Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue.
I was never so excited to wear a set of tires down. My 2020 BMW F 750 GS had come with a set of 80/20s, Michelin Anakee 3s. For that 80 percent of paved road, those Anakees clung to the tarmac, snug and tight. In the rain, they performed exceedingly well, but on dirt, they left a little to be desired.
Taking streets tires on gravel for the first time, my confidence eroded quickly. The bike simply felt unsteady. It wasn’t that the tires couldn’t handle the dirt road, but I didn’t like the wobble that came with each hard bump. Each dip, rut, and rock was met with apprehension, and I had to work exceedingly hard on relaxing my grip on the handlebars. I knew I was going to need a more aggressive tire if I was going to push myself into serious dirt riding.
Thus began endless reviews and research for my next set of tires. After watching one video after another, cruising a plethora of online forums, and meeting with a Dunlop rep at the Overland Expo in Loveland, Colorado, I was leaning heavily toward Dunlop Trailmax Mission tires, rated 50/50 and with a T-speed rating (up to 118 mph). They didn’t look particularly knobby, and I did question the seemingly smoother tread, but reviews had been excellent, and I checked in with a few friends for confirmation.
“They have been fantastic,” said my friend Deana Kelley, an avid rider/racer from Sierra Vista, Arizona. “Absolutely zero issues with them, and I can damn near drag my boxes on the ground on asphalt.”
How about in the rain?
“Zero issues with rain. They channel water really well,” she said. I was sold. I ordered the Trailmax Missions from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC, and they arrived in a couple of days.
I wasn’t sure what to expect. Tire assessment should begin after the first 100 to 200 miles during a break-in period. Most manufacturers recommend this easier riding period before hard braking or acceleration occurs or before you go for peg-dragging curves. Check your tire label, as many manufacturers place their recommended break-in period on the label. If anything, be certain to warm up your tires with a good ride before you put them to the test since heated tires adhere better to the surfaces on which they roll.
As Deana had promised, the Trailmax Missions gripped like glue, sticking hard around sharp curves, holding the line of the bike, and upping my confidence in corners. I never noticed any wobble or unsteadiness, even during the break-in period.
Fast forward to dirt. This is where the game seriously changed. Trailmax Missions might not offer the big, knobby appearance of more aggressive tires, but the bike was noticeably steadier on gravel with less jerking and vibration. Trailmax became the footing of my first lessons in dirt and continued as I braved my way into new comfort zones. I put them in mud, pounded them on rocks, rolled over miles of gravel and forest roads, and dropped the bike only in deeper sand. The Missions pulled my Beemer through ravines, deep cracks in the earth, and big mud puddles. I cannot say how the Missions fair with baby heads, but that is certainly up for future discussion.
Trailmax doesn’t shy away from descriptors on this tire’s aggressiveness. The Staggered Step tread design is a series of widely spaced, deep-tread lugs that offer a good grip in precarious areas. The tire’s wraparound tread blocks go further up the sidewall to help prevent puncturing and increase traction.
Eleven thousand miles of gravel, dirt, and pavement later, I couldn’t wear them out, and I only replaced them due to a nail I picked up in the rear tire. I could have solely changed the back tire, but I decided to go full-on with a new set for an accurate comparison.
Enter Shinko E804/E805 Adventure Trail tires. The new tires went on, and off I went through the winding roads of Arkansas and Missouri. The price difference was considerable, with the Shinkos being $160 less for the set. On pavement, I noticed a distinct contrast, but not an unsteady one. The bike felt a little rougher, especially during the break-in period. It was also louder.
But the tire’s performance also did not disappoint. It stuck to the hard turns and curves well, but it took a few hours of riding to lean into the curves with real confidence. About 200 miles in, the tires had reached the break-in point and felt more solid in leans, although the louder sound remained. In fresh rain, they slipped a bit as any tire would, but after riding for a considerable time in a solid, steady rain, they held to the tarmac.
By contrast to Trailmax Missions, Shinko E804/E805 series offers the more aggressive knobby Big Block technology, with stable sidewalls for softer surfaces, and is rated for mud and snow. For speed, this tire is rated Q (up to 99 mph).
On dirt, they also performed well, but not noticeably better or different than the Missions. The real test of this tire came with mileage. In all fairness, my Shinkos took on a good amount of tarmac than the dirt I had anticipated to ride. Packing at least 80 pounds of gear on my bike, they got me past mud, through gravel, on dirt, on old county roads in dire need of repaving, and beyond the dirty winds of 18-wheelers on a state highway in a downpour. To be specific, I was exceedingly rough on these tires.
At 3,000 miles, I saw that the rear tire was wearing hard already. At 3,500 miles, I ordered a new rear tire, another Dunlop Trailmax Mission, and had it shipped 400 miles ahead of me. It had proven to be a good call. By the time I pulled into Tech 46 Moto in Birmingham, Alabama, the technician there estimated I had about 200 miles left on the tire. Today, my bike rolls with a hybrid set, Shinko on its front and Trailmax on its rear, and it conquers just about anything I throw at it.
I recommend you consider a true assessment of your riding style and the conditions in which you will ride before ordering a set of tire. Do you prefer to road tour to mountain dirt passes? Do you live in a wet climate with mud and snow or a drier climate with little rain? Do you spend more time in the backcountry, conquering water crossings and baby heads? Or are you more comfortable on smoother forest roads but want a tire that can handle a more aggressive situation?
For the money, Shinko E804/E805 Adventure Trails will take you confidently into that backcountry. For road travelers who like a mix of aggressive and smoother off-road trails, Trailmax Missions’ mileage durability is hard to beat. In the end, you probably won’t lose with either. Happy trails.
$386 | dunlopmotorcycletires.com
$226 | shinkotireusa.com
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