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It’s time for a new set of tires, what’s the latest and greatest from Dunlop for soft/intermediate? I have heard they have factory spec tires but they are only available at ktm dealers or something like that, plus I’m sure they’re pretty expensive. Is something like the mx34 still the way to go? Those Michelin star cross tires look pretty sweet but I’m a creature of habit and think I would have a hard time switching brands haha.
Yes, MX34.
3s on the front and 34 on the rear!!!
Make the switch and you won't be a Dunlop guy anymore can pretty much guarantee it. Way better traction, wear and mounting than a Dunlop.
Soft/intermediate you need to try the mx14. That tire is so much better than the mx34, it’s legit crazy the difference. I run that tire as much as possible and the more I do the more I like it almost everywhere. When it’s better is 69x better and then on conditions it’s worse it’s only 6.9x worse. I do have a set of those factory specs but I haven’t tried them yet, doubt I’ll get more because they were $383 for a front and rear!! Crazy expensive!
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Got a set of 82s front and rear I’m gonna be trying. Heard good things about em.
I really liked the new spec tire! I feel like the front will last just as long as the regular one and the rear hooked up well in different conditions too.
The new 25 Pirelli mx32 will be the best, combining the good traits of paddle/standard tire.
How many hours are you usually getting out of the fronts? If they can go 8-10 hours that seems like a no brainer for the increase in feel/performance
I've been running the AT-82 front and it is much better than the standard MX-34 tire.
The front MX34 is an improvement over the MX33 for sure. Still not perfect, but it's so predictable and consistent it's hard to beat IMO.
As someone above mentioned, the regular MX34 and 3S is a great combo and they even work on concrete hard blue groove. I have friends that run the MX34 front that someone above mentioned, and they like that tire, but they have never tried the 3s, and I'm guessing either would be a great choice.
Unless you are an AMA pro, running the spec tires is utterly pointless, you will notice zero, or close to zero difference in them, plus the carcass is harder than the non spec version so it has slightly less bump compliance .
I ran the original Michelin mid soft for a few years and they are good, but overall i prefer the Dunlop combo I mentioned now, The new Michelin versions definitely do not hook up quite as well on harder packed dirt.
I have also used the Scorpion mid soft front which is excellent even on hard pack, but the traction falls off quicker than others, so overall I don't think it's worth the money unless you can afford to eplace them frequently.
My friend Austin Politeli, whom is a current AMA Pro and raced the last Anaheim 1 race, and finished 4th overall in 2024 in arena cross, runs the standard MX34 rear and Scorpion mid soft front, and I doubt that anyone here is as fast as he is. Brian Brimhall also runs the standard MX34 rear.
If the track is on the deeper soft and loamy or sandy side, then the paddle tire is a great option, but if you ride harder pack tracks as well, you will need to change it to a different tire. Very, few AMA Pros ever run the paddle tire, so that should tell you something.
You need to have another look at the starting line if you think none of them are running scoops.
You need to improve your reading skills, because I did not say that none of them are ever running scoop/paddle tires, and it is YOU that needs to look at the starting line if you think most of them are. It's best to get your facts straight before you attempt to criticize someone.
Anaheim 1 2025 starting line. Not a single paddle tire in sight...oops..
Pull up a picture of the starting line for a National and see how it looks....
You’re an idiot. Take the L and move on.
lol that would be like taking a pic of southwick and then saying, see everyone runs the scoop.
Not a single one of us rides Anaheim sx, however we all ride redbud, or Hangtown or Millville type tracks. Tracks that you can run a scoop at. Problem with the scoop is there are tracks it just doesn’t work at all, whereas an mx34 can run all tracks for the most part. So I can see if you only have one rear wheel, it would be hard to pick unless you only have softer tracks all day. For me in NorCal, I run have two back wheels, scoop for the first motos always everywhere and then depends if I switch or not.
Back to the op, I forgot to mention the 82, I ran that in the scoop direction and it was an amazing tire too, I like it better than the 34 in all conditions.
I ran a new mx34 rear at the sumter national enduro this year, traction wise it was fine but durability wise I wasn't impressed. Sumter is mostly black sandy soil with a small amount of loose clay mixed in certain sections. The knobs on the tire we already rounded off a good bit by the end, I can't imagine it would hold up very well in a true offroad setting with roots/rocks and hard pack. I haven't tried the new AT82 rear but its on my list, luckily I still have a nice stash of AT81 rears which is my go to offroad tire for the rear. Front I like the mx33 or AT82.
Try atually reading my entire post, which also says the following:
"If the track is on the deeper soft and loamy or sandy side, then the paddle tire is a great option, but if you ride harder pack tracks as well, you will need to change it to a different tire."
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Pit Row
Oh fair enough.
I guess you should probably read the first post in the thread then because OP asked for "soft/intermediate" and not hard pack tires.
Have a great day boss!
Guess you should have read my ENTIRE post which also includes this:
"If the track is on the deeper soft and loamy or sandy side, then the paddle tire is a great option, but if you ride harder pack tracks as well, you will need to change it to a different tire."
ummm...the most common rear tire at Glen Helen is...wait for it...an MX34.
You win dawg, you are for sure the smartest and most experienced dude commenting in this thread. We are all so thankful for you taking the time to share you absolute immense knowledge with us.
Thank you for gracing us with your presence, we are all so much better off for it.
We did a tire test at GH two weeks ago between the MX34, MX53, and MX14.
The MX14 was over one second faster per lap against the MX34 over a three-lap average at 9am, 11:30am, and 1:30pm.
That is a great post and proves one of my points. One second a lap is irrelevant for a recreational rider, especially on a course that is that long, and it's not worth the effort and expense of running a paddle, unless soft tracks is all one rides. I'm guessing that Jett Lawrence (and you) could smoke everyone on vital with a half worn out Cheng Shin, point being, it is far better to improve ones riding skills than it is to improve their tire, but I'm sure you know that.
Meh, im no pro, but i definitely noticed a difference in overall traction and I also noticed the stiffer carcass and found it to be a positive for me. In braking bumps and steep faces ive felt like the less stiff carcass tires squish or roll. I didnt experience that feeling at Daytona at all. Granted there was nothing very steep but there were some rough sections at times. Ive ran the 3s too and it honestly wasnt my favorite. I do want to try the 82 at certain tracks this year as well. Ive been very anti scoop but my experience may have been tainted with the last one i used, which was way back to the 11. May give a 14 a whirl if i go through enough tires this year..
I see no problem with this front lasting WELL over 10 hours. I put 6 motos/practices on the set and the front still looks brand new and the rear in my options looks very good still. I mean, if you're riding blue groove, nothings lasting. In good dirt, i feel like these will hold up just fine.
I also find it comical that some clown gave the op a dislike on his post, but I expect nothing less from some of the people on here.
I feel like you're one of those dudes that argues, just because he likes to fucking argue.
You're the one we are all laughing at.
I agree- I have about 12 hours on the Michelin Starcross 6 and have been really impressed. I deal with a lot of tracks that start off deep tilled clay, and then it becomes hardpack later. It’s a tough ask for a tire. I couldn’t ever get the feel I like on the MX 34 front. It requires higher pressure than the 33 it replaced, which for me made the front feel more harsh. I’ll also own the fact that I am old and I really don’t like much feel through the bike to my hands. Also I didn’t think the 34 grip was great at once tracks got harder later in the day, it seemed like I lost the front a lot. Michelin is in a rebate period right now BTW.
This thread sucks.
Pirellis are great and fun fact, they don’t make spec tires for their riders. Pirelli racers run shelf tires because their shelf tires are their “spec tires” and they ROCK.
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