Tenere 700: Mitas Enduro Trail XT+ 90/90 21 TL & 150/70 18 TL Dakar Tires + Michelin Reinforced 2.5mm 21MDR & 18MGR Tubes

 Mitas Enduro Trail XT+ 90/90 21 TL & 150/70 18 TL Dakar Tires

Mitas, a Czech Republic tire manufacturer dating to the 1930s with worldwide distribution network and manufacturing facilities in Europe (Czech Republic, Serbia, Slovenia), the USA, and Asia, owned by Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. since 2023, has been revamping their Adventure Motorcycle tire line & alphanumeric naming convention, that still seems somewhat ambiguous as some may associate 'Enduro Trail' with enduro/dirt bikes vs adventure/travel bikes, in stages since late 2022; launching the tubeless (TL) Enduro Trail XT & XT+ series in June 2024 in both standard (green stripe) & heavier duty Dakar (yellow stripe) variants. 

e.g. The former 'E13 Rally Star', known for it's aggressive off-road prowess has evolved into the Enduro Trail XT+ front tire offering more balanced performance between off-road capability and on-road handling & the Enduro Trail Rally Pro front tire offering advanced off-road performance for Rally/Competition & ultimate adventure off-road use; while the Enduro Trail XT+ rear tire is generally considered an upgrade of the former 'E09' featuring a similar tread pattern but with a slightly softer compound offering improved off-road performance, particularly in muddy conditions, while still maintaining reasonable on-road manners.

Mitas Former vs New Tire Model Names & On vs Off-Road %

Supply is limited in BC, Canada as of mid Aug 2025 via wholesaler Kimpex, with dwindling supplies of standard & Dakar XT+ 90/90 21 & 150/70 18 sizes & no inventory of the 140/80 18, fatty 90/100 21 or the Rally Pro variants...next shipment projected to be March 2026. 

Mitas's Enduro Trail XT+ features:

• high levels of performance at a lower price vs Motoz & a few other manufacturers. 
• both front & rear XT+ are non-directional (can reverse direction for more consistent performance, tread wear & extended life span while Motoz's Rallz front & rear tires are directional).
• 12 mm front tire tread depth / 13.2 mm rear tread depth.
• standard weight: 90/90 21 est 4.5 kg or (est 9.9 lb) / 150/70 18 est 7.5 kg or (est 16.5 lb) .
• Dakar weight: 90/90 21 Dakar 5.4 kg (11.9 lb) / 150/70 18 Dakar 8.4 kg or 18.5 lb (as per my scale).
• reported tire road noise levels are low (may vary dependent on bike & other variables)
• the entire XT+ line up is tubeless (TL) that accommodates tubes.
• available in sizes for most adventure bikes + standard & Dakar models offer a full spectrum of variants allowing riders to choose tire attributes to match their specific bike, use & budget.

Mitas Enduro Trail XT+ 90/90 21 TL Dakar

Mitas Enduro Trail XT+ 150/70 18 TL Dakar

Standard Mitas Tires (green stripe):

• Sidewall Construction: Typically feature a standard 3-ply sidewall.
• Compound: A standard compound designed for a balance of grip and wear, suitable for various conditions.
• Intended Use: Good for a mix of on-road and off-road riding, suitable for lighter bikes and shorter trips.
• Pros: More compliant sidewalls, offering a smoother ride and potentially better feel in some situations.
• Cons: More susceptible to punctures and sidewall damage than Dakar versions.

Mitas Dakar Tires (yellow stripe):

• Sidewall Construction: Feature a reinforced, 4-ply or more sidewall & thicker/stronger bead area, making them significantly stiffer (~15%).
• Compound: Often a harder, more durable compound, designed for increased mileage  and puncture resistance (Enduro Trail XT+ ? Dakar front durometer hardness, 74 Dakar rear,  standard XT+ 69 front durometer hardness, ? standard rear as per Kyle Bradshaw @ ManyBikes).
• Intended Use: Best for heavier bikes, long-distance adventure touring, and challenging off-road conditions where extra durability is needed.
• Pros: Higher puncture resistance, greater sidewall strength, and increased mileage (up to 20%).
• Cons: Can be more difficult to mount and dismount, especially in the field. The stiffer sidewalls may also make the ride feel harsher on some bikes.

