2020 Adventure Tire Shootout Results | 25 Top Performing ADV / Dual Sport Tires
It's taken some time, but we've finally wrapped one of – if not THE most – comprehensive adventure tire tests ever conducted. From deep sand to rocky hill climbs, tight two lane switch backs, and long freeway stretches we put some of the top rated and most popular adventure and dual sport tires through similar types of terrain and scenarios that most riders would encounter.
No matter what make or model of ADV bike you own, the type of riding you typically do, or what features are important to you in a motorcycle tire we have tested 25 different tires and found an adventure tire that is right for you.
We wanted this to be a very comprehensive ADV / Dual Sport Motorcycle Tires test, so we broke the tires into two categories, 80/20 (80 percent on road and 20 percent off road) and 50/50. It should be noted that we used these as generalized categories seeing as that the manufacturers all rate their tires differently (e.g. 90/10, 60/40, 25/75, 30/70). As you read through this you'll see that we included the manufacturers actual on road/off road designations.
To ensure equal testing across the board, we set up a loop that consisted of a variety of terrain and conducted the rides aboard popular heavyweight Adventure bikes such as the Honda Africa Twin CRF 1000, KTM Adventure 1190, and BMW GS12000. The route we tested each tire on consisted of a deep sandy wash, hard pack single track, a hard pack hill climb, California freeway, two lane twisty backroads, curvy mountain highways, jeep trails/fire roads, and hill climbs lined with pebbles and rocks ranging in size from golf balls to softballs. The total route distance was more than 150 miles with several sections run multiple times for repetitive testing and video/photography purposes.
Testing Criteria
In this article we will give you the overall results for both the 80/20 tires and the 50/50 tires. We will also show you the different testing criteria we created and how the tires from the 80/20 and 50/50 categories stacked up against one another so that you can determine what tire would best suit your needs and desires. The testing criteria we used for all the tires were: Performance, Cost, Estimated Mileage, Twisties, Freeway, Rain Grooves, Deep Sand, Dirt/Gravel Roads, Baby Head (small rocks), Hill Climbs, and the Combined Value (Performance+Mileage+Price).
Adventure Tires We Tested
80/20 ADV Tires
- Avon TrailRider AV53 & Avon TrailRider AV54
- Bridgestone Battlax A41
- Bridgestone Battlax AX41S Scrambler
- Continental TKC70
- Kenda Big Block Paver K768
- Metzeler Karaoo Steet
- Michelin Anakee Adventure
- Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR
- Shinko 705
50/50 ADV Tires
- Avon TrekRider AV84 & Avon TrekRider AV85
- Bridgestone Battlax AX41 Adventurecross
- Continental TKC80
- Dunlop TrailMax Mission
- Heidenau K60 Scout
- Kenda Big Block K784
- Metzeler Karoo 3
- Michelin Anakee Wild
- Mitas E-07 Dakar & E-07 Plus
- Mitas E-10 Dakar
- Motoz Tractionator Adventure
- Motoz Tractionator GPS
- Motoz Tractionator RallZ
- Pirelli Scorpion Rally
- Shinko E-804 & Shinko E-05
Unique Tire Construction Findings
Tire Weight Ranges
Front Tires: 8 lbs. 14 oz. - 13 lbs. 7 oz.
Rear Tires: 14 lbs. 12 oz. - 20 lbs. 8 oz.
Lightest Front 50/50: Metzler Karoo 3 (8 lbs. 14 oz.)
Lightest Rear 50/50: Continental TKC80 (14 lbs. 12 oz.)
Heaviest Front 50/50: Dunkop TrailMax Mission (13 lbs. 7 oz.)
Heaviest Rear 50/50: Dunlop TrailMax Mission (20 lbs. 8 oz.)
