Michelin T63 (rear) alternative?

[JediMaster]

I've just tried to order my favourite single-cylinder bike rear tyre only to discover that it has been discontinued by Michelin and replaced by the 'Anakee Wild'. Is that really a worthy successor?

I should've seen the writing on the wall last year when it took me a while to find one.

[Tramp]

Mitas e09...

[JediMaster]

Mitas e09...

I had a pair of them delivered to Irkutsk. The front was fine but the rear (140) was ENORMOUS! No way was it going to fit on the rim, nevermind in the swingarm! Ended up fitting a MX tyre.

I'd like to see a 130 or even a 120 in the flesh.

[boboneleg]

I too morn the demise of the T63 but the Mitas E-09 is a good copy

https://www.tyreleader.co.uk/motorbike- ... 65r-744354

[JediMaster]

I too morn the demise of the T63 but the Mitas E-09 is a good copy

https://www.tyreleader.co.uk/motorbike- ... 65r-744354

What size have you fitted to what bike?

I ask because as mentioned above, I had a 140 delivered and it was HUGE. Way too big for a DRZ. Ideally I'd like to see the 120 & 130 in the flesh before choosing one.

[Nico-D]

I too morn the demise of the T63 but the Mitas E-09 is a good copy

https://www.tyreleader.co.uk/motorbike- ... 65r-744354

What size have you fitted to what bike?

I ask because as mentioned above, I had a 140 delivered and it was HUGE. Way too big for a DRZ. Ideally I'd like to see the 120 & 130 in the flesh before choosing one.

The 130/80 will fit fine on a DRZ, there isn't a 120 E09 in 18" , another alternative is the Mitas MC23 rockrider which is a 120/90, not great in mud but fine for drier harder conditions.

[frenchy3]

I had Michelin T63,s on my Harley Davidson MT350 for ten years(mainly because thats what they came with and i got free ones when our MT section got rid of all the spares and tyres!) I really liked them as they were confidence inspiring on the road in both wet and dry conditions and also although i am a rubbish rider i never felt the tyres let me down in any off road situation. I looked for some T63,s for my SWM RS650R but i could only find 130/80 x18 which would have been fine on the rear although 140/80 x18 is standard fit. However there were no 90/90 x21 left at all.

[minkyhead]

ive used a t63 came on me ccm ...the mitas e09 is a better tyre in every way ...its only real weakness is sidegrip on cambers and the more extream muddy stuff but as a all rounder its not abad tyre at all ..it will wear alot better than a 63 too ..i shot mine in 1500 miles on the ccm and it has no where near the forward drive of the e09 in slippy stuff ..the e09 isnt great mud tyre but its markedly better than the 63 no doubt about that in my mind

the 140 e09s are a monserouse thing super stiff and very difficult to fit and remove tubes ect ... they have a fearsome reputation for not breaking bead 130s markedly more managable and doable in the feild in this regard .ive converted my rear wheels to tubless with e09s on keep the pressurs high around 15psi and no bother in the last year doing this ....
there is a case of getting more bite from smaller section tyres ..think soft grass ...wellies / stilletos ...
i have spare wheels for all me bikes and shod the rear on the crfs with 110/100s enduro tyres ..the 110s are wider than the 130 e09s ??
for instance a 120 maxxis would be huge compared to a 130/e09 i think you will loose nothing on a smaller bike by using a 130 instead of a 140 and gain a lot in terms of cost and practicality ..i wouldnt fit a 140 e09 as its a bitch in every way compared to a130?? hope that helps
in dot tyres you can do a lot worse than m21s they are pretty solid all rounders too as a alternative

you can see the smallest tyre is the 130 section and swopping these out can alter the gearing too ...weird stuff

DSC_1096 by minkyhead56, on Flickr

[bowber]

The 130/80 will fit fine on a DRZ, there isn't a 120 E09 in 18" , another alternative is the Mitas MC23 rockrider which is a 120/90, not great in mud but fine for drier harder conditions.

I've found the Rockrider rear (140/18) to be a good all round tyre apart from in that slippy clay type mud, the stuff that sticks to everything and is still quite solid. Bogs, sloppy mud, rock and road they are good on, in fact on the road they work at least as well as the MT21 I have on the front.
So far I've done around 1800 miles and I recon it should get well over 2000, not as high mileage as the E09 but I think it has better side grip off road.

For your DRZ you can't go far wrong with Maxxicross IT's, the back doesn't do a high mileage though, just over 1000 miles on my 400 EXC, but they are great on road and I've not found anything they can't handle off road at trail riding speeds.

Steve

[JediMaster]

ive used a t63 came on me ccm ...the mitas e09 is a better tyre in every way ...its only real weakness is sidegrip on cambers and the more extream muddy stuff but as a all rounder its not abad tyre at all ..it will wear alot better than a 63 too ..i shot mine in 1500 miles on the ccm and it has no where near the forward drive of the e09 in slippy stuff ..the e09 isnt great mud tyre but its markedly better than the 63 no doubt about that in my mind

the 140 e09s are a monserouse thing super stiff and very difficult to fit and remove tubes ect ... they have a fearsome reputation for not breaking bead 130s markedly more managable and doable in the feild in this regard .ive converted my rear wheels to tubless with e09s on keep the pressurs high around 15psi and no bother in the last year doing this ....
there is a case of getting more bite from smaller section tyres ..think soft grass ...wellies / stilletos ...
i have spare wheels for all me bikes and shod the rear on the crfs with 110/100s enduro tyres ..the 110s are wider than the 130 e09s ??
for instance a 120 maxxis would be huge compared to a 130/e09 i think you will loose nothing on a smaller bike by using a 130 instead of a 140 and gain a lot in terms of cost and practicality ..i wouldnt fit a 140 e09 as its a bitch in every way compared to a130?? hope that helps
in dot tyres you can do a lot worse than m21s they are pretty solid all rounders too as a alternative

you can see the smallest tyre is the 130 section and swopping these out can alter the gearing too ...weird stuff

DSC_1096 by minkyhead56, on Flickr

Thanks for all this info. Much appreciated. Your comments regarding the 140 E-09 were exactly what I experienced.

Having ordered MT21's for the front of my DRZ & 990 I plumbed for a MT21 rear for the DRZ this time (before I read the above). I used a few of them in South America and whilst they didn't last as well as the T63 they did ride nicely.

I'll try a 130 E-09 next time.