Mitas Enduro Trail XT+ Overview

The Enduro Trail XT+ tires, promoted by Mitas as 20% road / 80% off-road (the + denotes more aggressive off-road bias vs the rear only Enduro Trail XT 30% road / 70% off-road tire that replaces the former 'E10'), targeted to compete for top honours with Motoz's highly regarded Tractionator Dual Venture front TL & Tractionator Rallz front & rear tires, as well as other significantly off-road biased adventure tires, but at a lower price point than Motoz.

Mitas Enduro Trail XT+ Dakar TL (left) & Motoz Tractionator Dual Venture 90/90 21 TL (right)

Front: The Mitas XT+ has slightly more crown & gaps or voids between tread lugs with off-set side lugs at the end of each row's void space vs Motoz's Dual Venture. Based on reviews, that universally praise the front Enduro Trail XT+ tire as a top performer in this segment, Mitas seems to have matched, if not improved on, the performance & versatility of Motoz's Dual Venture TL front tire (10.5 mm tread depth & 72 durometer hardness for TL version), with the exception being tread life, despite the XT+ also being a long lasting tire for this genre. Reported experiences for the XT+ front (12 mm tread & 69 durometer hardness) range from about 9,600 - 13,000 km (6,000 - 8,000 miles) vs  about 11,265 - 16,100 km (7,000 - 10,000 miles) for the Dual Venture. My current Dual Venture 90/90 21 TL still has ~5.5 mm center tread depth at 20,000 km (12,400 miles) on my Tenere 700. 

Like the Motoz Dual Venture, the Mitas XT+ front tire is non-directional but has staggered reinforced outer side blocks for improved side grip/lateral stability vs the more open side lug design of the Dual Venture & seems less prone to following grooves, stepping out in slick terrain & tracking straighter with good high speed stability...impressive for such a highly off-road biased knobby tire. Some now consider the XT+ their 'unicorn' front off-road biased adventure tire based on class leading performance dethroning the Dual Venture, which remains a viable option for those needing longer tread life. 

Mitas Enduro Trail XT+ Dakar TL (left) & Motoz Tractionator Rallz 150/70 18 21 TL (right)

Rear: The Mitas XT+ has slightly more crown & larger gaps or voids between tread lugs with a more open paddle tire lug design vs Motoz's Rallz. The rear Enduro Trail XT+ tire is rated about on par with Motoz's highly regarded Rallz rear tire (15 mm tread depth) off-road in most scenarios & better on-road by most users. But not quite garnering the same universal accolades as the XT+ front because of lower reported tread life averaging about 5,000 - 6,400 kms (3,000 - 4,000 miles) with it's shallower 13.2 mm tread depth vs about 5,000 to 9,600 km (3,000 to 6,000 miles) for the Rallz depending on use & terrain & a more open side lug design not having quite the same side grip/lateral stability as the Rallz under certain conditions. The general consensus is if Mitas could increase tread depth for longer life span of the XT+ rear while preserving it's other performance traits that would make it a more compelling choice. Both the XT+ Dakar & Rallz rear tires have 74 durometer hardness. 

Advanced riders, may in fact prefer the Mitas XT+'s more open paddle rear tire lug design for more consistent/predictable high speed characteristics, particularly when steering with the throttle & superior self cleaning properties; whereas, the Motoz Rallz's rear tire superior side grip/lateral stability 'catch, release, catch release' characteristic makes power slides less consistent & effective for steering with the throttle. 