Tread Depth
Deepest Front: Michelin Anakee Wild (18/32 inches/14.28mm)
Deepest Rear: Tie Motoz RallZ and Motoz Adventure (17/32 inches/13.49mm)
Shallowest Front: Bridgestone Battlax A41 (5/32 inches/3.96mm)
Shallowest Rear: Bridgestone AX41S (7/32 inches 5.55mm)
Durometer Reading
The hardness of rubber compounds is measured by the Shore A durometer; the higher the durometer, the harder the compound. Harder tires typically provide less flex, better durability and longer mileage, but less traction. Softer tires often deliver more flex and wear faster/less mileage, but provide better grip/stickiness. Some tires, such as dual compounds will have harder durometer readings in the center patch for better mileage and softer durometer readings on the sides or lugs for flexibility/grip/traction.
Softest Tire: 66 Durometer Reading for the Avon Tires (TrailRider Dual Compound center 72)
Hardest Tire: 81 Durometer Reading, Tie Metzeler Karoo 3 and Dunlop Mission Tire
Biggest Variance: 67-81 Front and Rear Dunlop TrialMax Mission Tire mileage is from deep tread and hard rubber.
Country of Origin
USA: Only one tire is made in the USA — Dunlop TrailMax Mission
Worldwide Sourcing: Pirelli Scorpion Rally tires are made in three Countries — Brazil, Germany and China.
Tire Plys Commonly Used
Nylon, Polyamide, Polyester, Aramid, Rayon, Steel and Fiberglass
Most Used: nylon is the most used tire ply material. Most use 4 ply in the tread and 2 ply in the sidewall.
Steel Ply: 6 Tires Use 1 Steel Ply: Shinko E05, Karoo Street, AX41S, A41, Scorpion Rally & Rally STR
Fiberglass Ply: 1 Tire uses Fiberglass — Dunlop TrailMax Mission = 3 Polyester + 2 Fiberglass in the Tread.
80/20 ADV Tire Shootout Results
Scoring: 1 to 10 Scale with 1 Being the Best. Tire with Lowest Score Wins.
Estimated Mileage: Wear we saw in the tire test + Customer Feedback + Forum Feedback.
Overall Combined Value (Performance + Mileage + Price)
| Tire | Rank | Advertised Street / Dirt % | Retail Price - Pair | Estimated Mileage | Price Score | Mileage Score | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shinko 705 | 1st | 80/20 | $167.76 | 7500 | 1 | 4 | 31 |
| Michelin Anakee Adventure | 2nd | 80/20 | $337.98 | 9000 | 9 | 2 | 33 |
| Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR | 3rd | 80/20 | $214.76 | 4000 | 3 | 8 | 36 |
| Metzeler Karoo Street | 4th | 75/25 | $234.98 | 5500 | 4 | 6 | 43 |
| Continental TKC70 | 5th | 60/40 | $271.92 | 7000 | 7 | 5 | 51 |
| Avon TrailRider AV53 & AV54 | 6th | 90/10 | $326.91 | 3800 | 8 | 9 | 53 |
| Kenda Big Block Paver K768 | 7th | 80/20 | $184.76 | 9500 | 2 | 1 | 57 |
| Bridgestone Battlax Ax41S Scrambler | 8th | 90/10 | $264.76 | 8500 | 5 | 3 | 60 |
| Bridgestone Battlax A41 (OEM Tires) | 9th | 90/10 | $266.85 | 5000 | 6 | 7 | 71 |
On-Road 80/20 Test Results
| Tire | Dry Pavement | Twisties | Freeway | Rain Grooves | Wet Pavement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shinko 705 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 3 | n/a |
| Michelin Anakee Adventure | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | n/a |
| Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | n/a |
| Metzeler Karoo Street | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 | n/a |
| Continental TKC70 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | n/a |
| Avon TrailRider AV53 & AV54 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | n/a |
| Kenda Big Block Paver K768 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 3 | n/a |
| Bridgestone Battlax Ax41S Scrambler | 5 | 7 | 7 | 3 | n/a |
| Bridgestone Battlax A41 (OEM Tires) | 5 | 8 | 9 | 3 | n/a |
Off-Road 80/20 Test Results
| Tire | Deep Sand | Dirt / Gravel | Baby Heads | Hill Climbs | Mud |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shinko 705 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | n/a |
