Mitas Terra Force-R trail bike tire test

Menus

• Dare to be different
• Long-term test over 10,000 km of the radial tire for large road trails
• First kilometers
• Off the coast
• Conclusion

Dare to be different

Long-term test over 10,000 km of the radial tire for large road trails

Mitas … off-road enthusiasts are familiar with this brand of tires from the Czech manufacturer. Those used to bitumen much less. Wrong … And these envelopes for big road trails are certainly worth the detours that you will make them take. Long-term test of the Mitas Terra Force-R … to the cord of these tires for big road trail that make you see all the colors.

Mitas Terra Force-R trail tire test

A little history: the manufacturer was born in 1932 in the Czech Republic. The following year, Michelin established one of its subsidiaries in Prague to ensure its tire production and owned 75% of the company. The name Mitas will be formed by the first syllable of Michelin and the last syllable of Veritas. In 1945, the nationalized factory belonged to the Barum entity. Under the aegis of Barum Holding in 1991, in 2004 Mitas acquired the right to use the Continental, Semperit and Euzkadi brands under license for agricultural tires. Since then, the manufacturer has mainly offered this type of rubber, but also tires intended for industrial machinery, passenger vehicles (Sava brand) and motorized two-wheelers..

Yeah, seen like that, their past doesn’t potentially give an exaggerated confidence in the sacrosanct road grip of these tires. On the other hand, agricultural-mud … it’s easy to imagine where the brand’s recognized off-road qualities come from. Our radial test benchmark, pneumatic novelty of the year 2016, retains some of these, but is mainly intended for road use. Both everyday and busy for the trip. Thus, Mitas indicates a distribution of 90% in favor of bitumen for its Terra Force-R.

The Terra Force-R is touted as being 90% road-ready

In fact, simple monogum against the bigomme or multigum of the competition, the Terra Force R claims a rapid warm-up for better grip. The manufacturer relies for this on its 3-D Optimum Groove (OGT 3D) technology, which optimizes the grooving of the rubber in terms of both shape and depth. To prevent overheating, it even sports fins in some places to help cool the tire. The grooves are wide and really deep (8 mm) to better evacuate any mud. However, this arrangement creates long and wide blocks of rubber that could reduce grip in the wet. But the general design is rather successful, pleasantly combining road and off-road universes.

Also, Strong Carcass Technology (SCT) should ensure optimum rigidity and long-lasting performance in this casing as well as high resistance to the risk of punctures. Finally, its soft ogive profile should ensure good agility and optimize cornering ground surface and stability. In short, great qualities that we must now confirm in dynamics.

The monogum tire is based on a stiffness-optimized SCT carcass

First kilometers

Little known to bikers, the manufacturer Mitas plays however demanding, reluctant to want to equip our "too old" R 1150 GS for our test. Regardless, I am persistent and I like to walk outside the usual lines. This is also why I have been testing the Vanucci or All One brands for a long time. So these Terra Force Rs will equip our trail even if the manufacturer prefers to combine its tires with newer machines and less with older models..

Obviously, you can’t ride these “exotic” tires without a certain amount of apprehension. Sometimes accustomed to marketing speeches, to “it’s better, it’s more expensive”, especially concerning THE link with the road, choosing a brand 30% less expensive can seem strange. However, the more the kilometers go by, the more these Mitas seduce me and testify an obvious quality. The break-in is done without thinking about it anymore.

Mitas quickly break down preconceptions

Important point: my previous ride was Metzeler Tourance Next whose excellent reputation is well established. The first laps of the wheels with new casings are always instructive. I immediately feel a good agility, the profile of the compounds immediately showing an engaging dynamic aspect. But new and slight vibrations remind us that the wide grooves cut the rubber into larger blocks, reducing ride comfort on the road. But this is the case with many pneumatic pavement mounts which can also generate vibrations on the road. Not enough to be indignant then, especially when you want to be quiet on the side road.

Terra Force R heat up very quickly and keep it fairly well. To the point that I feared, at the beginning, a reduced longevity. In peri-urban daily life, the steering is light and my GS keeps its intuitive, easy side. Roundabouts, cobblestones, wet or dry, the changes happen naturally. With a certain margin at the start in the wet, I don’t hesitate to gain more confidence later on on the access roads. In the dry, we are immediately at ease and the Czech rider can handle surprise braking and other avoidances..

The Mitas Terra Force-R heat up quickly

Off the coast

Finally, the slight vibratory phenomenon is hardly noticeable only at intermediate speeds (70 km / h) and especially at the beginning. We then forget about them. On motorways, the Terra Force R provides good comfort, even when loaded and the central band is resistant to linear journeys. No abnormal heating, no darting. We can quickly bring them to a real playground.

It is in particular on a journey of 4,000 km of mountain roads that I would see all the qualities of the Mitas. Loaded both in weight and motor power, the Terra Force R work without flinching. In bumpy curves with a go-around on the angle, the rear envelope can jump a bit and skid. But she hangs up immediately. Ditto on coils of bitumen fittings where adhesion is sometimes less. But no more than with other tires. Even in the rain or the large, streak-free surface of the cobbles ultimately does not affect the grip so much. However, we will be less serene if we want to take them too fast on wet roads. However, they did not generate unhealthy reactions under these conditions..

