PRODUCT REVIEWI
P130
purpose-built obstacles includ-
ing deep sand pits, gravel traps,
technical woods trails, and more
to challenge both rider and tires.
Of course, since this launch took
place at a BMW facility, we were
riding the new R 1300 GS and
GSAs, which are not the easi-
est bikes to handle in deep sand
and gravel. To make things even
tougher, the team had us slow-ride
through some of the deepest sec-
tions so we could truly understand
how well the new tire hooks up
when you need it most. Mission ac-
complished. As with the previous
Continental TKC 80, the new TKC
80² is a highly capable off-road
beast that grabs every grain of dirt
and sand available to propel you
forward, even when you're on one
of the heaviest ADV bikes on the
market and in some of the tough-
est conditions you can find.
Personally, I've always been a
fan of the TKC 80 because I live
for off-road, but, as with all ag-
gressive ADV tires, you can't have
your cake and eat it too. This is an
aggressive tire built for riders who
demand traction on big-horsepow-
er bikes off-road. The new TKC
80² might last a bit longer than its
predecessor, thanks to improved
rubber compounds forty years
on, but don't expect high-mileage
miracles. As I've said already,
hopefully we'll get a few sets for a
long-term test so we can give you
actual mileage numbers, but for
now, I'd expect you'd be doing well
to get ten thousand miles out of
these new shoes. But they'll be ten
thousand miles of smiles, because,
like its predecessor, the new TKC
80² simply works.
Keith Dowdle
Center, I quickly understood why
they consider the on-road per-
formance equal to its off-road
strengths. Thanks to the new tread
pattern and a stiffer compound,
steep lean angles are easily
achieved and inspire confidence
from braking to corner exit when
attacking fast turns on tarmac.
Accelerating and braking are stable
and predictable, even during tight,
technical maneuvers on the street.
While we didn't have the opportu-
nity to ride these new tires on wet
roads, Continental claims that wet-
weather grip is vastly improved.
Hopefully, we'll get a few sets for
a long-term test so we can see for
ourselves how good it actually is.
As for off-road testing, the
BMW Performance Center was the
perfect place to test the new TKC
80²'s off-road capabilities, with
• THE OG OF AGGRESSIVE ADV
TIRES STILL WORKS BETTER
THAN MOST
• STREET PERFORMANCE IS
SURPRISINGLY GOOD
• NOTHING LOOKS BETTER
THAN AGGRESSIVE MEAT ON
AN ADV BIKE
• THE OG OF AGGRESSIVE ADV
• PROBABLY NOT THE HIGHEST-
MILEAGE TIRE YOU'LL EVER FIND
List Price: Between $209 and $399, depending on size
Website: https://www.continental-tires.com/products/motorcycle/
