/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/octane/KRMF622JQOODZXLI7VEXLMTUKI.jpg)
When I was searching for tires that could handle lots of pavement, mild off-roading en route to campsites, and not put too much strain on a traveler's budget, I didn't find many options. The one brand that seemed to meet my needs was Shinko, and of its many dual-sport offerings the 705 Series were the tires that had the right pavement-to-dirt ratio (80 percent on, 20 percent off) and were available in sizes that would fit my Yamaha FZ-07. (Although there wasn't a 180/55-17 to fit the FZ's rear wheel, so I went with a 170/60-17, which fit fine.) And after putting tens of thousands of miles on two sets of Shinko 705 Series tires, I'd say they fit the bill perfectly.
As touring tires, the 705s vibrate a little below 10 mph but then roll smoothly at higher speeds. In terms of grip they didn’t disappoint in the slightest, even in the wet. The 705s handled everything from the fast sweeping turns of Mount Lemon in Arizona to the tight and technical curves of the Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee, falling into turns and solidly holding a line without fuss. And that was even after a couple thousand miles of center flattening slab riding through Texas and Florida.
Over the course of six months and more than 30,000 miles on the road I did end up doing quite a bit of fire-road riding, and the 705s’ big tread blocks grip well on loose terrain. They worked great on graded fire roads but I struggled a bit in loose sand and mud, but that’s more a function on my lack of skill. I’m by no means a super confident dirt rider, but the 705s never let me down. When I crashed, it was all user error!
Now, one of the most important aspects of a touring tire is, of course, longevity. With my FZ fully loaded, I got just over 7,000 miles out of the first rear tire and then about 8,000 out of the second one. My front tire went the full 15,000 miles, and still had tread left. I don’t know how they would be on a heavier, more powerful bike, but I’m more than satisfied with the range. And the price! We’re talking about $270 a set according to Shinko’s website. That leaves more money for food, gas, and adventure!
SHINKO 705 SERIES ADVENTURE-TOURING TIRES
PRICE: $70-$150 per tire, depending on size
CONTACT: shinkotireusa.com
MC GRADE: A
VERDICT: Satisfying performance, long life, and low cost for the road warrior who occasionally finds themselves in off-road situations.
