Tourance vs Tourance EXP

[elizilla]

I was very happy with the Tourances on my V-Strom. Went through a half dozen sets of them, got about 9000 miles from each rear tire. Better than the Trailwings the Strom came with, and better than the Anakees I tried one time when the Tourances were out of stock. For what I do, the Tourances were very confidence inspiring. Especially in the rain, and as we all know, motorcycling is a water sport.

Now I need to choose a tire for the Super Ténéré. My OEM Battlewings have been OK, but they're getting square way too quickly. Living where I live, and refusing to trailer, I need a tire that resists squaring a bit better.

The Tourance EXP is the recommended fitment and some people got them OEM. But the Tourances I liked before are still available. Has anyone tried both, and if so can you give a review? Right now I'm leaning towards just getting another set of regular Tourances since I know they are good for me, but if the EXP will last longer and stick the same, or last the same and stick better, I'd buy them. But I don't want to buy a tire that will square off or cup in under 5000 miles, even if it's slightly stickier - not when I know the regular Tourance is sticky enough.

So anyone tried both? And if so what do you think?

 

[dcstrom]

I tried them both - on the Vee. Like you I got good mileage out of the old Tourance. But unlike you, I didn't find it particulary confidence inspiring, or road or on dirt. The Tourance EXP on the other hand was much better on the road, about the same on dirt, but only lasted half as long.

If you like the old Tourance and want good wear, I'd say go for it.

I was very happy with the Tourances on my V-Strom. Went through a half dozen sets of them, got about 9000 miles from each rear tire. Better than the Trailwings the Strom came with, and better than the Anakees I tried one time when the Tourances were out of stock. For what I do, the Tourances were very confidence inspiring. Especially in the rain, and as we all know, motorcycling is a water sport.

Now I need to choose a tire for the Super Ténéré. My OEM Battlewings have been OK, but they're getting square way too quickly. Living where I live, and refusing to trailer, I need a tire that resists squaring a bit better.

The Tourance EXP is the recommended fitment and some people got them OEM. But the Tourances I liked before are still available. Has anyone tried both, and if so can you give a review? Right now I'm leaning towards just getting another set of regular Tourances since I know they are good for me, but if the EXP will last longer and stick the same, or last the same and stick better, I'd buy them. But I don't want to buy a tire that will square off or cup in under 5000 miles, even if it's slightly stickier - not when I know the regular Tourance is sticky enough.

So anyone tried both? And if so what do you think?

 

[SpeedStar]

I will second dcstrom - The EXP grips much better than the regular Tourance but lifespan is short. Only about 3500 for the rear for me. YMMV.

 

[Buckeye56]

Another data point, I am at 4K on the OEM EXPs and they are not worn out yet. The rear is squared off pretty good but no ill effects so far.

A buddy who has a 1200GS that came with EXPs refuses to replace them as he says they wear out too quickly. I saw a vid by a fella who did the Iron Butt last year on a GSA loaded to the gills who got better than 14K on Michilen Anakee IIs. I think that is what I am going to try next.

 

[elizilla]

Thanks guys!

The other possibility I am considering, is just getting one of the more "street" tires.

I'd like to ride some offroad, but frankly this bike is too big and heavy for me to do that alone. I can just barely pick it up if I drop it in my driveway. There's no way I'd be able to pick it up alone, with my feet on a sloping pile of loose rocks. I don't have anyone to ride with, and there aren't any cars driving by who might stop and help, when you're off the road. If I go to Whitehorse and travel with the group into areas I wouldn't travel alone, I'd want more dirt-capable tires. But the tires I put on now wouldn't take me to Whitehorse even if I bought the K60s - I'd want to leave on fresh tires. For now, maybe I should try those Pilot Road 3 Trails. They should be fine for anything I'm likely to do this spring.

I'm probably overthinking this. Tires are temporary. Put some on, ride them. If you don't like them, the opportunity to change them is not far away regardless. I should try something different "just because". There are certainly plenty of choices.

 

[markjenn]

Mine came with the EXP's. The rear was toast at 5300 miles (swapped out to a $110 Battlewing) and the front looks 60% worn at 6K. I haven't pushed them super hard though.

Had Tourances briefly on my Strom, but swapped them out for TKC80s because I was going on a trip where I felt I needed knobbier rubber; I think I sold them. They did seem to be wearing slowly. I never had any grip problems on pavement, but I don't recall pushing them very hard. I actually thought the best-feeling rubber on my Strom was the widely-derided Trailwings; I did some almost track-day type riding on them and thought there were darn good.

The CW by a lot of folks seems to be that the standard Tourances wear significantly slower, perhaps the only 90-10 big traillee tire that has a snowball's chance of making 10K out of a rear. And the EXP's are about like the rest of the pack (Anakees, Battlewings, etc.) where 5K is more typical. My recommendation would be for you to stick to the Tourances. I don't think the extra grip of the EXP's is worth the reduction in mileage.

The Battlewings are about the cheapest right now. For around $200/pair, they seem like the best value. Unless I need the extra mileage of the Tourances, my plan is to cheap out and go with them. It's pretty hard to buy a "bad tire" these days.

