When it comes to choosing the best dual sport tires for gravel roads, there’s a lot of choices out there. All of the major tire manufacturers such as Pirelli, Michelin, Dunlop, Continental, Kenda and Bridgestone claim to make the best dual sport tires for gravel roads. But which ones are right for you?
What Kind Of Dual Sport Tires Are Best For Gravel Roads?
There are a lot of different specifications for dual sport tires, so think about what kind of riding you’ll do. You’ll want a tire with a low to high percentage ratio if you’re going to ride mainly on gravel roads. As an example, a tire with a 40/60 ratio is 40% geared for road riding and 60% geared for off-roading.
Tire sidewall numbers are there for a reason, and by law. They tell you what size tire they are and what type of riding they’re for. For example, a 50/50 tire is good for both on and off road. But if you plan to ride mainly on gravel roads then you are better off with a tire ratio of 30/70, 20/80 or even 10/90.
Are Dual Sport Mud Tires Good On Gravel?
Dual sport tires give you and your adventure bike the ability to ride on all terrains, both on and off-road. However, some tires are more geared towards dirt and mud trails. These tires have a more aggressive tread pattern where the pattern and gaps are substantially larger, and the ‘knobs’ stick further out. Tires in this class will provide you with much better stability and traction on both mud and gravel.
What Is The Difference Between AT And MT Dual Sport Tires?
In the old days, AT stood for Alphanumeric Tires, which was the original way to tell tire sizes. The Metric Tire (MT) system was introduced as tires got more sophisticated and sizes varied.
The main difference between AT and MT dual sport tires comes down to the tire width size. Back in the day tire widths did not get much bigger than 6 inches across the tread, so anything wider than this will most probably be an MT dual sports tire. While AT dual sport tires are still available, most manufacturers have switched to the newer MT measurements.
What Are Dual Sport Tires Good For?
The name says it all – dual sport tires are good for off-road and on-road. Dual sport tires are good for both driving on paved roads and more tricky dirt trails. Plus dual sport tires give you the best of both on and off-road worlds while still being road-legal on tarmac.
Also read: The Longest Lasting Dual Sport Tire: Is It Actually Good?
