Stock KLR650 Dunlops
The stock KLR650 tires are OK. Many people lambast them for poor offroad grip and poor longevity. I got only 3000 miles out of the rear tire but I had run the tire with 22 psi for several thousand miles (shame, shame, shame). I ran the tire hard riding with a fast crowd and they held the road well. Given the same low pressure start, the front tire was replaced at 8000 miles. It had worn unevenly due to the low pressure period.
Kenda K270 Rear
The first rear tire replacement for my KLX650 was a Kenda K270. It is an inexpensive very dirt biased tire. It handles the dirt very well but was very strange on the road at low to moderate speeds. I never ventured any faster. In turns the knobbies would "walk" across the pavement so you'd come out of turns a foot or two wider than you thought, and the rear end would hang out on most turns. I'm not sure if it was slippage or each knob bending a little to create sideways motion. I replaced the tire after about 1500 miles. Good tire for the dirt, but did not fit my on road riding needs.
Avon AM24 Gripster Front and Rear
The next tires on the KLX650 were Avons. The Gripster was a low priced tire (cost more now) that does everything at least as good as the stock tire. It is street biased. You can't go wrong with the Gripster, although some call it the slipster in reference to its sand and mud performance. That's just par for the course with a street biased dual sport tire. I sold the bike before wearing out these tires, so I don't know how long they would have lasted.
Dunlop D604 Rear
The first rear tire replacement for my KLR was a Dunlop D604. It is a very street biased tire that looks a lot like a Metzler Tourance. The Dunlop handles very well on the road at speed and caused no undo concern in the rain. It offers a pretty smooth ride and lasted me 5000 miles. For another opinion see http://pages.cthome.net/bmantel/D604.htm.
Duro HF904 Median front and rear
Note: See the update about this tire falling apart hereNote: The front tread pattern does not look like the Duro distributed picture, it looks more like an Avon AM24 Gripster. See the picture to the right.
My next KLR650 tires - Medians by an American company name Duro that makes tractor and heavy equipment tires. Their web site does not claim any motorcycle tires so maybe they are made off shore and sold under the Duro name. They are very inexpensive. I got a pair shipped to me from Dennis Kirk for $90. They are obviously taller than the stock tires, creating issues for my center stand, and lengthening the reach to my already tall modified seat.
The rear has developed cracks at the
leading edges of the center knobs, right at the knob/tire junction (see picture). This was reported by other riders on the KLR list who went on to get over 8000 miles from the rear tire. We'll see. Click here for a larger picture to give you an idea of scale. The cracks are above the
center knob as you look at the rear tire from behind the bike. There are no cracks under the knobs. Another quirk is that they take a lot of weight to balance. I have six spokes on ther rear wheel sporting
a lead weight each, but the tires feel fine. The balancing issue has been reported by others as well. The tires ride a little lumpier than stock, and you can feel the knobs distinctly around 20 mph as you slow to a stop
The tires have been great in the first 1000 miles. I'm running these at 36psi rear and 30psi front to extend tire life. They hold the road well in the rain and have great grip leaned way over in high speed curves. They seem easily a match for the D604 on the street. They feel OK on dirt and gravel roads but I've yet to try them offroad. If the cracks don't prove to be a problem I'll buy another set.
UPDATE: See the update about this tire falling apart here I cannot recommend these tires for sustained speeds over 60 mph.