[Himalayan Geff]

What tyres are people using for off road riding. the stock CEAT rubber is fine on road but gives no side grip in muddy conditions.

[oldphart]

Mitas E07
50/50 tyres that work well on all surfaces.
There are others though, it's not hard to find something and I don't think it's critical. Availability is more important that actual tyre (Covid has made it difficult)

[excollier]

I use TKC 70, not great in mud it has to be said

[Himalayan Geff]

The biggest problem (apart from almost universal shortages) is the odd choice of rim size. Most genuinely capable off road tyres are not made in the 12/90-17 format. An 18 inch rim would have opened up a whole world of far better rubber.

[gizzo]

The biggest problem (apart from almost universal shortages) is the odd choice of rim size. Most genuinely capable off road tyres are not made in the 12/90-17 format. An 18 inch rim would have opened up a whole world of far better rubber.

What do you mean? There's plenty of off-road rubber available in 17". Even more if you include imperial sizes.

[zimmemr]

I've been riding off-road for over 50 years, and outside of the dedicated mud tires, which don't work very well when things dry up. I have yet to find any tire that works well in mud.

 New England tends to be pretty bony so FWIW I run Metzler Tourance's on my Himalayan and hard pack knobbies on my DR400EZ, though I'll sometimes run a rear Trials tire if I'm going somewhere really rocky.

[excollier]

What do you mean? There's plenty of off-road rubber available in 17". Even more if you include imperial sizes.

Ha ha...depends where you live, I could only get a pair of TKC 70s for mine, nothing else was easily available here in Ireland

[Himalayan Geff]

I think I will give pirelli MT21 a go. Its the most aggressive road legal tyre I can find in the 120/90-17 size that is actually available in stock in the UK. I need to do something because the bike spat me off again today with a total loss of traction on a muddy section. Sadly I cant find its partner for the front but there are plenty of other options available in the front size so something suitable will be available.

[zimmemr]

I think I will give pirelli MT21 a go. Its the most aggressive road legal tyre I can find in the 120/90-17 size that is actually available in stock in the UK. I need to do something because the bike spat me off again today with a total loss of traction on a muddy section. Sadly I cant find its partner for the front but there are plenty of other options available in the front size so something suitable will be available.

The front seems to be available in the US, it's popular for the DR650. If need be I can send you a link, though I don't know how practical it'd be to order from a US company.

[Himalayan Geff]

Unfortunately, ordering form the USA basically doubles the price. There are loads of option s for the 21 inch front though. Its the 17 inch rear that is unusual in off road fitments. The TKC80 is available front and rear but Im just not sure that it is agressive enough for the slippery mud I am encountering.(Undoubtedly far better than the CEAT though)

[zimmemr]

Unfortunately, ordering form the USA basically doubles the price. There are loads of option s for the 21 inch front though. Its the 17 inch rear that is unusual in off road fitments. The TKC80 is available front and rear but Im just not sure that it is agressive enough for the slippery mud I am encountering.(Undoubtedly far better than the CEAT though)

A few of the guys in our ADV club like the TKC80's and go well on them, but as I mentioned here in New England we're more concerned with rocks and roots than mud. Some of the Himalayan riders have considered lacing up an 18" rear but as yet no one has done one in our club.

[Spicyred]

What tyres are people using for off road riding. the stock CEAT rubber is fine on road but gives no side grip in muddy conditions.

Have you seen this blokes YouTube videos?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUwTMzZU6F8

[Himalayan Geff]

Have you seen this blokes YouTube videos?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUwTMzZU6F8

He seems to have come to the same conclusions as me. TKC80 should do the job. The MT21 is far more agressive with about a 90/10 off road bias and cheaper than the TKC80 so I still think I'll go with that although the TKC80 will be my back up option.

[Robc]

Greetings all. First post from a 2018 Himalayan owner, had it since new and love it, though it’s not my only bike (also have a KTM 1290).

I do a lot of trail and off-road riding on mine and was also looking for aggressive tyres. I ended up going with a Mitas E-09 Dakar on the rear and an MT21 on the front. Works great as a combination. Really deep mud will be a problem but it will for any tyre, obviously. Normal mud is ok. Also this is a good combination for gravel and rocky tracks, both tyres are aggressive enough and very tough. On road they are fine too, but the MT21 is pretty loud so earplugs are handy!

[Himalayan Geff]

Greetings all. First post from a 2018 Himalayan owner, had it since new and love it, though it’s not my only bike (also have a KTM 1290).

I do a lot of trail and off-road riding on mine and was also looking for aggressive tyres. I ended up going with a Mitas E-09 Dakar on the rear and an MT21 on the front. Works great as a combination. Really deep mud will be a problem but it will for any tyre, obviously. Normal mud is ok. Also this is a good combination for gravel and rocky tracks, both tyres are aggressive enough and very tough. On road they are fine too, but the MT21 is pretty loud so earplugs are handy!

That seems a good combination. My main choices here for a matched set are: Conti TKC80, Pirelli MT21 or Metzeler Sahara 3. I may be able to source the Mitas E-09 - I will have to have a dig around.