Tyres

[llewdaert]

Hello , I am needing a new set of tyres for my TY250. I want to compete, and wonder if there is any wisdom on tyre selection. Specifically I am looking at Mitas trials comp tyres???
What do you reckon....
Thanks
Scott

[phoenix75]

Personally if you are buying tires for a twinshock I would go for the IRC tires, Since they can still get the Tube Type for the rear, and if it's a tubeless rear then I would go for the Michelins, I've had Michelins since I started with Trials and I love them.... But thats just me......

[David Lahey]

Scott, the MITAS would have to be be the worst rear tyre for trials use. Aparrently they are popular for dirt track racing. I bought one many years ago, tried it on my Cota 348 and my wife's Beta Rev3, both for about 10 minutes. It has been sitting in the shed for some years now. I may put it on my Alpina eventually.
The MITAS are made of nice enough rubber but have a lower profile (height) than the popular rear trials tyres and are quite stiff in the carcass, even stiffer than a Pirelli. They grip well on smooth dirt. Not so good on anything uneven.
There are two tyres that will fit nicely on the rear rim of a TY250. The IRC tube type, and the Michelin tube type. The Michelin tube type rear is not the same construction as their fabulous current tubeless rears or the fabulous tube type rear that Michelin was making up to a few years ago.
The IRC tube type rear works very well but has very flexible construction and so is quite sensitive to tyre pressure.
Dunlop rears are a nightmare to fit on TY250 rear wheels, requiring either multiple rimlocks or at least 8psi to keep the bead up on the bead seat.
I have bought and used about 5 IRC rears since the supply of the old type of Michelin tube type tyre dried up, and these IRCs have all gone well. They are also readily available from my local motorbike shops at a reasonable price.
David

[llewdaert]

Hmmmm Thanks to all replies, looks like the Mitas is a dud. I will chase up the IRC and keep you all informed . Has anyone heard of Heidenau trials tyres?? the tyre shop has offered them as well. [They go well on my adv bike ]

Thanks

[paul b]

What do you guys pay for tyres? Up in Brisbane, I have been paying $108 for the tubless IRC trials tyre and $102 for the tubed type. I get my tyres from Top Gun Yamaha and they buy them from Ficeda. Always check the production date on tyres as the softer compounds go off.

Dunlop tyres are a bit of a con job as they are actually japanese Sumitomo tyres with the Dunlop logo moulded on.

Another point about fitting tyres to TY's. We have had about 12 TY's and corrosion inside the rim is common. Its advisable to carefully clean inside the rim, and I often spray silver paint there. There must be some mild electrolysis effect between the metals.

[David Lahey]

Paul the last IRC tube rear I bought up here was something like $140. The freight component is always significant up here. It sounds like it might be worth buying tyres in Brisbane if possible to coincide with trips down there.
Reinald has a rear IRC on order from a local bike shop up here for his SWM but I don't remember what he told me it was going to cost. One of us will post up the price soon.

[TriCub]

There is another tyre Brand out there at the moment called "Vee Rubber" . Don't know much about them but the rear comp trials tyre that I looked at in the local shop looked quite good.
Has anyone tried them yet?

[Stanm]

Hi I have used Michelen tubless on my TY and found them to been good.
I got a tubed IRC ( trials Winner TR011R ) a few years ago and it was like jelly at speed. But in sections performed pretty well. Its on my A and still in good condition since I dont ride it much. I would be interested to know if this is an older type IRC or still current.
I found dunlops did not last as lone as Michelins. Also some times you can pick up a really good tubless tyre from the moden guys that has a smallish hole in the sidewall. Bung a tub in and it good fo twinshock.
Saying that I have has the michelin tubless come off the rim a few times especially in wet conditions.

Cheers

[paul b]

The current IRC tyres are also designated TR-011 F or R (front or rear). They are such a soft compound. Hence the jelly feel at speed.
If necessary, I use tyre slime, that fluro green stuff, that you squirt in through the valve stem. Its a very effective way to stop slow leaks that often occur. I am amazed how well it works. When I fit tubless tyres I use lanoguard grease around the bead. It can be such a bitch to get the bead to seat on the rim.
Its always a challenge breaking the bead on tubless tyres. I have used tyres pliers or similar devices and they make it easy. I have heard stories from Mike Willcocks about changing tubeless tyres in the snow at the SSDT.
We also use our Bobcat with a toothed bucket and the teeth can slip between the tyre and the rim.
I have watched a mechanic who maintains quads used out west use a few drops of petrol to blow out the bead on tubeless quad tyres. They are the hardest tyre to fit.

[Stanm]

Hi Re Tubeless tyre fitting
Its pretty common to use a tyre snake. Big diameter 20 O ring that you tuck in between the rim and the tyre.( one side only) Copious quantities of concentrated dish washing liquid both sides and the snake. Bounce the tyre while rotating it to help seat the bead. Pump up to 60 psi and POP POP.Always scares me. The snake should ooze out..If no after it pops let the tyre down and then pull it out.

Try your trials dealer for the O ring. I have used it on trials and road bikes

Cheers