These Knobby Tires are Unsettling on Pavement

[Johnp]

Hey guys, can any of you confirm what I'm feeling? Riding around on my Hawk with the knobby tires, it feels... Well, the opposite of smooth and planted.

They feel like they kind of "drift" a bit on pavement. It's hard to describe. But with other bikes I've owned, street tires leave you feeling really planted and attached to the road. These feel unsure on pavement to me.

Anyone else notice this? Or can you describe it better than I am?

[BlackBike]

I predict your next life skill will be motorcycle tire changing.:D

[hertz9753]

I was going to ask if it is like riding a snowmobile but you live in Texas. The tires that come on the Hawk are full off road tires and the knobs will flex when riding on the street or hard pack like clay.

I was thinking about the Kenda K270 Dual Sport tires after mine wear out.

[Entropy]

To each their own, but I don't think I would've made it up 75% of the trails I've gone up if I didn't have knobbies. I'd like a more aggressive off-road tire personally. Any one have some recommendations?

[pete]

To each their own, but I don't think I would've made it up 75% of the trails I've gone up if I didn't have knobbies. I'd like a more aggressive off-road tire personally. Any one have some recommendations?

It's not always about how big yer nob is...
Case construction has as much to do with it , even more so when
the nobs start to get worn & have lost there sharp edges..

I use these.... in combination with Tu-Bliss in both wheels...
216 front / 230 rear
http://goldentyre.co.nz/

But if yer want a real aggressive tyre look at the MotoZ tracknator....



I run these on my ADV bike "XT660R" Shinko 700 - 50/50 tyre
http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg563/petenz1/SAM_0161.jpg (http://s1244.photobucket.com/user/petenz1/media/SAM_0161.jpg.html)




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[SeerAtlas]

To each their own, but I don't think I would've made it up 75% of the trails I've gone up if I didn't have knobbies. I'd like a more aggressive off-road tire personally. Any one have some recommendations?

if you dont mind the money, hard to beat dunlop 606's for pretty much anything offroad. i personally like the IRC TR8's too. for the OP, plenty of more streatable options than the big hawk knobbies- for more of a 70/30-80/20 tire I really like the JAP IRC GP1's. Still pretty grippy in anything but mud but HUGELY better on the street and hardpack. great all round tire. Has a far better and predictable cornering profile than pretty much any full knobbie but Once worn in a bit, you can really jackrabbit around.

[Ron B]

recheck the tire pressure, the hawk tubes are paper thin and seem to leak down over a month. had to replace mine right away and noticed how thin they were.

[w0ss]

I am still getting used to the knobbies on the road, I feel the same thing you do. I might change out for a 50/50 tire but I think I will wait till this wear out before I decide.

[2LZ]

recheck the tire pressure, the hawk tubes are paper thin and seem to leak down over a month. had to replace mine right away and noticed how thin they were.

Yep, you'd swear all stock China tubes come out of a condom factory there...

I prefer the Kenda Tuff Tubes. They're not as easy to install with new, inflexible tires but once installed, they're worth the hassle.

https://www.amazon.com/Kenda-Motorcycle-CANNONDALE-HUSABERG-HUSQVARNA/dp/B002GJM01K/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1465571206&sr=8-4&keywords=kenda+tuff+motorcycle+tube

Knobbies suck on asphalt and always have....plus they wear rapidly on asphalt use. These are a very popular tire here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0026UEILO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3QC7M6H46OGTK&coliid=IUQ01BCG7S938&psc=1

or I have these on Q and like them as well:

https://www.amazon.com/Kenda-K761-Dual-Sport-Radial/dp/B008OG7J9M/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1465571019&sr=1-1&keywords=Kenda+dual+sport+tires

Of course, neither of these are made for heavy off road use or deep mud but I do about 70/30 road/dirt road and they work great.