 

Mitas Enduro Trail XT+ Ride Review video by Curtis Smith @ OnTheBackWheel

Mitas Fatty 90/100 21 TL & 140/80 18 TL Tire Sizes

Mitas is the 1st tire manufacturer to make a tubeless (TL) fatty 90/100 21 front tire for riders wanting increased rim protection for their medium & large displacement adventure bikes with 90/90 21 oem tire fitment via it's taller 100% aspect ratio sidewall, but is approximately 18 mm or 0.7" taller, so consider clearance with oem low mount fenders + the impact on seat height & bike geometry (which would be mostly preserved on bikes with oem fitment 90/90 21 & 150/70 18 tires when used in conjunction with the similarly taller XT+ 140/80 18 rear tire + provide increased ground clearance, but at the expense of increased seat height & higher center of gravity). Another consideration may be the impact on performance of bike specific ABS & traction control systems as the height difference between the front & rear wheel may affect system algorithms compromising performance. The XT+ 90/100 21 permitted rim width is 1.85" to 2.50", the same as the 90/90 21.

Some prefer a 140/80 18 vs oem fitment 150/70 18 rear tire size for its lighter weight, quicker turn in, improved off-road traction & lower cost + Mitas offers a Dakar XT+ version better suited for heavier bikes, loads & sustained highway riding vs offerings from other manufacturers. Considerations will be slightly taller final drive gearing, rim size fitment & tire height difference which may also impact bike specific ABS & traction control systems : i.e. 2.75" to 3.75" permitted rim width & 14 mm or 0.55" taller for the XT+ 140/80 18 vs the XT+ 150/70 18 & it's 3.50" to 4.50" permitted rim width. 

Fatty Mitas Enduro Trail XT+ 90/100 21 video by Kyle Bradshaw @ 'ManyBikes'

 

Mitas Enduro Trail Rally       

Mitas also makes rally/competition/dual-sport versions of the Enduro Trail XT+ in limited sizes consisting of the Rally Pro front & rear, MH & SM front tires, with the Rally Pro models endorsed by brand ambassador Chris Birch as his choice for true off-road performance & ultimate adventure off-road riding & YouTuber Kyle Bradshaw @ 'ManyBikes' as his current favourite front off-road biased adventure bike tire for those running tubes because of the combination of light weight, reinforced carcass & soft tread compound who cites it as 3 lb lighter than the XT+ Dakar & 2 lbs lighter than the XT+ standard 90/90 21 tires. 

Mitas Enduro Trail Rally:

• Tube Type (TT) only design + mousse compatibility, except the 150/70 18 which is TL/TT (2025 release).
• Designed for high-speed Rally Raid competitions for all terrain types with class leading performance, stability and resistance to damage.
• High performance compound with an aggressive rear block tread pattern and reinforced carcass ensures the ultimate grip and durability at all temperatures and at all speeds. Three different front patterns options ensure maximum control on any terrain type.
• Recommended for Rally Adventure and Dual-Sports motorcycles.
• The ENDURO TRAIL RALLY PRO rear, an evolution of the former 'E12' tire, delivers impressive performance on all types of terrain with incredible traction and stability even at high speeds, in wet or dry conditions without sacrificing durability or comfort.
• The ENDURO TRAIL RALLY PRO front, an evolution of the former 'E13 Rally Star' tire, is designed to ensure directional stability at any lean angle and maximum braking capacity on a broad spectrum of terrain types. 
• The ENDURO TRAIL RALLY MH front, an evolution of the former 'C-17' tire, is specifically designed to ensure directional stability at any lean angle and maximum braking capacity on medium to hard terrain types such as heavy gravel and rocky paths.
• The ENDURO TRAIL RALLY SM front, an evolution of the former 'C-21' tire is specifically designed to ensure directional stability at any lean angle and maximum braking capacity on medium to soft terrain types such as deep gravel and sand.

Ride Review TBA

Am looking forward to getting them mounted & seeing how they compare to my current Motoz Dual Venture TL 90/90 21 & Motoz Adventure 150/70 18.

Michelin Reinforced 2.5mm 21MDR/21 Type A (#40953) & 18MGR/18 Type C (#80527) Tubes

Michelin has a reputation for high quality construction & butyl rubber tubes (premium brand/product = higher price point) & opted for their 'Reinforced' 2.5 mm thick tubes for off-road motorcycles for increased durability & puncture resistance vs their lighter weight 1.5 mm tubes for road motorcycles & their very heavy 'Ultra Heavy Duty' 4.0 mm thick tubes for off-road motorcycles.