Tyre Thread - But I know Nout!

[KevTM]

I'm pretty new to trail bikes etc and I feel like I know absolutely feck all about them and related consumables/products/etc.

I'll be buying new tyres for my '94 KLX650C1 in the next few days but I'm at a total loss as to what to get.

What's on it just now:
Front - Pirelli Scorpion 90/90-21 H (tubeless on a tubed rim?)
Rear - Metzeler Tourance 130/80-17H (tubeless on a tubed rim?)

How does a tubeless tyre on a tubed rim work, obviously it has a lip to bead onto as usual? Any benefits on tubeless over tubed or vice versa?

I'll mostly be on-road but want something that's "ok" for light off-road stuff, too - I was thinking:

Continental Escape's £115 total.

I'm assuming these are tubeless on a tubed rim type tyres and should be ok/fittable? (feel like a complete noob asking these questions)

Any other tyres I should be looking at?

Cheers Muchio.

[Mystery]

as far as i know bridgestone, dunlop and michelens make off road tires if you can afford them

[ben_wheely]

[KevTM]

The tyres have me confused at the minute. The Scorpion one (front) says on it "Tubeless - Tubeless tyre to fit tubed rim - Fit tube" (or along those lines) . The rear tyre just says tubeless on the side, so I'm assuming it is tubeless. I'll whip them off over the weekend and see if tubes are fitted.

As for pros and cons, I think you're right. Tubed for off-road as it's easier to whip the tyre off and do the repair to the tube (or swap it out for speed).

Had a wee shot on a KLR250 years ago on the road with knobblies, can be dodgy, so I'm definitely staying away from them for the time being

yeah weezy I think most manufacturers make off-road tyres, I think even Maxxi do them! Never been a fan of Continentals but I've heard good things about the Escapes so I'll give them a bash.

[Mystery]

ok, i don't know much about offroad either tbh but my mates use the 3 i said and have used em for years so they must be good, hope it works out for you though

[G]

Tubeless tyres on a tubed rim do not work. Well, not unless you also use a tube.

If you're going to be using the bike on road a lot, if at all possible I'd get a spare set of wheels. It's a big compromise between the two and you'll end up with faster wearing tyres that will do neither job well.

If not, basically look at the tread - the bigger the gaps, the better off-road and worse on-road.
I've got Metzeler Enduro 3 Saharas on my KTM690. They are fine on road, but off-road they are perhaps a bit 'concerning'. I was able to pretty much keep up on a green lane trip, but was sliding all over the place. A decent front on another trip with the same rear made a big difference; meant at least the front end went where I pointed, even if the rear was at a significantly different angle .