[kohburn]

the only knobby that I can think of people saying performs well on the road is the TKC80 but they come at a premium


https://www.amazon.com/Continental-Twinduro-TKC80-Dual-Sport-Front/dp/B0022ZE9TY/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1465577252&sr=1-1&keywords=tkc80+90+90-21

[2LZ]

I've heard that the folks who upgrade to the knobbies on the new RX3's say they do good on pavement. I think these are them????
Whoever has them, please post.

http://www.cscmotorcycles.com/TIRE-SHINKO-805-130-80-19-REAR-p/wps87-4704.htm

[wilserchinarider]

I don't push the Hawk w/ orig knobby tires on pavement...much prefer not to get that squirrely feeling...

[kohburn]

I've heard that the folks who upgrade to the knobbies on the new RX3's say they do good on pavement. I think these are them????
Whoever has them, please post.

http://www.cscmotorcycles.com/TIRE-SHINKO-805-130-80-19-REAR-p/wps87-4704.htm

don't think you'll find those in a size to fit the rear

but here is the front https://smile.amazon.com/Shinko-E804-90-90-21-54T/dp/B00T6J7GBW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1465580655&sr=8-5&keywords=shinko+805

[Torgo]

Similar experience - they're a little squirrelly on pavement. They're also a little squirrelly even on the rock/gravel that we have around the Hill Country here, if you keep them at the recommended road pressure. If you cut the pressure in half, they're actually pretty nice on the loose stuff. They get better as they age - partly because they wear down and flex less, partly because you get more used to it.

I don't actually know what I'm going to do when they wear out, and they're probably already halfway there. Even though I mostly fart around on roads, I do like having the knobbys for the times I go off-road. I'm leaning towards a set of Shinko 244s just to compare.

[Sport Rider]

John, I felt the same way with the stockers. they really were good on dirt/trails, but on street, they took a bit of getting used to. I installed Shinko 244s they are a 50/50 tire. they were much nicer on the street. not as grippy on the trails as the full knobbies though. I have a broken shifter and bent clutch lever to prove it. :ohno:

[2LZ]

When I was a kid, we had knobby tires, street tires and the only thing in between was trials tires. They didn't do either street or dirt well, but every Yamaha Enduro and "dual sport" from Suzuki and Kawasaki back then came with them.
Many more choices these days.

[hertz9753]

When I was a kid, we had knobby tires, street tires and the only thing in between was trials tires. They didn't do either street or dirt well, but every Yamaha Enduro and "dual sport" from Suzuki and Kawasaki back then came with them.
Many more choices these days.

Yamaha DT, Kawasaki KE and Suzuki TS did have those trials tires. Around here most of them had a knobby in the back because that's what you did and you liked it...

[jct842]

I have dunlop 606 tires on my ride. Best dunlop tire I have ever rode on but I will not replace with same because of the price. Will go shinko and not sure if it will be the 700 or the 705.

[pcspecialist]

I have dunlop 606 tires on my ride. Best dunlop tire I have ever rode on but I will not replace with same because of the price. Will go shinko and not sure if it will be the 700 or the 705.

Shinko doesn't make a 705 that properly fits the rear rim, the closest you'll find is for a much wider rim.

[pcspecialist]

btw, I had the 705's on my BMW F650 and they were pretty useless off pavement.

['16 TT250]

The tires that come on the TT feel pretty good on the street and I've leaned it almost to the edge with no feeling that it was gonna give. There's some squireliness on some surfaces, but I assume a lot of that is the small light bike as I'm used to 1000cc+ sport bikes. The only dirt it's seen is the short backyard travel to the back door of the house, it hooks up better than my street bikes for sure.

[Entropy]

It's not always about how big yer nob is...
Case construction has as much to do with it , even more so when
the nobs start to get worn & have lost there sharp edges..

I use these.... in combination with Tu-Bliss in both wheels...
216 front / 230 rear
http://goldentyre.co.nz/

But if yer want a real aggressive tyre look at the MotoZ tracknator....



I run these on my ADV bike "XT660R" Shinko 700 - 50/50 tyre
http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg563/petenz1/SAM_0161.jpg (http://s1244.photobucket.com/user/petenz1/media/SAM_0161.jpg.html)




...

