MITAS TERRA FORCE EX XT754 The last tyre I can think of which had as much of a loyal following in the off-road world as the Mitas XT754 was the S12. With a good heavy duty tube, a mousse or tyre balls it made a great combo. But times change, and so does tyre technology. The XT754 itself is pretty darn special. It comes in two compounds, firstly the soft green stripe which is a little softer and more gummy-like which is great for rocks, roots and mud. The second compound is the medium yellow stripe, the newer of the two. The yellow offers a stiffer carcass and side wall, reducing side wall roll at higher speeds, making it ideal for faster cross country and enduro racing. In the past the XT754 was only available in the green stripe as an 18-inch. However, the medium yellow stripe is now available in a 19-inch option, opening the doors of XT754 goodness to riders who run a 19-inch rear wheel. I’ ve run all of the variants on a few bikes now and I really rate them. They have a high knob height and longevity is awesome. The traditional thought that the loss of the leading edge means a loss of traction is now out of date. These tyres seem to keep hooking up, ride after ride. Obviously, you’ ll need to replace them at some point, as nothing lasts for ever, but I have run up to 60 hours on one XT754. That’ s seriously impressive for a back tyre.
NUTECH TUBLISS Now, whilst the XT754 on its own merit is great, you can make it better. How on earth? Well, this is where the Nutech Tubliss system comes into it. The system is available in 18-, 19- and 21- inch options and turns your stock dirtbike rim into a fully-sealed Tubliss set up that can run pressures as low as 3psi for ultimate traction. Fitting is pretty straight forward and once you’ re used to it, they can be fitted in the same time, if not less, than a conventional tube. Also, for the ultimate hard enduro setup, you can also run Slime-type tyre sealant inside the tyre. If your tyre gets damaged, the sealant will seal it up and keep you riding- so there’ s no downtime during your ride or race. If you haven’ t tried this combo, or even at least one of these products, do yourself a favour and give them a go. I’ ve run this combo for years and I have nothing but compliments for the setup. BRENDAN ABLE
MORE INFO Model: Nutech Tubliss Price: $ 270 Click this box for more info.
MORE INFO Model: Mitas XT754 Price: $ 199- $ 209 Click this box for more info.
32 KIWI RIDER