18" tire comparable to Dunlop MX52?

[Snider]

The MX52 is my favorite rear tire but since I switched to 18" on the back I use MX51 till they ran out... I contacted Dunlop and they have no plans to do a 18" MX52 . Since Yamaha is joining the cross country game with the X series bike('s?) it seems like they are shooting themselves in the foot, but whatever.

So I ask to those with experience,which tires from Maxon or Michelin are compareable to the MX52,if any?

[Hans Schmid]

Why not stay with a 19in?

[Snider]

Why not stay with a 19in?

18 is notably better for me and the type of riding I do.. (Cross country desert,single track tree line stuff)

[MT_Rider]

At 81 isn't to shabby. Wears pretty fast but I would say comparable to the mx51.

[mlatour]

Michelin's Starcross motocross series are 19" rear only but they have 18" sizes in the XC, AC and other models

http://motorcycle.michelinman.com/tire-selector#s=1

 

Pirelli looks to be the same, MX series in 19" only, but many other 18" choices  (clic on off-road logo)

http://www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-ww/motorcycle/all-tyres/catalog?subtype=off-road

 

Bridgestone's complete motocross lineup seems also available in 18"

http://www.bridgestone.com/products/motorcycle_tires/products/motocross/index.html

 

Their latest version of the Bridgestone M403/404 tires, the Battlecross X30 and X40 are pretty similar to the MX52's knob-within-a-knob design :

http://www.btosports.com/moto-news/motocross-parts/bridgestone-battlecross-x30x40-motocross-tires-product-spotlight/

and is available in 110-100/18

Edited January 1, 2015 by mlatour

[Hans Schmid]

18 is notably better for me and the type of riding I do.. (Cross country desert,single track tree line stuff)

I hear you. Funny is I have been on a set of MX52s and have been extremely happy with them. To the point that I might run them with a Mousse for a while. Problem for me is I just bought up the last of some GoldenTyres GT216s which are 18in as well....

[Snider]

Michelin's Starcross motocross series are 19" rear only but they have 18" sizes in the XC, AC and other models

http://motorcycle.michelinman.com/tire-selector#s=1

 

Pirelli looks to be the same, MX series in 19" only, but many other 18" choices  (clic on off-road logo)

http://www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-ww/motorcycle/all-tyres/catalog?subtype=off-road

 

Bridgestone's complete motocross lineup seems also available in 18"

http://www.bridgestone.com/products/motorcycle_tires/products/motocross/index.html

 

Their latest version of the Bridgestone M403/404 tires, the Battlecross X30 and X40 are pretty similar to the MX52's knob-within-a-knob design :

http://www.btosports.com/moto-news/motocross-parts/bridgestone-battlecross-x30x40-motocross-tires-product-spotlight/

and is available in 110-100/18

Those new Bridgestone X series look interesting. Thanks..... My first motorycycle was a old Bridgestone 90! Ha ha ha

[pre-mixed]

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/1100/3353/Michelin-Starcross-MH3-Intermediate-Hard-Terrain-Tire

Michelin Starcross does come in an 18 and they work quite well

[mlatour]

My mistake, true but only the MH is available in 18',

but not in the other models of Starcross the series.

Edited January 1, 2015 by mlatour

[pre-mixed]

My mistake, true but only the MH is available in 18',

but not in the other models of Starcross the series.

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/1100/3355/Michelin-Starcross-MS3-Soft-Mixed-Terrain-Tire

You sure about that? I've been running Starcross tires for a lot of years and the only tire not offered in an 18 is their sand tire

[mlatour]

Hmm I'm curious now...

Never seen 18" options in the MS, Sand-4 or HP4 before

either on the Michelin's website or in store (local track parts guy stocks a lot of Michelins)

 

Opens up a lots of possibilities for my future enduro projects as I really like the MS and MH models

Edited January 2, 2015 by mlatour

[pre-mixed]

You know I may have spoken to soon I knew the sand tire was a 19 only but apparently the HP4 is a 19 only tire also but to be honest I've never tried it and really didn't even know about it. I do use the MH3 mostly and sometimes the MS3 all in an 18.

[ubu]

Bridgestone X30 is the closest to MX52. I've always liked Bridgestone better anyway.

 

Pirrelli MX Extra is pretty close.

[Truck216]

I run an 18" 71 that I got on clearance. It works great out here in AZ have yet to pinch flat

[Hands On]

I'm a fan of the Dunlop Desert AT81 which is a 4 ply and wears twice as long as the std 2 ply.  I run it with a TuBliss set up at 5psi in the rear and 7psi up front.  On probably my 6th set.