirelli MT-43 trials on the rear. The MT-43 wears like iron and has tons of grip. High speed cornering with it is interesting to say the least but its traction on rocks and roots is impressive considering it isn't any where near as soft as a competition trials tire. I have 2 seasons on it and it still hasn't worn out yet. I'll be replacing it with a Vee Rubber 300 rear for Stimilon and once that wears out I will likely go back to a trials tire.

I specifically want to try the Kenda Equilibrium trials and enduro hybrid tire.

[Chippertheripper]

Nedb is alive again, I don't really pay too much mind to it, but it's going again.

[nhbubba]

Yes you can. Conduit of info is as important as the source.

[Petorius]

How do trials tires do in mud/wet? Terrible?

[ZX-12R]

I haven't had any issues with trials tires in the wet or mud. Obviously they're not ideal for really deep mud but you don't encounter that very often and their other properties more than make up for that limitation. I try and keep my wheel speed up through softer areas so the lugs clean themselves out and I motor on. I'm also pretty heavy which helps push the tire down to firm ground in the slop.

Some people love them and others don't care for them. It took me a couple of rides to get used to them and now I swear by them. It's definitely worth trying out.

[Chippertheripper]

How do trials tires do in mud/wet? Terrible?

Depends if there's rocks underneath, or not.
I like a trials tire for 99% of riding. It's different, but it's good. If you can't chance a race though, the mt16 is the way to go.
On the subject of trials tires, I had bad luck with the one mt43 I bought. The sidewalls delaminated in 4 rides, and the tire was junk, even though it was essentially brand new.
The Dunlop, Michelin, and Vee trials tires have all been excellent. Could be a fluke, but I won't chance it again.