Tyre advice: Good tyres for light trail use

Q. I have a 2009 Triumph Tiger 1050, which I am delighted with.

I am well aware it is not a full-blown off-road motorcycle, but I would like to improve the grip on light trail use, without sacrificing the fine road handling.

• Compare and buy motorcycle tyres

Can you please make any suggestions?
Neil. Kitchingman, email
 
A. The problem you have is that your wheel sizes won¹t let you fit any more knobbly tyres. If you weren¹t running 17 inch wheels I¹d have pointed you at a set of Dunlop Trailmax or Pirelli MT60.

The trouble in this country is our wet, muddy trails really need a lot bigger tread patterns to get grip on the mud and those tyres are often on such a slow speed rating that they¹d be in serious danger of shedding rubber at high speeds.

Though your bike has trail styling it really is a road bike with gravel drive capabilities.