Posts: 925
Joined: 1/21/2014
Location: Bartlett, TN USA
Everyday woods set is Dunlop AT81's front and rear with heavy duty tubes.
Colorado/Lorettas woods ride is Dunlop MX32 up front/Kenda Equilibrium rear with bib mousses in both.
Wondering if you guys run different combos for your primary and backup sets.
2019 KTM 350 XCF
Single Track Warrior
Posts: 1018
Joined: 9/21/2015
Location: NLD
I run a Dunlop MX3S front/Dunlop MX11 rear. With that set I can ride pretty much all the tracks in my area.
Posts: 3653
Joined: 1/28/2010
Location: TN, USA
Once the stockers go, A60's has held up well for me. As for tires, mix it up all the time. You will never know how much better another tire can work without trying em.
Posts: 1005
Joined: 5/5/2011
Location: Virginia Beach, VA USA
After trying just about everything, MX3S, GT216AA, Starcross 5, MX52, various Kendas and S12XC's i have settled back to AT81's with Michelin Bibs installed. This combo seems to work the best for me where i race (North Alabama, Lousiana, Missippi and Florida)
Posts: 1731
Joined: 8/25/2015
Location: Mansfield, OH USA
Running mx3s in front and rear. Like them more than the mx51, starcross 5s and the Bridgestones my bike had at one point.
2009 Kawasaki KX450F
2009 Kawasaki KX250F
2002 Suzuki GSXR 600
Posts: 4002
Joined: 4/22/2009
Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA USA
What bikes are you guys running? I have a 17 FC450 and am due for a new rear tire. I got 15 hours out of it.
The older I get, the faster I was.
Posts: 7360
Joined: 10/31/2013
Location: PA, USA
Starcross 5 mediums on the track, IRC VE33 out back for the woods. MX3S in the dumpster where they belong.
Tomac and/or Anderson for 2020.....
Posts: 6443
Joined: 5/5/2011
Location: Santa Clarita, CA USA
I take it you don't do much MX track riding ? The MX3 front and rear are the most popular tire here in California. Everyone is titled to their opinion, but I love the way they work in soft terrain, I just wish they lasted longer.
Posts: 425
Joined: 9/18/2016
Location: Miami, FL USA
Starcross 5 sand rear with a medium up front on my yz250f. Works great for 98% of florida tracks. If I gota ride one of the few hard pack tracks I can throw on the Bridestone M403/M404 that originally came on the bike that I like only for hard pack terrain.
MX3S front and rear on my tc125 (still original tires). Solid all around tire imo.
Might be in North Carolina in a month riding a couple tracks that are mostly clay which is a surface I'm not familiar with. I figure medium hardness (though not sure how winter conditions will effect the track). I'm not sure if I should keep my Starcross sand tire or switch to something else. Anyone got any input on that?
Posts: 925
Joined: 1/21/2014
Location: Bartlett, TN USA
Dam....lot of passion both ways on the MX3. Guess it all depends on how and where you ride.
2019 KTM 350 XCF
Single Track Warrior
Posts: 1898
Joined: 3/4/2013
Location: Pink Hill, NC USA
Edited Date/Time:
The clay tracks in western NC can get pretty hard packed. I would play it safe and mount the bridgestones.
Ive read of others running your same combo with the starcross 5, why do you run different compounds front to back? Traction or wear? I'm looking at getting these tires to ride sand to medium.
Posts: 7360
Joined: 10/31/2013
Location: PA, USA
Ride tracks all the time. The front works very well when new, but it chucks the outer knobs off before the edges round. I ran the recommended 13psi, and it still broke all the knobs off in 15 hours on my 450. The rear is just ok, IMO for the money the Michelin is a better tire in every aspect. A bunch of my friends bought Austrian bikes this year, and none of them bought the MX3S's again after they wore out.
Tomac and/or Anderson for 2020.....
Posts: 6443
Joined: 5/5/2011
Location: Santa Clarita, CA USA
Edited Date/Time:
I've seen the fronts tear off the knobbies before, but I haven't had it happen to me. I think that when they are ridden on harder packed tracks, is what tears them off. I honestly don't ride too much hard pack, it mostly groomed fluff at the tracks I frequent. I'm getting 20 hours out of both front/rear on my 450. I got 8 hours on a set that's on my RM250, and they still look pretty fresh. If you head out to Glen Helen on a Thursday, you'll see more MX3's on the pro bikes than an thing else. Most of them run the standard compound while practicing. Ive been running 13.5 and it feels best. The normal 12 psi just doesnt feel right with these, especially the front.
