Hawk Tires
 

Hello, previously someone asked about mostly on road tires, I want to ask if someone can refer me to some inexpensive decent quality off-road tires(Knobbies) For the Hawk. I do very little on road and majority off road. Thanks if you want to include the link, that would be great.

If you're okay with the Stock tires I'm sure there are few members on here that will be willing to sell you there take off tire or even send you them for the cost of shipping. That's how I got a set.

You mean something like 50-50 tire? Or more off oriented? Im using 50-50 tire Maxxis 6034

well I heard that the stock tires are not as good as some other aftermarket tires but what is the reason why? Do aftermarket tires grip the dirt better? Aftermarket tires last longer? I just don't know I'm new at this. as far as the second post is concerned, I think dirt bike knobby tires would be better for off-road wouldn't it? Rather than the dual sport tires?

I wouldn't mind the 50/50 Tire if I knew it would grip off road just as good as on road

I think Hawk is not that kind of extreme offroad bike as to need extreme knobble tires. My 200gy-a does not have power to handle 120-90-18 full knoble tyre well. In 6-7000km I had only 1 need for knobble tire, and this situation is below ;). I drive a lot of road, too.

Lots of choices. Shinko 244's are 50/50 ish, pretty cheap and wear well. Just got a set for the tt 250. Kenda track master is a more aggressive knobby. Shinko 700's are a little more street biased but still good on the dirt. Have Kenda 270's on the RX3 same tread pattern as the 244. There's also the Shinko 241 trials tire that is dot approved.

you're right, the hawk is not that that kind of a bike for extreme conditions, however I get the adrenaline rush and I push it to the extreme, most of the time I just go on dirt roads but sometimes I go up steep hills, down steep hills, over rocks around logs, sometimes sand, sometimes mud. I don't like to go through mud though, but I do beat the crap out of my bike sometimes. too bad there's not a WR 250 that's just as comfortable as a hawk! lol. but I've been thinking a wr250 might be better for my purpose but I definitely love the hawk. I've been wanting to hit jumps but I know I can't do that with the hawk.

Golden Tyre..." You may not of heard of them"

GT 316 90/90/21 or GT333 90/90/21
GT 230 110/90/18

stay with a 90 % aspect ratio.... keep your rims clear of rocks etc at lower pressures..


...

Cheap tyres V more exspensive ones...
it is all to do with what you can't see...
carcass construction..

both the cheap and exspensive tyre grip well when new ... very little between them..
but when both the cheap tyre and more exspenive one are half worn... thats when
the carcuss construction comes into play..
The cheap tyre is done...while the exspensive one is still doing it's job...

When you buy a good tyre it's not really the knobs you are paying for but
what the are sitting on..
they have stress cords that when the tyre is loaded under power they change how
ridged the carcuss is... when the power comes off cornering/brakeing the carcuss
is more flexable better grip for cornering or brakeing... then power on the crcuss become
more ridged makeing the knobs dig...

Stuff you don't find in a cheap tyre to the same exstent...


...

good point

There are a lot of other things to consider if you want to get into real off road tires. As far as DOT compliant tires, Pirelli makes their MT16 intermediate tire, which is probably the best balance between construction and price out there. It comes in the stock Hawk sizes of 80/100-21 and 110/100-18, and can generally be found for around 60-70 a tire. For a good but more budget friendly tire the Kenda K760 Trakmaster II might be right up your alley. Also comes in stock Hawk sizes, and the rear tire is about 50 bucks, and the front around 40. Very similar to the stock Hawk tread pattern.

Thanks Megadan! Perfect! I'll probably get one of the two.

b

What is the largest dual sport tire size/width these bikes can handle? 90/120?