DIrt Bike Tire advice
 

I just picked up a 2002 KTM 520 MXC. It is plated and was being driven on the street. I doubt I will see much pavement and want new tires for trails. I live in Central Cali and plan on spending time in the Mountains and a little desert riding. I was thinking Dunlop 606 but am second guessing if I really want DOT tires.

thoughts?

Hmm...I don't know jack unless it's road race, or dirt race.

If you wanted strictly dirt, the Bridgstone M403 is unmatched. They will take you through anything. I think you have an 18" wheel though.

Its dirt but no plans to race at this point.....

Just hit the trails for now. You are correct it's an 18" rear, is that a drawback?

18 is better for trail riding. More side wall means the tire will mold and bend and hook up better. But it could also limit you from MotoCross tires.

I ride my M403 on the trails, and so far it outperforms everything else I have tried. If you're sticking to the dirt, and they make one in an 18", I would give it a try. Snow, mud, rock, sand, they hook up anywhere.

Cool thanks I will check it out!

I welcome any other suggestions also...

My last two sets have been the M403's also. Great tires. The Dunlop soft terrain (Jarrod, what was it, the 956?) tire is great also, but not as good as the Bridgestone. I had Maxxis Maxx Cross IT's on my KTM (EXC also) and loved them. Tons of grip and lasted a long time. I think I'm going to try them on my next set of tires just to see how they compare to the Bridgestones.

Thanks Evan was your EXC plated for the street? I think I am getting hung up on DOT tires but logically I am thinking to not limit myself by going that rout. The Dunlop 606’s get good feedback but I have to believe they are a compromise to become DOT approved.

yup, before we moved to the M403, we all ran D-956 and 756s. I thought they were the best, until my buddy crawled past me up a snow covered hill. The dunlop nearly left me stranded while my buddy sat at the top screaming at me to try the Bridgestone. :-) They are that much better.

Nope, my EXC was dirt only. I wish it was plated.

I've put some street miles on my Bridgestones riding to/from the dirt, they work fine. Unless you're planning on jumping on the highway, or logging lots of miles, then you'll be fine. No, they're not DOT approved, but they wont create any issues. Just make sure to get them balanced. IMO that's more important than DOT approval. Otherwise, you'll get a nasty vibration in the bars or seat around 40mph.

Pirelli MT43 Trials tire. DOT approved. I've been riding it for about 2 years and I'll never go back to a traditional knobbie.

There will alwasy be a compromise. What works better on the street will suffer in some of the various offroad terrains you might encounter. But this is probably stating the obvious.

403 = front and 404 = rear. you can order it up in an 18" inch rear, just look around online, try moto sport. hands down the best tire made, im rockin mx 51's strickly for drier summer track conditions and im loving them but will being going back to the 403-404 combo with my next set of tires.

here is a pic of that day jarrod was talking about, thats me waking up taking a look outside and saying, im so glad a 404 on my bike, HAHAHAHA

here you go

http://www.motosport.com/dirtbike/ca...duct+Line:M404

Thakns again! Bryan do you run the 90/100 up front?

I have been running M402's (the predecessor to the M404) for several years. It was replaced by the 404 a year or so ago, and despite the 404 being the best tire currently on the market that I've ridden, I still prefer the 402. I have even snapped up a few NOS 402's that I've come across, but I'm on my last one now. :(

I run an 18" rear rim, but have ridden plenty of miles on a 19" too, and I like them about equally. The 18 might climb slightly better and take a few hits where a 19 would pinchflat, but the 19 is lighter all the time.

i run an 80 up front.

Damn that was a cold trip!