Best rear tire for Western TAT in 140/80/18?

So I'm thinking a Dunlop Rally Raid is my #1 choice according to some good buddies advice. I'm doing the Western portion of the TAT in September on a KTM 640. I want a DOT rear tire with aggressive tread that will last till Oregon.
Anyone out there with some first hand experience. The Rally raids are expensive. Is there a reason for this? Thanks, Atom..

I'd put a 130/90 606 on it if I just had to have the DOT stamp and a 120/100 Desert IT if I didn't.


I've had good luck with the Kenda Big Block on a big bike and it comes in your size.

Depends on how aggressive you want to ride. Mellow, go with the Heidenau/Dunlop D606 combo. I rode 3,000 miles on a rear with a Dunlop 606 on the front through Oregon, Washington and Nor-Cal, adjusting the air pressure to accommodate road and trail. Lasted the complete trip and the rear another 1500 miles. If you are a bit mellow on the trail, go with Heidenau F/R combo. Run the air at 12 lbs in the rear for the rougher trail sections and 18-20 on hard pack, 24 on pavement and you will be just fine with a heavy duty tube. I did this on a 690 Enduro R, basically same bike. If you are real aggressive, the D606 lasted for me on 1,500 miles of Baja just last March, again adjusting air to meet the conditions. If you just set the pressure and leave it, you won't get the performance or conversely the tire life, depending on the pressure you start with.

The 908 is my first choice for on and off road use. I don't know why they're so expensive but I know of no other tire that works so well on high speed, heavy, bikes used on pavement as well as dirt. There are other tires that will work better for off road use but many of them wear quickly.

I'm running the 130 Dunlop 606's on my 640 and am fairly happy with it. I haven't ridden enough miles to give it a final score.

I have a 690R and I plan on trying a Mefo Super Explorer in back with either a Pirelli MT21 or Michelin T63 in front.

The Mefo went 7200 miles on my 950. It was satisfactory in the mud too. Not sure how it would be in sand.

The Michelin Desert Race is their Dakar tire. Probably similar to the 908. That's the one most people used in the Mexican 1000. The 140 is about $170.

Thanks for all the feedback. I'll probably go with the Dunlop RR due to most folks being happy with the longevity. Wish they were cheaper

Yeah, they last...that's because the traction sucks, tire is hard as a rock. Hated that tire on my 610, might be a fine tire for a 500 pound 990.

now I'm confused. darn it :)
140/80/18 is the rear tire size needed. Anyone else hate the Dunlop RR. Doing 2400 miles of dirt on the TAT. Nothing to crazy but I would like a long lasting knobby tire. Did not like the heidenau k60 on dirt and the Conti 80 rear wore out too fast as did a Dunlop 606.

I've ran many 908's on my 950 and it was good on the 500 lb orange beast. I ran one on my te630 and found it heavy and rough ride. Overbuilt for a non 500 lb bike in my opinion.

I second the 130/90 Dunlop 606. It should last your whole trip unless you're a rider that does the rolling burnout the whole way. It's a large tire that side to side would look close to a 140/80. I wouldn't be too hung up on the 140/80 size imo. Good luck.

Try a Kenda Big Block in your size, I have about 2500 miles on one right now and it's got another 2500 left in it.

For the Western TAT I'd put a Maxxis Desert IT in a 120/100-18 on the thing and pin the throttle...you'll love that tire. Don't worry about the 120 width, it's about the same as a 130/90 because it has the 100 sidewall...seriously awesome tire. The West side is mostly sand and rocks, the IT eats that stuff for lunch.

I used the 980RR on my old 640ADV and really liked the smoothness on the road (for a knobbie) and relatively long life (up to 2200 miles 50/50 riding). It is very heavy and stiff so no worries about a pinch flat.

It does lack some traction on soft stuff bus as mentioned above, with a 450lb loaded bike I stayed off the soft stuff.

Both the 908 and 906 fronts tended to cup on my bike but they still lasted almost 4000 miles.

A 100% sidewall doesn't make 120mm width any closer to 130mm. I guess you're right to say it's "about the same" but thats because 10mm is not a great difference. Of course the question was about a 140mm.
One manufacturers 120 could be as wide as anothers 130 since the size rating is nominal.

Compared to the Dunlop 908RR, I have found the Pirelli Scorpion Rally rear gives better traction off and on road, lasts just as long, and costs about half the price. It fits and handles better on a 640 too because it is not quite as wide. The 908RR is a tight squeeze and the width slows handling on a 640. The Pirelli will easily last your trip.

I was looking at those. $116 bucks for a 140/80/18.
So there 140/80/18 is smaller than the Dunlop RR?
You might have sold me on those...

That Pirelli looks like it's worth a try, as long as you can live without DOT certification. I expect thats one reason for the low price.
I'll try one next time. I've never been anwhere that anyone cares about DOT #s.

I used a D606 for CO->OR (TAT) on my 450 EXC. It was 'in need of replacement" when I got home to Portland but it made it. If I'd been replacing as per-normal it would have got replaced at the NV/OR border. My buddy used a Kenda 270 on his DRZ, he rides harder than me, has a heavier bike and it wore better than my 606. Can't comment on the Rally Raid but a good general purpose tire that works well in clay mud, deep sand and packed gravel is what you want.

Western TAT is awesome, hope you have a great trip.

It is DOT

Anyone try the Michelin T63? Super cheap, DOT, based on the pricier desert rally tire. Seems like it is getting good reviews...

Better yet.
I had some old info that said only the front was DOT, and Pirelli's website just lists it as offroad, but I see that all the retailers list it as DOT approved.