The Terra Force-Rs should not be ashamed of their performance, even against the Metzeler which previously equipped this R 1150 GS.

Apart from these usual points of vigilance, nothing to report except faultless behavior. Devoid of traction control, my GS does not spare the rear envelope on revivals in turns without ever catching it. Its progressive profile, but quite lively, brings real agility to evolutions. My bike is positioned on the angle with precision and keeps the trajectory perfectly. To credit the carcass combining central rigidity and more sensitive flexibility on the sides. Also, the front axle gains in quality with this tire. Information feedback is better despite the telelever, as is guidance.

Taken at (very) good pace, the rider amazes even by its dynamic capacities. I took pleasure in following a group of young people in edgy and sporty roadsters: KTM 1290 Super Duke R, Ducati 1199 Panigale and new Streetfigher V4 and a Suzuki GSX-S 1000. Fortunately, the journey was downhill and not too loose. To stay close to the train of these missiles in Gunther Superreise mode, you must not relax. Of which act. At bottom of flat, I make turn after turn and full angle. Suffice to say that the front sausage takes full gum. At this pace, the Mitas retain all dignity and you with it. Not an incipient glide or understeer. Precise, the steering remains healthy and my panzer touring goes from one side to the other without dragging. At the end of this journey, my front tire is cut in V without state of vme. And if by any chance you come almost to the edge of the steering tire, it picks up / hangs up with a saving jump that prevents you from going to the pile. As a bonus, the lads had a hard time believing their mirrors (well, it wasn’t Michael Dunlop, Peter Hickman or Dean Harrison on the handlebars either). Moreover, a local in Aprilia RS 250 showed me further who was the chef…

The tires are also able to print a fast pace

With their ability to get off the road without worrying too much about rocks or ruts, Czech tires provide good traction on dry roads. We will avoid the fat and the technique where their cutting too wise will not allow optimal motor skills. But to take a shortcut or go see between the trees the blue line of the Vosges or elsewhere, it does the job without difficulty. Here again the front axle remains healthy and predictable.

Front tire wear

Another good point is the consistency of the qualities of grip and behavior of the Mitas Terra Force R. Over the 10,000 km of their journey and especially at the end of their life, these tires retain their strengths on all surfaces in all circumstances. Arrived at the witnesses on the central rear band (too much peri-urban then obliges) the rubber then disintegrates rather quickly over the following 700 km. Quite logical for a mono-rubber tire.

At the end of its life, degradation accelerates and shows signs of wear on the tread.

Conclusion

It is always good to think outside the box. We thus discover what we could not suspect by staying within the traced lines. The Mitas Terra Force-Rs convinced me and I would not have driven differently with comparable and more popular tires. On the contrary, their continuous quality is a guarantee of safety and proof of good design. Agile, safe and efficient, their comfort is very good. Argument final shock, their price: around 80 ¤ in 110/80 R19 and 100 ¤ 150/70 R17 … Enough to ride serene even on the wallet side. When it’s time to change gum, go to the East to see if there is anything new.

10,000 km for less than ¤ 200 per train, Mitas are definitely a good deal

Strong points

• Constant dynamic qualities
• Adhesion
• Agility
• A climb in temperature
• Dry road capacity
• Original drawing
• Service / price ratio

Weak points

• Possible slight vibrations at medium speed
• Slightly rapid central band wear

Related articles

• Mitas SportForce + tire test

  3,500 kilometers of tests on the road, in Rally Roads and even at the Nurburgring ! Efficiency and longevity: probably the best kept secret of motorcycle…

• Pirelli Scorpion Trail tire test

  The Sicilian Clan Pirelli invited us for a “life-size” test on the small roads of Sicily with the Scorpion Trail. Three years after its presentation, the…

• Dunlop Roadsmart tire test

  It’s on the private test circuit located in Mireval, near Montpellier, which Dunlop presented at the start of the week its new dual compound tire. Called…

• Bridgestone T32 and T32 GT tire test

  The do-it-all Sport Touring tire 22 sizes and a GT version Since Bridgestone has renamed its tires with clear names, it is much easier to navigate than…

• Continental TKC 80 tire test

  A test on the road, in the paths and especially in the mud of the Conti off / road enduro tire Original equipment from the BMW R1200 GS Adventure, the F…

• Michelin Power Pure tire test

  Bibendum takes care of its line for its dual-compound sport tire Michelin has just presented its brand new tire, the Michelin Power Pure, on the Almeria…

• Husqvarna TR650 Strada and Terra test

  Mono-cylinder, multi-pleasures Very dynamic despite its 109 years (yes, yes, since 1903 …), Husqvarna offers this year two new models built around the…

• Conti Trail Attack II Tire

  The tire for big trails like KTM Adventure and BMW 1200 GS In a particularly active national market in terms of trail, the German tire manufacturer…

• Bridgestone T30 Evo tire test

  Front monogum duo and rear twin rubber duo New treads, with the addition of a secondary grooving The technique Like the A40, the T30 Evo , successor to…

• Pirelli Angel GT II long-term tire test

  Italian Sport Touring put to the test for two years over 18,000 km After the Bridgestone T32, it’s the Pirelli Angel GT II’s turn to pass through our…