- Joined
- Jan 24, 2006
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- Location
- Brakpan, South Africa
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- BMW R1200GS HP2
I would like to use this opportunity to provide some feedback on the tyres used during our recent Angola trip.
You can read about the trip here:
https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=52554.0
Prior to the trip starting we had a serious debate as to which tyre we should use during the trip. Most of us have ridden with TKC's but the mileage these tyres gives, posed a serious problem to our expected 7000 km trip. Using Anakees or similar type tyres were not going to make the grade as we expected to ride quite a bit of sand.
In the end Antonie and I opted to ride with Heidenau's. Yes there were stories about delaminating, but I used my tyres on the Wakkerstroom weekend and I really tried to break them, but to no avail, so I opted to use them. Secondly I am an armgat, and there was no way I was going to take an almost new set of tyres off my bike just to put a different brand on.
Excalibur and Basil opted to put Mitas on the rear with either TKC or Heidis on the front while Glen went Mitas all da way.
Shaun opted to go for the tried and tested TKC’s and promised himself he will ride like a woos so they could last the distance.
I took a few pics during our stop over in Lobito ± half way
The Heidi’s on my bike
The Mitas on Basil’s bike – he murdered those tyres trying to get our of Binga bay, hence the excessive wear on the knobblies
The TKC’s on Shaun’s bike
The last night we stopped at Buitepos I took pictures of the Heidi and Mitas on Basil and my bike. The other okes had already headed home, so no pics of their tyres
My Heidi’s
Basil’s Mitas
Herewith Glen’s comments on his Mitas:
Tyres used: Mitas E09, rear, E10 front.
Bike: Yamaha Super Tenere XT1200
Trip: Namibia, Angola, Botswana, RSA
Distance: 6200Km total
Terrain: Tar (40%), broken tar, graded sand road (17%), deep sand track (40%), rocky mountain passes (2%), and beach (1%)
Speeds: Tar 120 – 140km/h, short bursts up to 180Kmh, Off-road from 8km/h – 120km/h
Tyre life left on rear: 50%
Front tyre received a sidewall cut after 1800km, (pilot fault)
Overall impressions: Like the tread pattern, rides comfortably, performed well in all of the terrain encountered (at the correct pressures), tyre life exceeded expectations.
The XT1200 is heavy, with torque, and I rode most of the technical sections with traction control de-activated, so I expected to lose some knobs, which didn’t happen.
The Mitas certainly seem to provide a lot better mileage than the TKC, but not as much as the Heidi’s. However the Mitas provide better grip, so I guess in the end one has to make the decision for oneselve.
I had the most punctures 4 in total.
Glen managed to cut the sidewall on his front. He also struggled with initial seating problems, but that was fixed on day three.
Basil complained of a slow puncture, but continually pumped it and rode home.
Use it or loose it :thumleft:
You can read about the trip here:
https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=52554.0
Prior to the trip starting we had a serious debate as to which tyre we should use during the trip. Most of us have ridden with TKC's but the mileage these tyres gives, posed a serious problem to our expected 7000 km trip. Using Anakees or similar type tyres were not going to make the grade as we expected to ride quite a bit of sand.
In the end Antonie and I opted to ride with Heidenau's. Yes there were stories about delaminating, but I used my tyres on the Wakkerstroom weekend and I really tried to break them, but to no avail, so I opted to use them. Secondly I am an armgat, and there was no way I was going to take an almost new set of tyres off my bike just to put a different brand on.
Excalibur and Basil opted to put Mitas on the rear with either TKC or Heidis on the front while Glen went Mitas all da way.
Shaun opted to go for the tried and tested TKC’s and promised himself he will ride like a woos so they could last the distance.
I took a few pics during our stop over in Lobito ± half way
The Heidi’s on my bike
The Mitas on Basil’s bike – he murdered those tyres trying to get our of Binga bay, hence the excessive wear on the knobblies
The TKC’s on Shaun’s bike
The last night we stopped at Buitepos I took pictures of the Heidi and Mitas on Basil and my bike. The other okes had already headed home, so no pics of their tyres
My Heidi’s
Basil’s Mitas
Herewith Glen’s comments on his Mitas:
Tyres used: Mitas E09, rear, E10 front.
Bike: Yamaha Super Tenere XT1200
Trip: Namibia, Angola, Botswana, RSA
Distance: 6200Km total
Terrain: Tar (40%), broken tar, graded sand road (17%), deep sand track (40%), rocky mountain passes (2%), and beach (1%)
Speeds: Tar 120 – 140km/h, short bursts up to 180Kmh, Off-road from 8km/h – 120km/h
Tyre life left on rear: 50%
Front tyre received a sidewall cut after 1800km, (pilot fault)
Overall impressions: Like the tread pattern, rides comfortably, performed well in all of the terrain encountered (at the correct pressures), tyre life exceeded expectations.
The XT1200 is heavy, with torque, and I rode most of the technical sections with traction control de-activated, so I expected to lose some knobs, which didn’t happen.
The Mitas certainly seem to provide a lot better mileage than the TKC, but not as much as the Heidi’s. However the Mitas provide better grip, so I guess in the end one has to make the decision for oneselve.
I had the most punctures 4 in total.
Glen managed to cut the sidewall on his front. He also struggled with initial seating problems, but that was fixed on day three.
Basil complained of a slow puncture, but continually pumped it and rode home.
Use it or loose it :thumleft:
