Overland tires must always be a tradeoff. On the road, the knobby tires aren't ideal since the chunks of rubber that bite so easily into the ground offer less grip on smooth firm asphalt, and their small footprint and inclination to bend give the bike a slightly detached sensation. This movement, along with the increased speeds we drive on the road, causes the knobbles to heat up and die quickly. But, when rain turns an untreated clay surface into a bog, a road tire is useless, so what do you do? Continental's TKC80 is an aged design that appears to be knobbly but is actually a capable all-around rubber, which is probably why it's still in production after so many years on the market. It's a tire you should choose when you're heading for the rough surfaces, but not if you're going to be on the blacktop for the majority of your trip, even if they look timeless and awesome!

Article Code: 03 53660