This report is based upon a trip I did to Camerons Corner in June 2011. We left Lismore and made it to the Corner and then back again.
In short : The tyres are a really good thing.
Mitas E09 Dakar. The yellow stripe signifies they are as tuff as buggery.
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Brand new
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Brand new
I did 1000km on the wet bitumen highway (and I mean really wet) and felt solid and planted all the way. Speeds varied generally 110-120km an hour but there were bursts (on private bitumen roads on the way out there?) that we sat on 140km/hr for some time. The tyres felt good at speed and balanced and very little vibration or anything.
When on the black top I ran 31psi in the back and 28psi in the front. I weigh 100kg loaded up in gear and probably carried another 25 or 30 kilos or so of camping and bits and pieces.
The tyres were still basically brand new at this point. Still had the little rubber sprigs present just about everywhere.
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After 1000km wet bitumen
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After 1000km wet bitumen
Then we hit the dirt and did about 550 km of sandy dirt roads. The speeds are roughly 100-110km hr. Tyres performed well. The odd soft sandy bit was gobbled up and spat out the rear of the dakar with ease. Front seemed stable and we hit 130-140km an hour on some of the straight sections. Roads had just been graded and man was it fun…Tyre pressures had been reduced to 22psi front and 25psi rear to give a bit bigger footprint in the soft stuff. Didn’t want to go too low. Worried a bit about punctures from sharp rocks though really all the way to the corner is reasonably good, maybe just a few sections for a km or two where you had to beware the rocks…
Could have driven a hyundai to the corner if you were game.
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At the corner after 550km dirt still looking good
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At the corner after 550km dirt still looking good
Then we went North to Noocundra to find the bitumen in the easiest way possible. Bike issues unfortunately.
Trying to keep this thread just about the tyres.
The road was fast and gravelly. The dust from the other bikes was a bit of a hassle and you couldn’t sit too close or you wouldn’t see the odd rock prop up and launch you airborne.
The gravel is sharp and treacherous in sections. Sandy deep and soft in others.
This section is 240km in distance or so and I loved it. The road has sections of deep bulldust as well.I was in the zone 110km an hour and everything was ticking over perfectly. The speed was awesome. Bike was running like a dream and I was staring at the ground in front dodging the sharp tennis ball sized rocks that seemed intent on bringing you to an abrupt halt.
Bit of a self indulgent blurb here but this was the highlight of my trip. I have never felt so good and comfortable on a bike. Out in front. No dust and complete. COMPLETE. confidence in the bike and tyre combo. Felt like I could have ridden all day.
Now, I gotta say, I hit some of those sharp bastard rocks at high speed with the full brunt of a loaded BMW Dakar. The front wheel had a heavy duty tube (so did the back) and each time I hit one of these rocks (there were several) I thought it was all over red rover. Not so. Thankfully, the bike trundled on unscathed and in defiance of its surroundings. I was enjoying it all so much…Thats why we ride I guess. For those moments?
The knobs didn’t get ripped off. The tyres still looked great at the end of the gravelly sandy snotty fast section.
OK, getting close to the end. After the gravel came bitumen. Glorious smooth and safe and grippy bitumen.
I did another 1200km or so of bitumen to get home. The road was now dry and I just wanted to get home. I stank like a bastard and the little niggly mechanical issues associated with the trip and travelling with two complete and utter bastards (my best mates) had worn me out. Noccundra, Cunnamulla, St George,Gonndiwindi, Tenterfield, Drake, Lismore Home. I had a warm and welcoming bed to get back to…
The road is good and there is no traffic. I was punting along for a lot of the way. There was a private section of road (about 300km long) where I sat on 150km an hour for a solid two hours. Surely this would destroy the tyre. It should be ripping shreds from it and wearing it down to the canvas (if thats what the tyres have inside them – I sure as hell don’t reckon I will ever see that part of the tyres).
They were hot (the tyres) when I stopped, held my gloved hands on the rear for warmth for a few minutes…
I washed the bike today and they still look good.
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after the bitumen, Sand, Gravel and then more bitumen. Up to about 3000km all up. Maybe a few hundred more than that.
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after the bitumen, Sand, Gravel and then more bitumen. Up to about 3000km all up. Maybe a few hundred more than that.
They are in very good condition. The high speed did touch them up a bit but they are still maybe 90%
I cannot recommend them highly enough.
They cost me $325 for the pair fitted at Bikeworx in Lismore. It cost extra for Heavy duty tubes – less than $30 each installed. They did hit me for $25 freight but what the hell. Money well spent.
My mate on the VStrom tried the Mitas E10 version front and rear (more than $500 fitted tubeless?) but they have a pretty good flat spot in the rear tyre. He did all the same road work as me but not the high speed section at the end. He actually babied his a bit trying to conserve tread and $$$$
Other Dakar on the trip had a second hand E09 rear that came with the bike. Similar story to my experience with his tyres. Not much change in the tyre in 3000km….
I have no affiliations with Mitas. I figure these tyres will last me another 3000km easy. depending on the speeds travelled of course.
If you used them just on dirt they would last forever….
Happy Days. I will be using the same tyres when I traverse Australia East to West one day…I can dream can’t I ?
