Best Desert Tire

[blueoval]

Hello All.  Looking for recommendations on tires to mainly ride in the Southern California desert (mojave) on the K5.  It can be sandy, rocky, soft, and some hard dirt roads.  I don't really ride in wet or mud by preference and because it doesn't rain very much in this part of California.  I bought the bike with shot dunlop tires and it would spin terribly - but that is what I expected when I rode it for the first time.  Now I am looking to replace the tires.  I know that Cam likes the Millvilles (front and rear based on his comments).  Just wondering if anyone who runs the desert uses any of the Millville tires, and, if so, are they the sticky or intermediate?  What are some other tires that you may be running in that same type of terrain.  Thanks,  B.O.

[Motorrad]

I've been a big fan of maxxis tires.  Good traction

[blueoval]

Mororrad, do you ride in Southern California?

[blueoval]

Which Maxxis tires do you use...for front and rear?  ted

[BDI]

I run the maxxis desert tires, they last a real long time and perform very well. If I rated them by price longevity and performance I would say it's the best tire I have ever used. If I was a racer that didn't care about the price and longevity I would say the preformance Is not as good as some. Now it is my experience that the maxxis it tires start out wearing very good and act like they are going to last a long time but then all the knobs break off. I have not had this problem with the maxxis desert. It has been a long time sense I used the maxxis it tire, I had an opportunity to talk to a maxxis rep at the sema show and he told me that it was a compound issue that they had with the first it tires and that it has sense been addressed, how true that is I have  no idea. Probably B/S

[Motorrad]

I'm here in San Diego.  Run dist 38 desert races.   

I'll have to look what model is on the k5.  But because of it's tire inow run em on my ktm and husqvarna

[Polar-Bus]

Maxxis IT's as well. Been using them for years,  awesome traction, awesome longevity, therefore awesome value!

http://www.maxxis.com/MotorcycleATV/Off-road/Maxxcross-IT-Rear.aspx

[blueoval]

Thanks again for all the input.  I am going to go with the Maxxis IT and give it a shot. 

[blueoval]

I have a Maxxis on my kdx200 and it works great.  That bike is not really used in the desert mainly single track, so wasn't sure how it would translate into desert riding.  Looking forward to getting them on the k5 and going for a ride.

[Polar-Bus]

I have a Maxxis on my kdx200 and it works great.  That bike is not really used in the desert mainly single track, so wasn't sure how it would translate into desert riding.  Looking forward to getting them on the k5 and going for a ride.

Maxxis makes a "desert IT" as well, stiffer carcass, should be exactly what you need.

[Motorrad]

I just went out and looked.  I run the desert IT

[matzilla]

Right now I have a dunlop D606 on the back, but am looking at tires lately too. My friend says the best tire he has used is the michelin M12 for the woods. Anyone else used this tire?

[DoldGuy]

Matzilla,
I run the Michelin on my KX250 & 125 Riders & very happy with their performance / longevity. I don't know what "Life Cycle" you would get on the big K5 though as they seem to wear tires at a factor of three.
DoldGuy

[Motorrad]

If I lived in the woods or Utah.  I'd be runnig a trials tire. 

[sintax]

desert IT is how i roll.

Still ass side walls, spend the $10 to have a shop install it