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The best dual-sport tire depends on how much dirt you ride. For mostly road riding with some gravel, the Michelin Anakee Adventure and Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR are excellent. For a 50/50 split, the Dunlop Trailmax Mission and Michelin Anakee Wild are the go-tos, and for serious off-road, the Continental TKC80 and Metzeler Karoo 4 grip best. The Shinko 705 is the budget pick.
Quick picks
-
-
Best for mixed terrain
- Road / dirt split
- 50 / 50
- Price
- $$$
-
-
Best for adventure touring off-road
- Road / dirt split
- 50 / 50
- Price
- $$
- Best road-biased knobby look: Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR
- Best mostly-road tire: Michelin Anakee Adventure
- Best budget tire: Shinko 705
- Best 70/30-style all-rounder: Continental TKC 70 Rocks
Not sure what 50/50 or 80/20 means? Our dual-sport tire ratios explained guide breaks down every ratio with example tires.
We picked current 2026 dual-sport and adventure tires and replaced older models from our previous list. Always use the sizes and ratings in your owner’s manual. For street tires, see our best motorcycle tires. Want help choosing a ratio? See the 90/10 vs 70/30 vs 50/50 comparison below. Upgrading the rest of your adventure bike? See the best aftermarket exhaust systems for ADV bikes.
Dual-sport tires compared
| Tire | Road / dirt split | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Michelin Anakee Adventure | 80 / 20 | $$ |
| Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR | Road-biased knobby (no official split) | $$ |
| Continental TKC 70 Rocks | 60 / 40 | $$ |
| Dunlop Trailmax Mission | 50 / 50 | $$ |
| Michelin Anakee Wild | 50 / 50 | $$$ |
| Metzeler Karoo 4 | 50 / 50 | $$ |
| Continental TKC80 Gen 2 | 50 / 50 | $ |
| Shinko 705 | 80 / 20 | $ |
Road/dirt splits are as listed by the tire maker or RevZilla. They are a rough guide, and each brand sets its own.
The best dual-sport tires for 2026
1. Dunlop Trailmax Mission: best 50/50 tire
A long-lasting 50/50 tire known for good mileage and off-road grip, popular on big ADV bikes.
Pros
- Long life
- Good off-road grip
- Fair price
Cons
- Noisier on the road
2. Michelin Anakee Wild: best for mixed terrain
Michelin’s knobby adventure tire for riders who split time between road and trail.
Pros
- Strong off-road grip
- Stable on the road
- Michelin quality
Cons
- Wears faster than road tires
3. Continental TKC80: best off-road grip
The TKC80 is a classic aggressive knobby for adventure bikes, now in its second generation, which RevZilla describes as a true 50/50 tire for on-road and off-road riding.
Pros
- Excellent dirt grip
- Proven design
- Good value
Cons
- Short life on pavement
4. Metzeler Karoo 4: best for adventure touring off-road
A knobby adventure tire for long off-road tours on heavy bikes, listed as 50% on-road and 50% off-road.
Pros
- Strong off-road grip
- Durable
- Stable when loaded
Cons
- Noisy on the road
5. Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR: best road-biased knobby look
A road-biased tire with an aggressive tread look, great on pavement and light gravel.
Pros
- Great road manners
- Handles gravel
- Rugged look
Cons
- Limited in mud
6. Michelin Anakee Adventure: best mostly-road tire
A road-focused ADV tire with long life. Michelin positions it as an 80/20 tire between the 50/50 Anakee Wild and the 90/10 Anakee 3. See it in our best motorcycle tires.
Pros
- Long life
- Excellent road grip
- Comfortable
Cons
- Not for mud or sand
7. Shinko 705: best budget tire
A budget dual-sport tire that’s popular on smaller ADV and dual-sport bikes, designed for 80% street and 20% trail riding.
Pros
- Low price
- Decent road grip
- Wide size range
Cons
- Less refined than premium tires
8. Continental TKC 70 Rocks: best 70/30-style all-rounder
Continental pitches the TKC 70 Rocks between its road-going Trail Attack and the off-road TKC80, at 60% on-road and 40% off-road. It has the same street-friendly construction as the regular TKC 70, including a 0° steel belt for stability at cruising speed and Continental’s Continuous Compound Technology, with more rugged off-road traction. It was designed partly to answer the TKC80’s short wear life on pavement.
Pros
- Good road manners
- More dirt bite than an 80/20
- Longer life than a full knobby
Cons
- Not a mud tire
- Pricier than budget options
Best 70/30 dual-sport tires
A 70/30 tire is for riders who spend most of their time on pavement but regularly ride gravel, fire roads and easy trails. Few manufacturers print an exact “70/30” rating, so in practice the 70/30 category covers tires rated between 80/20 and 60/40. The best 70/30-style options here are:
- Continental TKC 70 Rocks (60/40): the most dirt-capable of the group while keeping good road manners.
- Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR: Pirelli gives no percentage split, but it pairs a road-derived profile and high-silica compound with a knobby tread inspired by the Scorpion Rally, which puts it in this middle ground.
- Michelin Anakee Adventure and Shinko 705 (80/20): choose these if your dirt riding is mostly hard-packed gravel and you want more mileage.
If you ride sand, mud or rocky trails often, step up to a 50/50 such as the Trailmax Mission, Anakee Wild or TKC80.
90/10 vs 70/30 vs 50/50: what’s the difference?
| Ratio | Looks like | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90/10 | Road tire with deeper grooves | Touring on paved roads, the odd dry gravel road | Clogs in mud, washes out in sand |
| 80/20 to 70/30 | Closely spaced blocks | Long trips with regular gravel and fire roads | Less wet-road grip and mileage than a 90/10 |
| 60/40 to 50/50 | Large, widely spaced knobs | Trails, mud, washboard and sand | Noisier, wears faster on pavement |
The higher the first number, the more road-focused the tire. Because each brand, such as Continental or Dunlop, sets its own ratings, compare tires within a brand and choose for the worst terrain you ride regularly. Our full dual-sport tire ratios guide goes band by band with more example tires, and how to read a motorcycle tire explains sidewall markings.
How to choose dual-sport tires
Be honest about how much dirt you ride: most ADV riders spend most of their time on pavement. Match the tire’s intended split to your riding, check size and load ratings, and lower pressures off-road only if your manual allows. See our dual-sport helmets and TPMS guides, and the NHTSA tire guide for reading date codes.
FAQ
What does 50/50 mean?
A tire intended for roughly equal road and off-road use.
What is the best 70/30 dual-sport tire?
The Continental TKC 70 Rocks (rated 60/40) is our pick for riders who want more dirt grip than an 80/20 without a full knobby. The Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR is a strong alternative with excellent road manners.
Is a 70/30 tire good enough for gravel roads?
Yes. Gravel and fire roads are exactly what 70/30-style tires are designed for. They struggle more in deep sand and mud.
How long do knobby tires last?
Aggressive knobbies wear fastest on pavement. See how long motorcycle tires last.
Can I run different tires front and rear?
Some riders do, but follow the maker’s pairing advice.
If you ride mostly on pavement, a 90/10 tire may suit you better than anything above. Continental’s new ContiTrailAttack 4 arrives in early 2027.
Verdict
Buy the Dunlop Trailmax Mission for a balanced 50/50 tire, the Continental TKC80 for maximum dirt grip, the TKC 70 Rocks for a 70/30-style all-rounder, or the Michelin Anakee Adventure if you mostly ride on the road.
Browse all our accessory guides.
