Review of Tusk Dsport® Adventure Tire Set (Tube Type: 90/90-21 (54R)/130/90-17 (68R))

At the beginning of summer, I bought a set of Tusk adventure tires for my KLR 650, as the tires that were on it were mismatched—the factory front tire and a random rear tire. When it came time for fresh rubber, I conducted quite a bit of research and price comparisons. I looked at the tire’s top speed rating; these tires have an "R" rating, meaning they can handle speeds between 106 and 170 miles per hour, which surprised me! The thought of reaching 106 mph on a set of knobby tires sounded frightening.

The tread pattern is an aggressive, off-road knobby style, which is exactly what I was looking for as an adventure rider who travels on a lot of gravel roads and off-road trails. My only concern was the daily commute to work. For the best results on the highway, I found it beneficial to keep the tires inflated to the maximum psi—running 28 psi in the front and 38 psi in the rear. This adjustment provided a much better ride with minimal wobbles. My max speed with these tires is between 65 and 70 mph.

When off-road, I drop the tire pressure down to 18 psi in the front and 25 psi in the rear to improve traction on gravel roads. As for the break-in period, you'll want to keep the tires well-inflated and check the pressure frequently. After first putting them on my bike, I noticed about a 5 to 10 psi drop in pressure during the first couple of weeks, but after that, they held air pressure much better. It's recommended to check your air pressure before every ride.

Regarding longevity, I’m very impressed—the tires have held up well despite my extensive highway traveling. I've logged right at 2000 miles on this set, and they're still in good condition. The front tire looks great, while the rear tire is starting to show some wear—I’ll probably get another thousand miles out of it. Now that they’re broken in well, the bike actually rides a bit nicer compared to when they were brand new.

When you first put them on your bike, take it easy in corners until they break in; I'd suggest being cautious for the first couple hundred miles. After that, you’ll feel more comfortable cornering at higher speeds. In terms of aesthetics, they have a very aggressive look, which I really like. The heavy, knobby appearance gives my bike a vibe that I can go anywhere and not get stuck.

To be completely honest, I wasn’t sure about these tires at first; I thought they might be too aggressive. However, if you’re going off-road and using gravel roads frequently, these are excellent tires. Just be sure to deflate them when off-road. Overall, I’m very happy with this purchase and plan to put another set on my bike. They offer great value for the price—under $150 for both front and rear tires. 

I’m very impressed with the quality and would recommend them to anyone looking for functionality, durability, and value for their off-road adventure bike. While there are well-known brands with trusted names, this is more of a budget option with a price point that doesn’t break the bank. I can confidently say that the value and quality are definitely