| Michelin Anakee Adventure | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | n/a |
| Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | n/a |
| Metzeler Karoo Street | 6 | 5 | 6 | 3 | n/a |
| Continental TKC70 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 5 | n/a |
| Avon TrailRider AV53 & AV54 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 | n/a |
| Kenda Big Block Paver K768 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 9 | n/a |
| Bridgestone Battlax Ax41S Scrambler | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | n/a |
| Bridgestone Battlax A41 (OEM Tires) | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | n/a |
Performance | 80/20 ADV Tire
| Rank | Tire |
|---|---|
| 1 | Michelin Anakee Adventure |
| 2 | Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR |
| 3 | Shinko 705 |
| 4 | Metzeler Karoo Street |
| 5 | Avon TrailRider AV53 & AV54 |
| 6 | Continental TKC70 |
| 7 | Bridgestone Battlax Ax41S Scrambler |
| 8 | Kenda Big Block Paver K768 |
| 9 | Bridgestone Battlax A41 (OEM Tires) |
Cost | 80/20 ADV Tire
| Rank | Tire |
|---|---|
| 1 | Shinko 705 |
| 2 | Kenda Big Block Paver K768 |
| 3 | Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR |
| 4 | Metzeler Karoo Street |
| 5 | Bridgestone Battlax Ax41S Scrambler |
| 6 | Bridgestone Battlax A41 (OEM Tires) |
| 7 | Continental TKC70 |
| 8 | Avon TrailRider AV53 & AV54 |
| 9 | Michelin Anakee Adventure |
Estimated Mileage | 80/20 ADV Tire
| Rank | Tire |
|---|---|
| 1 | Kenda Big Block Paver K768 |
| 2 | Michelin Anakee Adventure |
| 3 | Bridgestone Battlax Ax41S Scrambler |
| 4 | Shinko 705 |
| 5 | Continental TKC70 |
| 6 | Metzeler Karoo Street |
| 7 | Bridgestone Battlax A41 (OEM Tires) |
| 8 | Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR |
| 9 | Avon TrailRider AV53 & AV54 |
Twisties | 80/20 ADV Tire
| Rank | Tire |
|---|---|
| 1 | Metzeler Karoo Street |
| 2 | Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR |
| 3 | Avon TrailRider AV53 & AV54 |
| 4 | Michelin Anakee Adventure |
| 5 | Continental TKC70 |
| 6 | Shinko 705 |
| 7 | Bridgestone Battlax Ax41S Scrambler |
| 8 | Bridgestone Battlax A41 (OEM Tires) |
| 9 | Kenda Big Block Paver K768 |
Freeway | 80/20 ADV Tire
| Rank | Tire |
|---|---|
| 1 | Michelin Anakee Adventure |
| 2 | Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR |
| 3 | Shinko 705 |
| 4 | Metzeler Karoo Street |
| 5 | Avon TrailRider AV53 & AV54 |
| 6 | Continental TKC70 |
| 7 | Bridgestone Battlax Ax41S Scrambler |
| 8 | Kenda Big Block Paver K768 |
| 9 | Bridgestone Battlax A41 (OEM Tires) |
Deep Sand/Gravel Roads | 80/20 ADV Tire
| Rank | Tire |
|---|---|
| 1 | Michelin Anakee Adventure |
| 2 | Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR |
| 3 | Shinko 705 |
| 4 | Continental TKC70 |
| 5 | Metzeler Karoo Street |
| 6 | Avon TrailRider AV53 & AV54 |
| 7 | Bridgestone Battlax Ax41S Scrambler |
| 8 | Bridgestone Battlax A41 (OEM Tires) |
| 9 | Kenda Big Block Paver K768 |
Baby Heads | 80/20 ADV Tire
| Rank | Tire |
|---|---|
| 1 | Michelin Anakee Adventure |
| 2 | Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR |
| 3 | Avon TrailRider AV53 & AV54 |
| 4 | Shinko 705 |
| 5 | Metzeler Karoo Street |
| 6 | Continental TKC70 |
| 7 | Bridgestone Battlax Ax41S Scrambler |
| 8 | Bridgestone Battlax A41 (OEM Tires) |
| 9 | Kenda Big Block Paver K768 |
Hill Climbs | 80/20 ADV Tire
| Rank | Tire |
|---|---|
| 1 | Shinko 705 |
| 2 | Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR |
| 3 | Metzeler Karoo Street |
| 4 | Michelin Anakee Adventure |
| 5 | Continental TKC70 |
| 6 | Avon TrailRider AV53 & AV54 |
| 7 | Bridgestone Battlax Ax41S Scrambler |
| 8 | Bridgestone Battlax A41 (OEM Tires) |
| 9 | Kenda Big Block Paver K768 |
50/50 ADV Tire Shootout Results
Scoring: 1 to 10 Scale with 1 Being the Best. Tire with Lowest Score Wins.