I'll admit I haven't veered from Dunlop in awhile and Bridgestones 403/404's before that. Although I have switched from the Dunlop AT81's on my KTM 500 and put a set of Shinko 505 cheaters on it. Not only are they a DOT tire, they grip so good, it almost feels weird. The rubber is so soft, you can twist the knobbies 90 degrees. They also last a long time, which doesn't really make much sense.
I'll have to try a set of Micheln's eventually, but I have a few sets of the MX3's left. I've read good things about them.
Posts: 925
Joined: 1/21/2014
Location: Bartlett, TN USA
Dam Bros...you guys are getting much rides in...kudos to you.
2019 KTM 350 XCF
Single Track Warrior
Posts: 7360
Joined: 10/31/2013
Location: PA, USA
Edited Date/Time:
Dunlops are also fairly popular here. I ride probably 60% track and 40% woods. Most of our tracks are quite loamy here, but PA has a bunch of rocks, and it tears up all types of tires. The thing I like about the Starcross 5's is that, compared to the MX3S, the performance does not fall off as much when they get rounded. The Michelin fronts are good in the woods, the rears are just meh. I have been using the VE33 offroad for at least 10 years, it wears great, and is always very consistent.
Tires are very subjective as you can see. I just have not been impressed with the Dunlops.
Don't the pros ride Dunlop because they are free...and they are the official tire of MX and SX?
Tomac and/or Anderson for 2020.....
Posts: 2412
Joined: 7/3/2009
Location: riverside, CA USA
Posts: 91
Joined: 7/31/2016
Location: CT, USA
Edited Date/Time:
We ride the same percentages between moto and woods and relatively the same terrain. I agree, currently on Dunlop but starcross 5 med is the all around best tire for me. The spectrum between performance and durability far outweighs any other tire I've ridden at my speed, in my area.
Posts: 21684
Joined: 11/25/2008
Location: Thru-out, CA USA
Metzeler tires w/ Michelin Bibs.
Mid "Softs" for MX & Mid "Hards" for the Dez.
Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals. I get my back into my living. I don't need to fight, to prove I'm right. I don't need to be forgiven.
Posts: 635
Joined: 3/14/2015
Location: SWE
Posts: 487
Joined: 1/19/2017
Location: CAN
Edited Date/Time:
I know I run the Dunlops (MX3S only) on my bike and my son's race bike because of the discount.....lol
My local shop that I deal with gives us 45% off, otherwise I would probably run Starcross 5's.
Posts: 2223
Joined: 8/5/2015
Location: POL
Edited Date/Time:
On my RM 250 I run Michelin Starcross 5 medium rear and Starcross 5 soft up front. Awesome combo for most track conditions. Deep sand, I switch the rear to Starcross 4 Sand. Both combos work extremely well.
I gave up on Dunlop MX3S due to, previously mentioned, really short lifespan of the front tire.
My SXF 250 has Dunlop MX52 up front and Starcross 5 Medium in the back.
MX52 front gives up on you the moment you least expect it, unless you expect it every time you hit a corner 
. Won't ever buy MX52's for the front. I need to replace this one with Starcross soft asap.
Posts: 1273
Joined: 7/23/2013
Location: Farmville, NC USA
On ALL of our bikes we only run MX3S's. I am going to try the new MX12 on our sand tracks!
2020 YZ450F
2018 KTM 450SXF FE
2016 YZ250F 2008 CRF450R
2015 YZ250F 2008 CRF250R
2001 CR250R
2010 YZ250 2012 CRF150R
2009 YZ125 2010 KX109.5
SSR Motorsports Dealer YCF Motorcycles
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Posts: 1018
Joined: 9/21/2015
Location: NLD
sgrimmxdad wrote:On ALL of our bikes we only run MX3S's. I am going to try the new MX12 on our sand tracks!
I'm also curious about the MX12. My MX11 still isn't worn out though. I have like 35 hours on it.
Posts: 2904
Joined: 11/3/2014
Location: Charlotte, MI USA
I am on my 2nd MX3S rear since I got my 2017 KX250F but I will most likely be switching to the MX12 in 2018. Almost everything here in Michigan is pretty soft except for a few tracks like Redbud but even there we several riders with MX11 this year.
Posts: 1273
Joined: 7/23/2013
Location: Farmville, NC USA
sgrimmxdad wrote:On ALL of our bikes we only run MX3S's. I am going to try the new MX12 on our sand tracks!
wideopen198 wrote:I'm also curious about the MX12. My MX11 still isn't worn out though. I have like 35 hours on it.
