When you tear the final lugs off your original dirt bike tires it is hard to know what tire you should replace it with. There are a ton of sites out there with some good information but I thought I would add my 2 cents from someone who was in the same boat you now find yourself in, your first tire selection.

Initially I went on price looking for the cheapest tire. However as I have now gone through a few tires I thought I would remind others that you get what you pay for. First off I think it is important to note that tires do make a huge difference but mostly to the people that ride and race for championships. For the rest of us mere mortals it is more about finding the proper tire for the terrain we ride so we can get the right grip when we need it…which is most of the time!

My first few tire choices were like I said, chosen by price but then as I was talking to the boys at GA Checkpoint in Port Moody a fellow customer suggested the Dunlop 756 or the Michelin S12. They were a lot more money but hey you can’t tell if it is worth it unless you try it for yourself. So I choose the Dunlop and set it up the next and went for a ride.

First off it always feels great to have a new tire on especially if you are like me and try to get every last bit of rubber off that expensive purchase before admitting defeat and buying a new one. I don’t do this any more realizing that riding is about fun and having good sold rubber makes it more fun so I let wear down but not to a slick.

Anyway back to the 756. The first thing I noticed was that the tire was great. However at my beginner/intermediate level it is hard to tell the difference one hooks up over another unless you have to bikes with different tires to ride one after the other. What was the biggest difference however was the way the tire wore and lasted almost 2 to 2 ½ times longer than cheaper tires.

So my thoughts are this….
• Don’t wait until you are riding a slick to replace
• Find a tire that fits your budget
• Find one that fits your riding area by asking fellow riders
• And finally enjoy the ride

I have just replace my Dunlop with a Michelin S12 so next time the difference…if any!