Estimated Mileage: Wear we saw in the tire test + Customer Feedback + Forum Feedback.
Overall Combined Value (Performance + Mileage + Price)
| Tire | Rank | Advertised Street / Dirt % | Retail Price - Pair | Estimated Mileage | Price Score | Mileage Score | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunlop TrailMax Mission | 1st | 50/50 | $278.76 | 8000 | 9 | 3 | 42 |
| Bridgestone Battlax AX41 Adventurecross | 2nd | 40/60 | $230.76 | 2500 | 3 | 13 | 45 |
| Motoz Tractionator GPS | 3rd | 50/50 | $298.98 | 12000 | 11 | 2 | 48 |
| Michelin Anakee Wild | 4th | 50/50 | $314.98 | 4500 | 13 | 7 | 56 |
| Pirelli Scorpion Rally | 5th | 25/75 | $271.98 | 2500 | 6 | 15 | 60 |
| Continental TKC80 | 6th | 40/60 | $252.85 | 2500 | 4 | 14 | 61 |
| Motoz Tractionator RallZ | 7th | 20/80 | $314.98 | 4500 | 14 | 8 | 61 |
| Shinko E-804 & Shinko E-05 | 8th | 40/60 | $166.76 | 3500 | 1 | 9 | 63 |
| Avon TrekRider AV84 & AV85 | 9th | 50/50 | $260.76 | 5500 | 5 | 6 | 64 |
| Mitas E-07 Dakar & E-07 Plus | 10th | 50/50 | $289.90 | 8000 | 10 | 4 | 65 |
| Motoz Tractionator Adventure | 11th | 30/70 | $310.98 | 7000 | 12 | 5 | 66 |
| Kenda Big Block K784 | 12th | 50/50 | $183.76 | 2500 | 2 | 12 | 67 |
| Mitas E-10 Dakar | 13th | 30/70 | $352.90 | 3000 | 15 | 11 | 69 |
| Metzeler Karoo 3 | 14th | 50/50 | $275.94 | 3000 | 7 | 10 | 71 |
| Heidenau K60 Scout | 15th | 50/50 | $276.00 | 12000 | 8 | 1 | 76 |
On-Road 50/50 Test Results
| Tire | Dry Pavement | Twisties | Freeway | Rain Grooves | Wet Pavement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunlop TrailMax Mission | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| Bridgestone Battlax AX41 Adventurecross | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | n/a |
| Motoz Tractionator GPS | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | n/a |
| Michelin Anakee Wild | 5 | 6 | 8 | 7 | n/a |
| Pirelli Scorpion Rally | 5 | 10 | 10 | 10 | n/a |
| Continental TKC80 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | n/a |
| Motoz Tractionator RallZ | 5 | 4 | 10 | 10 | n/a |
| Shinko E-804 & Shinko E-05 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 7 | n/a |
| Avon TrekRider AV84 & AV85 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 3 | n/a |
| Mitas E-07 Dakar & E-07 Plus | 5 | 8 | 5 | 2 | n/a |
| Motoz Tractionator Adventure | 5 | 5 | 10 | 9 | n/a |
| Kenda Big Block K784 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 9 | n/a |
| Mitas E-10 Dakar | 5 | 7 | 7 | 4 | n/a |
| Metzeler Karoo 3 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 4 | n/a |
| Heidenau K60 Scout | 5 | 10 | 4 | 8 | n/a |
Off-Road 50/50 Test Results
