Review: Mitas E-09 Dakar Tyres

WHAT IS IT?

The E-09 Dakar is one of Mitas’ five-strong ‘Safari and Adventure’ range. Its cross-ply construction and aggressive block tread is designed for durability and performance across a variety of terrain, and it was recently updated with a reinforced carcass and new compound. The E-09 was the tyre of choice for Adam Riemann’s epic, seven-week adventure from Kazakhstan to Mongolia to film his latest motorcycle odyssey, Motonomad II.

WHY WE RATE IT

If you’re riding in foreign countries and crossing huge, uninhabited sections of overland terrain, you need to have absolute confidence in your tyres. I’d never used a set of Mitas tyres before and probably took a gamble in fitting our bikes with them, but after first seeing the rear E-09, I knew the things would be good. It’s such an aggressive-looking tyre that I initially thought the 140 rear may be too big to fit the 18-inch 500EXC rim. But it actually hugs the rim perfectly and still has plenty of clearance. Admittedly it was a struggle to fit the rear with bumbag-size tyre levers, but the upside is that there’s no way these suckers will come off the rim if you get a puncture.

I rode for 100km with a flat rear and didn’t so much as break the bead! And I’d already done 4500km on the tyre by that stage, so it was a little more vulnerable to the rocks we were hitting at speed in the desert heat of Mongolia. The thick cross-ply sidewalls of the E-09 give the tyre an integrity of about 6psi when there’s absolutely no air in it, so it’s like a mechanism to help you limp home. The E-09 front does look more dual-sport than the rear at first glance, but its profile and sidewall really complements the steering geometry of the bike – especially when you’re fully loaded with fuel and luggage. Together, the E-09 front and rear give great tractability in all but the muddiest conditions. And for a tyre that’s so capable and trustworthy off-road, they’re very comfortable and well behaved on the bitumen too. To my mind, they’re arguably the ultimate choice of tyre for extreme adventure.