138 | SEPTEMBER 2017 http://www.adbmag.com.auREAR GUARD
HOWTORIDE/ADBGARAGE/WE RECOMMEND/TECH/KIDZKORNER/USEDRIDE/
VERDICT
THE WASHOUGAL has been a
popular tyre choice for all sorts
of riders for many years and the
Dual Compound Washougal II
has only made it better.
The tyre produces predictable
grip in loads of different
conditions and different
surfaces. It didn’t chunk where
some other tyres might. If you
want a good all-round tyre you
should give them a go.
OMGET IT HERE
BILL
$114.95-$119.95 (rear),
$94.95-$99.95 (front)
BROWSER
ctaaustralia.com.au
BLOWER
(02) 9604 3377Used &
AbusedTHE WASHOUGAL II DUAL
Compound tyres are based on
the brand’s famous Washougal
hoops. It’s labelled dual
compound because the centre
knobs of the front tyre are soft
while the outside ones are hard
for less knob-roll in corners. On
the rear tyre it is the opposite,
with standard-compound knobs
in the middle and soft ones on
the shoulders. It’s designed to
give you the best of both worlds
for all conditions and surfaces.WE RATE
PREDICTABLE The Washougal
II is described as an
intermediate tyre and produces
predictable grip on most
surfaces we ride on the NSW
coast north of Sydney. We ride
sand, clay, black dirt, loam,
hardpack and rocks, and the
Washy was great on all of these.
It’s easy to know where thetyre will grip and it rarely
surprised me by spinning up
when I wanted traction.
CORNER GRIP The purpose
of making a dual-compound
tyre is to increase grip without
sacrifi cing control or traction
and the Washy II has found a
good balance. The side knobs
on the front are hard
compound so they bite into
the ground and don’t roll
under pressure where the soft
side knobs on the rear allow
for some roll, giving you
better feedback and great
traction. When the rear does
break traction it’s predictable
and easy to control.
LONGEVITY On the back of
the ADB Yamaha WR450F
long-term test bike they
withstood a lot of punishment
without chunking or wearing
too fast. This is thanks to the
hard-compound centre knobs- I spend a lot of time on rocks
so they have worn down. The
stiff side knobs on the front
have held up well, whereas
some front tyres crack and
chunk the side knobs, the
Washy II’s are holding up well.
LOW PRESSURE They have a
stiff carcass so the Washy II’s
handle low pressures well.
This gives you more grip
without risking a pinched fl at.
I ran between 10-12psi with the
stock Yamaha tubes and didn’t
get any fl ats.
WE DON’T RATE
FITTING I’m going to cop abuse
for this but the Washougal II
Dual Compound is a stiff
sidewall tyre and that makes
fi tting them a little tougher.
With the right tools it’s no
problem, but you might need a
couple of extra levers.
Digital Editor Olly Malone2
1
MAIN. Hard compound centre
knobs for better wear- Hard side knobs on the front for
better traction when pushing - Solid sidewalls allow you to run
lower pressures
KENDA WASHOUGAL
II DUAL COMPOUND