| Tire | Deep Sand | Dirt / Gravel | Baby Heads | Hill Climbs | Mud |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunlop TrailMax Mission | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5 | n/a |
| Bridgestone Battlax AX41 Adventurecross | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | n/a |
| Motoz Tractionator GPS | 5 | 5 | 8 | 5 | n/a |
| Michelin Anakee Wild | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | n/a |
| Pirelli Scorpion Rally | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| Continental TKC80 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 7 | n/a |
| Motoz Tractionator RallZ | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | n/a |
| Shinko E-804 & Shinko E-05 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 5 | n/a |
| Avon TrekRider AV84 & AV85 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | n/a |
| Mitas E-07 Dakar & E-07 Plus | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 | n/a |
| Motoz Tractionator Adventure | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | n/a |
| Kenda Big Block K784 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | n/a |
| Mitas E-10 Dakar | 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 | n/a |
| Metzeler Karoo 3 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | n/a |
| Heidenau K60 Scout | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | n/a |
Cost | 50/50 ADV Tires
| Rank | Tire |
|---|---|
| 1 | Shinko E-804 & E-05 |
| 2 | Kenda Big Block K784 |
| 3 | Bridgestone Battlax AX41 Adventurecross |
| 4 | Continental TKC80 |
| 5 | Avon TrekRider AV84 & AV85 |
| 6 | Pirelli Scorpion Rally |
| 7 | Metzeler Karoo 3 |
| 8 | Heidenau K60 Scout |
| 9 | Dunlop TrailMax Mission |
| 10 | Mitas E-07 Dakar & E-07 Plus |
| 11 | Motoz Tractionator GPS |
| 12 | Motoz Tractionator Adventure |
| 13 | Michelin Anakee Wild |
| 14 | Motoz Tractionator RallZ |
| 15 | Mitas E-10 Dakar |
Estimated Mileage | 50/50 ADV Tires
| Rank | Tire |
|---|---|
| 1 | Heidenau K60 Scout |
| 2 | Motoz Tractionator GPS |
| 3 | Dunlop TrailMax Mission |
| 4 | Mitas E-07 Dakar & E-07 Plus |
| 5 | Motoz Tractionator Adventure |
| 6 | Avon TrekRider AV84 & AV85 |
| 7 | Michelin Anakee Wild |
| 8 | Motoz Tractionator RallZ |
| 9 | Shinko E-804 & E-05 |
| 10 | Mitas E-10 Dakar |
| 11 | Metzeler Karoo 3 |
| 12 | Bridgestone Battlax AX41 Adventurecross |
| 13 | Pirelli Scorpion Rally |
| 14 | Continental TKC80 |
| 15 | Kenda Big Block K784 |
Freeway | 50/50 ADV Tires
| Rank | Tire |
|---|---|
| 1 | Dunlop TrailMax Mission |
| 2 | Motoz Tractionator GPS |
| 3 | Bridgestone Battlax AX41 Adventurecross |
| 4 | Continental TKC80 |
| 5 | Heidenau K60 Scout |
| 6 | Mitas E-07 Dakar & E-07 Plus |
| 7 | Avon TrekRider AV84 & AV85 |
