Adventure and dual-sport motorcycles pose a tricky problem for tire makers. The tires need to work well on pavement but also need to be able to claw through dirt, mud, gravel, water, and other low-traction surfaces off the pavement. That means a heavy tread pattern – if not outright knobbies – that are not very well suited for riding on pavement. They also need to be tough for off-road riding, which can mean softer rubber compounds that may again handicap traction on pavement. As we said: It’s a tricky, tough, and technically challenging problem.
Fortunately, tire makers have come up with some ingenious solutions that give adventure riders, if not the best of both worlds, at least the capability to enjoy their motorcycles safely in both environments. And since tires are filled with air, there’s a good chance you’ll get a flat at some point, and need to repair it in the field. For those situations, you’ll need to bring some specialized tools and equipment along on your ride.
Adventure Tires 101: Adventure riding tires are often described as “50/50” or “40/60” or even “80/20” types. This is shorthand for the “road use/off-road use” capabilities of a tire. A 50/50 tire is designed to work equally well on road and off, while an 80/20 tire is much more at home on pavement, but can perhaps wander down a dirt or gravel road. Tire wear is a concern, of course, with riding style, load, air pressure, motorcycle type, and more combining to either burn through a set of tires more quickly or extend their life. Unlike most cars and trucks, motorcycle tires wear unevenly since the rear tire is doing all the work and typically wears much faster than the front. Motorcycle tires are also different sizes front to rear, with most adventure bikes using a 21-inch front tire and a 17 or 18-inch rear tire that is much wider than the front. With all that in mind, here are our choices for adventure tires that work well with most motorcycles, but you would do well to check with people who ride the same model motorcycle as yourself to see if there’s a best choice for your particular bike, riding style and intended use scenarios.
Bridgestone Battlax Adventurecross AX41
The Bridgestone Battlax Adventurecross AX41 tires top our list again for good reason. A perennial favorite, Bridgestone seems to have figured out the magic formula for a tire that allows fairly aggressive street riding with full-on off-road tenacity. Generally considered a “40/60” tire with a bit more emphasis on off-road performance, the reliable AX41 tires seem to be a unanimous favorite for many riders on many brands of bikes. Overland Expo’s adventure motorcycle expert Eva Rupert has rolled over 100,000 miles on many sets of 41’s and continues to use them today. You can read Eva’s full review here.
MSRP: $109.38 – $227.68
Heidenau K60
Heidenau’s K60 tread blocks have a unique V-shaped tread pattern that handles the tough stuff off-road but also provides a more continuous contact pattern on the road, making it a good choice for those wanting a bit more road tire performance in their off-road capable tires. Heidenau uses a high natural rubber content, which is very durable, so it is not uncommon to get 20,000 miles on a front and 10,000 miles on a rear tire. When combined with sturdy belted construction, this makes for one of the most longest-lasting tires available to long-distance travelers. For those looking for even more on-road performance, the sibling K60 Scout features a solid center tread section while retaining the heavily siped side sections.
MSRP: $129.69 to $238.46
Dunlop Trailmax Mission
If you need to do a lot of road miles before hitting the dirt, Dunlop Trailmax Mission Tire is one of the best adventure tires on the market today. The Mission delivers knobby-like performance off-road, but has better a bit grip on the street, making it a favorite of enthusiastic road riders who also play in the dirt. Dunlop claims the 60/40 rear tire is good for 8,000 miles, about double the longevity of many competitors. The tread design has deep, widely spaced grooves cut into the tire’s profile to deliver sure-footed road carving with excellent water shedding. The tread blocks reach well around the sidewall, increasing puncture resistance and traction while riding off-road.
MSRP: $122.00 – $245.00
Continental Twinduro TKC80
Dedicated off-road adventure riders who aren’t using the AX41s can often be found rolling on Continental’s long-standing TKC80 “Twinnies.” A 40/60 tire like the AX41, the TKC80’s blocky knobs excel off-road while the compound still gives decent grip on pavement. While they don’t typically last as long as the Bridgestones, many riders tell us they prefer their performance in the dirt in terms of grip, braking power, and traction across a wide range of surfaces from loose to hard pack. A long-running favorite of the lighter, more dirt-focused 450cc dual-sport crowd.
MSRP: $178.00 – $331.00
Mitas E-10
Mitas E-10 tires are made for the weight and power of big adventure machines that are loaded for travel. The bias-ply construction is super tough and the chevron tread arrangement maximizes biting edges with big enough gaps between tread blocks to ensure good traction in tricky off-road situations. Suited for tubeless and tubed tires. On pavement, the versatile E-10 instills confidence when cornering in wet conditions with stability and comfort even at highway speeds for large bikes loaded with gear.
MSRP: $79.51 – $243.40
Motion Pro T6 Tire Levers
Sooner or later, you’re going to have to change a tire out on the trail. Motion Pro’s T6 Tire Levers should be in your trail kit at all times. They have a space-saving dual-ended design with a tire spoon on one end and hex wrench on the other for loosening axle nuts. The clever lip design on these tire spoons makes things a little easier and helps get you back to riding. The hex end comes in a variety of sizes so you can select the most useful set for your individual bike.
MSRP: $34.99
READ MORE: Gear Showcase: Winter Gear
BikeMaster Tire And Tube Flat Repair Kit
Cargo space is at a premium on any off-road motorcycle, so making your tool kit as small but as capable as possible is always a good idea. But it’s always worth a couple of extra ounces to carry a good tire repair kit for tube-type and tubeless tires. This BikeMaster kit comes with patches, plugs, and the tools you need to take care of yourself and everyone else on the ride, no matter what type of tires they’re running. CO2 cartridges can give tires the inflation they need to get back to base, and the included tools can extract whatever sharp things caused the flat. All in one small, lightweight carry case. Don’t leave home without it.
MSRP: $42.89
Unit C5010 Emergency Side Stand
Most motorcycles these days do not come with a center stand, especially the smaller dual-sport bikes. That often means laying a bike on its side to extract a back wheel to fix a tire (or some other problem). While on its side, gas can leak out of vent tubes, nuts, and small pieces can drop under the repair area and disappear into the dirt, and it generally takes longer to get going again. For $23, the C5010 emergency side stand from Unit can work as a sort of center stand in concert with your stock side stand. It can expand from about 11 inches tall to almost 18 inches to get that rear wheel off the ground just enough to speed things along. The top is shaped to cradle a frame rail or motor mount without damaging it.
MSRP: $22.95
Battery Tender 800 Amp Jump Pack With Tire Inflator
Once that flat is fixed, it’s still no good without some air in it. Battery Tender is known primarily for its… battery tenders, but they also make the versatile 800 Jump Pack which includes a big battery and a strong air pump. Charge it up before you leave home and if you get a flat, the 800 can get that tire pumped up quickly without having to wire anything up to your bike’s battery. It’s got enough juice to start any motorcycle (and most cars and trucks). Plus, built-in USB powerlets keep your phone, SPOT or Garmin InReach alive if you need to call in the calvary. Best of all, it’s pretty small for all the power and versatility it contains.
MSRP: $134.96