The link to golden tyre pulled up their home page. What It's the model?

[hertz9753]

The tires in the picture?


http://www.shinkotireusa.com/tire/700-series

[Entropy]

Duh, nevermind, I didn't see where you wrote 216 front and 230 rear.

[Ron B]

when I ordered my rx3 I ordered it with the 50/50 kenda,s .so far they do great on road and off road.

[dpl096]

Completely agree Ron ... the Kendas are great on the road.

[pcspecialist]

I would think the Shinko 244 would feel less skirmy on pavement than the Kendra 270 because the 244's outer perimeter knobs are wider.

[Wolftrax]

I would think the Shinko 244 would feel less skirmy on pavement than the Kendra 270 because the 244's outer perimeter knobs are wider.
You are correct sir. The 270's are a bit wonky cornering but predictably so. The 244's are much more planted.

[mq1991]

Anyone else have problems with cracks forming around the knobs?

Is it just time to replace the tire?

[hertz9753]

IRC makes the GP-1 with less spacing and larger knobs but I ride off road to much for that tire. If I can't feel the knob bumps when I'm riding something is wrong.

[pete]

I would think the Shinko 244 would feel less skirmy on pavement than the Kendra 270 because the 244's outer perimeter knobs are wider.

You are correct sir. The 270's are a bit wonky cornering but predictably so. The 244's are much more planted.

totaly agree....
little small nobs flex and have less surface area in contact with the road...

look at the 700 in the pic I posted... lots of surface area & the side nobs are
bridged to help with flex...
On the worn out one look at the size of the chicken strips , are about 5 or 6mm
(un-used tyre at the side)
yer can ride it right to the edge... "with the right pressures"

[Snyderc99]

IRC makes the GP-1 with less spacing and larger knobs but I ride off road to much for that tire. If I can't feel the knob bumps when I'm riding something is wrong.
has anyone tried road tires...like a supermoto:hmm:

[Ariel Red Hunter]

has anyone tried road tires...like a supermoto:hmm:
I was just watching a Supermoto race on youtube, and I can tell you I was totally unimpressed with their tire performence in the mud. They just paddle their way through the mud with oceans of wheelspin from their big engines. Some how I can't see a Chinese 250 doing that, at least in this state of their development. :crazy:

[Mudflap]

The Shinko 244 rear feels vague on pavement until it is about 1/3 worn, then it's not bad. The 244 front feels fine on pavement but cups as it wears making it thumpy at low speeds. The 700 feels better on pavement than the 244, and the 705 is the best of the group on pavement and worst of the group off road.

I've ridden my friends Yamaha 250 super moto type bike with sticky 17" street tires. Great fun on pavement but sucks off road.

All tires are a compromise.

[SeerAtlas]

you guys might try a tr8 in front and a dp type in rear. i am Very happy with the tr8 out front {handles dirt w/o the washouts and does good on the street, even when wet) and the GP1 or something similar in the rear. The rounder profile of the gp1 rides/grips far better on the highway, and rides far smoother and predictable than a full knob like the 606, only giving up mud performance really.

[jimwildman]

i dont mind the knobby on the road, dont ride in the rain anyway, but it does say off road use only on it, how do you get through inspection?

I considered scotchbrighting the letters off the tire. I woulnt mind wearing them out before replaceing them.

i used to run dunlops and yoko supperdiggers on my moto bikes when young and even with limited street use they wore quickly.

The hawks tires are lasting very well for a knobby. 100 miles didn't show any considerable wear. i suspect a harder compound.

that said i hate the missing bead locks, and the high pressure that forces you to run.

changing the tire would give me a chance to install one.

[2LZ]

For what it's worth, the stock tires on the TT250 so far have been really nice on the pavement (tight twisties) and also, seem to do well on dry gravel roads. I was going to change them out for something better, expecting the usual stock garbage that sometimes comes on new bikes but am pleasantly surprised so far with the stockers.
I guess it depends on your needs more than anything. We don't do a ton of off-road or wet.