Just want to try the new tech, nothing wrong with the 11!
2020 YZ450F
2018 KTM 450SXF FE
2016 YZ250F 2008 CRF450R
2015 YZ250F 2008 CRF250R
2001 CR250R
2010 YZ250 2012 CRF150R
2009 YZ125 2010 KX109.5
SSR Motorsports Dealer YCF Motorcycles
TAGMX Suspension & Graphics! www.tagmxsuspension.com https://www.liquidskinzdesign.com/
Posts: 1898
Joined: 3/4/2013
Location: Pink Hill, NC USA
sgrimmxdad wrote:On ALL of our bikes we only run MX3S's. I am going to try the new MX12 on our sand tracks!
wideopen198 wrote:I'm also curious about the MX12. My MX11 still isn't worn out though. I have like 35 hours on it.
sgrimmxdad wrote:Just want to try the new tech, nothing wrong with the 11!
How do the Dunlops wear around here? West craven sand, Jwtf medium, and halfmoon concrete?
Posts: 1273
Joined: 7/23/2013
Location: Farmville, NC USA
Edited Date/Time:
wideopen198 wrote:I'm also curious about the MX12. My MX11 still isn't worn out though. I have like 35 hours on it.
sgrimmxdad wrote:Just want to try the new tech, nothing wrong with the 11!
Zesiger 112 wrote:How do the Dunlops wear around here? West craven sand, Jwtf medium, and halfmoon concrete?
Not bad at all, I just keep a good check on the pressure. My track is super deep and sandy/loam mix, except one end where we have added a lot of clay. That end will get baked and really blue grooved in the summer. I had a problem with fronts chunking off knobs until I realized it was from the pressure rising during long hot motos, was starting too high. MX3s do not like high pressure. We have run them at NCMP on the supercross track, hooks great. Didn't ride long enough to judge wear!
Had a new edge on one of the team bikes for Halfmoon last race, they cut it really deep so it still looked good after the race. JWTF isn't bad at all, except the concrete start, enough sand to keep it soft. West Craven is probably where we will test that new MX12!
A lot of people on the CCMX series run sand tires at all the tracks we race, the Michelin sand is VERY popular locally...
Oh, and back to the OP we run OEM wheels, run stock class. I am also a FASTER USA dealer, so we run their hubs and DID STX wheels on premium builds!
2020 YZ450F
2018 KTM 450SXF FE
2016 YZ250F 2008 CRF450R
2015 YZ250F 2008 CRF250R
2001 CR250R
2010 YZ250 2012 CRF150R
2009 YZ125 2010 KX109.5
SSR Motorsports Dealer YCF Motorcycles
TAGMX Suspension & Graphics! www.tagmxsuspension.com https://www.liquidskinzdesign.com/
Posts: 1898
Joined: 3/4/2013
Location: Pink Hill, NC USA
Edited Date/Time:
sgrimmxdad wrote:Not bad at all, I just keep a good check on the pressure. My track is super deep and sandy/loam mix, except one end where we ...more
Thanks, I'm looking at getting tires now because of holiday sales. probably gonna go Michelin starcross, soft or medium. I mostly ride west craven and jwtf, I'm tempted to go full sand on the rear but don't want to limit myself, I'll probably pick one of those up next year as a spare.
And I'll keep you in mind, I've been looking at faster USA for a wheel set on stock hubs. They have really good deals on sets and parts like sprockets.
Posts: 1273
Joined: 7/23/2013
Location: Farmville, NC USA
The Michelin soft would be my choice. Yes Faster is a great company, nice people to deal with too!
Do you ever make it out to any of the local races? Would like to meet you sometime!
2020 YZ450F
2018 KTM 450SXF FE
2016 YZ250F 2008 CRF450R
2015 YZ250F 2008 CRF250R
2001 CR250R
2010 YZ250 2012 CRF150R
2009 YZ125 2010 KX109.5
SSR Motorsports Dealer YCF Motorcycles
TAGMX Suspension & Graphics! www.tagmxsuspension.com https://www.liquidskinzdesign.com/
Posts: 1898
Joined: 3/4/2013
Location: Pink Hill, NC USA
sgrimmxdad wrote:The Michelin soft would be my choice. Yes Faster is a great company, nice people to deal with too!
Do you ever make it out ...more
Very rarely, maybe I'll catch you at the practice tracks, I was out at cow ranch one time you were there. I'll be sure to come over if I see you around.
