Not another tyre post, Yep! with our current choices.

With some quality rear hoops these days surpassing the $320 mark, it can be an expensive exercise keeping Big Bike rated tyres on your machine, especially if you've got a heavy right wrist.

For a very long time we ran the GT723 Adventure tyre, it remains one of our all time favorite do-it-all tyres.

Unfortunately it was replaced by the GT823, and although it was meant to be an improvement, we had continual punctures, split carcasses and poor mileage on the rear. The 823 Front is still excellent, it's the original 723 renamed to 823.

So back to buying multiple tyres and styles in an effort to to settle on another allrounder.

Everyone has different needs, the bike you ride, rider ability and style, terrain, speed and the amount of luggage carried are just some of the variables to consider when it comes to tyre choice.

Our choices are based on a combination of these factors and overall reliability, confidence and feel from the tyres. We've ridden on some well known brands that just feel like they belong on the scrap heap.

*Your riding style, bike and terrain will obviously return different results, these are just ours.

We're not writing a full blown review on tyres, just what we've used and settled on as our current choices, which will be updated from time to time.

Some of what we've used so far on our Honda Africa Twins, Nordern901 & DesertX.

• Bridgestone AX41

• Continental TKC80

• GT201/GT723/GT723R / GT823

• Kenda Big Block

• Michellin Anakee Wild

• Mitas E09 Dakar

• Mitas E10

• Mitas E12

• Mitas E13

• Mitas EO7+

• Motoz Tractionator Adventure

• Motoz RallZ

• Pirelli Scorpion MST

• Pirelli Scorpion STR

• Pirelli Scorpion Rally

• Pirelli MT90

• Shinko 804/805

Unable to settle on a complete allrounder, here's some of our feedback (with each having a different purpose) and the summary of what we use and recommend is below.

Bridgestone AX41.

What we like: this tyre isn't that far off the Anakee Wild in terms of traction, but it lasts around 3 times longer. On road, it's fantastic.

What we don't like: When pushed in corners offroad, the front has occasional washout 'moments', back off the throttle a bit and remember it's a 50/50 and it works just fine.

Mileage:

At 3,900kms, the rear was done. Front was around 70% worn.

We ran this tyre on the prerun for the AT4Day in the Vic High Country and 2 BLITZ rides without any complaints.

Michellin Anakee Wild.

What we like: this tyre has been the most consistent performer. It's stable on dirt and gravel roads, hangs on extremely well in the twisties and always feels planted. The front does a better job than it's looks suggest.

What we don't like: Wears out too fast.

Mieage:

Average is 1,000 to 1,500kms. The best we've achieved so far is 2750kms.

Pirelli Scorpion (MST) don't confuse it with the STR or Rally.

What we like:

Front tyre - Everything.

Rear Tyre - Exceptional drive and traction everywhere we've used it, for a dirt 'race' tyre, it's also pretty damn good on the tar.

What we don't like:

Front - no complaints.

Rear - it's pretty noisy (on road) which is expected from a decent knobby, but it's forgotten about when you hit the dirt.

Mileage:

Front - 4000kms

Rear - 3000kms average, we've ran them out to nearly 4,500kms too.

We also ran the newer Rally version in a 150/70-18. Returning 900kms less than the STR and only marginal improvement in traction.

What we like.

Adventure Touring (50/50)

Bridgestone AX41.

Great all rounder, best mileage of all sizes used in a 150/70-18.

Adventure Trail

(F) Mitas E13 (R) Mitas E09 / Mitas Enduro Trail XT+

More dirt focused, still great on road.

Adventure Enduro

Pirelli Scorpion Rally Race (MST)

Excellent offroad.

Update 03/09/2024

We rec'd some more tyres for testing, will update after they've been used.

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Rear tyre life table from our DesertX

We haven't listed the fronts seperately, we've been running matched sets on purpose while compiling this. Other times, we'd expect to change a front every second rear.

All of the tyres below were used on the same bike, same rider and luggage. The terrain was reasonably consistent from the Vic High Country to the Mid North Coast of NSW, conditions you'd expect on any of our tours and rides.

Rear Tyres used (end of life)	Kms	Our Picks
Bridgestone AX41	3,892	Adventure Touring (50/50)
Pirelli Scorpion Rally Race (140)	3,100	Adventure Enduro
Motoz RallZ	2,928
Mitas E07+ Dakar	2,806
Pirelli Scorpion Rally (STR)	2,649
Mitas E09 Dakar	2,643	Adventure Trail
Anlas CapraX	2,392
Mitas E10 Dakar	2,249
Pirelli Scorpion Rally (150)	1,791
Michelin Anakee Wild	1,427

#tyres #adv