- Mark

 

[mrpincher]

I gotta say that my rear EXP was worn bare at 8200 miles and the front has a couple thousand left on it. Those 8200 miles were about all tarmac and about 75% of that time I was heavily loaded down while following an FJR. Yes I did say following. ::26::

I have the K-60s now cause I found the deep sand hard to steer through with the EXPs.

Mike

 

[stevepsd]

EXP's came on mine. Over 5K and wearing great. They work great on-road & gravel. They suck in any thing loose, like sand.

 

[Rasher]

Got Roadsmarts on the Beemer, it came with Deathwings (truly awful) and I then fitted Tourance EXP's (Barely got 4k out of the rear) I now run Roadsmarts which are brilliant on the road, loads of grip and feel, good in the wet and dual compound, although they still last less than 5k with my ham fisted throttle control (and much two-up)

If I wanted Dual Purpose I would go for Trailmax TR91's as they seem to get great reviews

Dunlop - SportSmart / Trailmax TR91 Launch in Mireval

For the road I will soon be fitting another rear Roadsmart (As front has loads of life left) adn will either fit Roadsmart 2's or Pilot Road 3's for my next set.

 

[colorider]

I ran Tourances years go and was happy with them. Not so much with the EXP's on the SuperT. I will likely mount the K60's for the Whitehorse run, but will then go back to something more street oriented as that's what most of my riding is. I might try the Trail Attacks after the K60's.

 

[EricV]

I'm probably overthinking this. Tires are temporary. Put some on, ride them. If you don't like them, the opportunity to change them is not far away regardless. I should try something different "just because". There are certainly plenty of choices.

You nailed it there. ::008::

The EXPs definitely wear faster than the regular Tourances. I didn't much care for the EXPs and pulled them at 6200, even though I could have squeaked a bit more wear out of the rear. I was headed to Death Valley and did NOT want the crap EXPs on for that riding. If you want a more street oriented tire that wears well, the Tourance is probably fine, and you know the characteristics of that tire already, which has it's merits.

Another good choice for long wear and good handling wet or dry is the Conti Trial Attack. Expect 10k from the rear and they fit your stated needs well. Not the most dirt oriented tire, but neither is any 80/10 tire out there.

I keep waiting for someone to try the Dunlop TR-91s, because there's no way in hell I'd ever buy them. The reports I read suggest a tread life on the rear of ~3500 miles or so. Everyone raves about the wet traction, but most neglect to mention the lack of tread life. I'd love to read someone's real world experience on a S10 of how long they last compared to other tires we all know more about. I just can't afford to buy tires that don't last. 3500 miles was 5 days last month. It would be nuts to have to buy tires once a month, never mind after a single week of riding.

 

[tomatocity]

I have been through 2+ sets of Trail Attacks on a KLR. Truthfully I never got more than 6,000 miles out of a rear tire on a KLR or DL1000. I got 8,500 out of the BattleWing and could have got 9,000 at least.

The KLR in my garage has a newer set of Trail Attacks on it. Like Rod I will be installing the K60's for Whitehorse and replacing them with Trail Attacks after they wear out.

I also tried a set of T63's on the KLR and they worked very well off road. The front tire was excellent in soft dirt, soft sand, and gravel. These tires were very buzzy and it felt good to remove them. The rear tire would have gone 6,000 miles though removed at 4,500 miles and squared off.

I have also used Road Attacks on the DL1000. Three rear tires and the front tire looked like it would last 20,000 miles.

 

[houndman]

Another good choice for long wear and good handling wet or dry is the Conti Trial Attack. Expect 10k from the rear and they fit your stated needs well. Not the most dirt oriented tire, but neither is any 80/10 tire out there.

[/quote] 80/10 tire? 80% tarmac, 10% off road, 10% burnout factor? ::26::

 

[tomatocity]

Another good choice for long wear and good handling wet or dry is the Conti Trial Attack. Expect 10k from the rear and they fit your stated needs well. Not the most dirt oriented tire, but neither is any 80/10 tire out there.

80/10 tire? 80% tarmac, 10% off road, 10% burnout factor? ::26::

Eric includes 10% for MOTO Tag ::008::

 

[houndman]

Eric includes 10% for MOTO Tag ::008::

Dude that is funny as I was just looking at the photo moto thread for the very first time on this site when I came back here to see what was posted....$hite you not! Karma man.

 

[tomatocity]

Dude that is funny as I was just looking at the photo moto thread for the very first time on this site when I came back here to see what was posted....$hite you not! Karma man.

Did my first MOTO Tag last night. Had been watching from the beginning and finally grabbed my camera and jumped on the Tenere. Waiting for the new Tag.

 

[houndman]

I'm gonna do the same as soon. Get in on this.

 

[tomatocity]

Apologies for my tire interruption.

Dunlop Roadsmart (dual compound) was used on the rear of a DL1000. Although I liked the way it handled the hard center was difficult to get used to. I locked up the rear brake more than once. Other than that it was a 6,000 mile rear tire.

 

[EricV]

80/10 tire? 80% tarmac, 10% off road, 10% burnout factor? ::26::

Now you're getting it! When you see a Moto TAG that you can score before daylight ends, you ROMP! That does shorten tire live a tad. But damn, it's fun. Tequila math, eh?

 

[houndman]

The stock EXP's seem a good tread for street/ rain. But the vibe I'm getting here is that they wear out too fast and what they cost there is much better?