| 8 | Kenda Big Block K784 |
| 9 | Mitas E-10 Dakar |
| 10 | Michelin Anakee Wild |
| 11 | Shinko E-804 & E-05 |
| 12 | Metzeler Karoo 3 |
| 13 | Pirelli Scorpion Rally |
| 14 | Motoz Tractionator RallZ |
| 15 | Motoz Tractionator Adventure |
Rain Grooves | 50/50 ADV Tires
| Rank | Tire |
|---|---|
| 1 | Dunlop TrailMax Mission |
| 2 | Bridgestone Battlax AX41 Adventurecross |
| 3 | Motoz Tractionator GPS |
| 4 | Mitas E-07 Dakar & E-07 Plus |
| 5 | Avon TrekRider AV84 & AV85 |
| 6 | Mitas E-10 Dakar |
| 7 | Metzeler Karoo 3 |
| 8 | Continental TKC80 |
| 9 | Michelin Anakee Wild |
| 10 | Shinko E-804 & E-05 |
| 11 | Heidenau K60 Scout |
| 12 | Motoz Tractionator Adventure |
| 13 | Kenda Big Block K784 |
| 14 | Pirelli Scorpion Rally |
| 15 | Motoz Tractionator RallZ |
Dirt Gravel Roads | 50/50 ADV Tires
| Rank | Tire |
|---|---|
| 1 | Pirelli Scorpion Rally |
| 2 | Michelin Anakee Wild |
| 3 | Motoz Tractionator RallZ |
| 4 | Mitas E-10 Dakar |
| 5 | Dunlop TrailMax Mission |
| 6 | Motoz Tractionator GPS |
| 7 | Motoz Tractionator Adventure |
| 8 | Bridgestone Battlax AX41 Adventurecross |
| 9 | Kenda Big Block K784 |
| 10 | Continental TKC80 |
| 11 | Avon TrekRider AV84 & AV85 |
| 12 | Mitas E-07 Dakar & E-07 Plus |
| 13 | Metzeler Karoo 3 |
| 14 | Shinko E-804 & E-05 |
| 15 | Heidenau K60 Scout |
Baby Heads | 50/50 ADV Tires
| Rank | Tire |
|---|---|
| 1 | Pirelli Scorpion Rally |
| 2 | Michelin Anakee Wild |
| 3 | Motoz Tractionator RallZ |
| 4 | Bridgestone Battlax AX41 Adventurecross |
| 5 | Continental TKC80 |
| 6 | Mitas E-10 Dakar |
| 7 | Dunlop TrailMax Mission |
| 8 | Shinko E-804 & E-05 |
| 9 | Kenda Big Block K784 |
| 10 | Metzeler Karoo 3 |
| 11 | Motoz Tractionator GPS |
| 12 | Mitas E-07 Dakar & E-07 Plus |
| 13 | Motoz Tractionator Adventure |
| 14 | Avon TrekRider AV84 & AV85 |
| 15 | Heidenau K60 Scout |
Hill Climbs | 50/50 ADV Tires
| Rank | Tire |
|---|---|
| 1 | Pirelli Scorpion Rally |
| 2 | Motoz Tractionator RallZ |
| 3 | Michelin Anakee Wild |
| 4 | Bridgestone Battlax AX41 Adventurecross |
| 5 | Motoz Tractionator Adventure |
| 6 | Dunlop TrailMax Mission |
| 7 | Motoz Tractionator GPS |
| 8 | Shinko E-804 & E-05 |
| 9 | Metzeler Karoo 3 |
| 10 | Mitas E-07 Dakar & E-07 Plus |
| 11 | Kenda Big Block K784 |
| 12 | Mitas E-10 Dakar |
| 13 | Continental TKC80 |
| 14 | Avon TrekRider AV84 & AV85 |
| 15 | Heidenau K60 Scout |
So there it is, those are all the results from our months and months of testing. Hopefully we've covered the tires you're interested in or at least helped you make a more informed decision on your next ADV tire or dual sport tire purchase.
Thank you for following along on this extensive journey with us,
Chaparral Motorsports
