The Tusk Talon Hybrid Tire came out in the middle of 2023. I purchased it from RMATV in January of 2024 with the intent of using it during my time racing the BJEC Series. Unfortunately, that never happened, but I did whip it out for the TSCEC Barnwell MTN Enduro at the end of 2024, and then again for the 2025 White Rock Enduro. The miles I put on the Talon Hybrid, and the conditions I rode it in, have told me a lot about this hybrid gummy tire.
What is a Hybrid Dirt Bike Tire?
Gummy dirt bike tires started creeping into the picture in the 2010’s as Hard Enduro grew in the United States. Manufacturers were playing with different tire compounds to create a tire that could find traction on any surface. As the different gummy compounds started to flush themselves out, tire manufacturers started trying different tread patterns. This would allow riders to have different patterns for different types of terrain.
Kenda was one of the more aggressive tire manufacturers of the time, and they brought their gummy compound from the Equilibrium to the tread pattern of the Kenda IBEX in 2017. This tire was then, and still is today, the quintessential “hybrid tire”.
As other manufacturers created hybrid dirt bike tires, riders wanted a tread pattern that could dig into loamy dirt and have better braking capabilities. To accomplish this, we saw multiple plies of rubber being applied in specific parts of the tire. IRC evolved this to a two ply + breaker carcass structure of the VE33S Gekkota to help with sidewall rolling and under-load braking. What a world we live in!
To me, these are the two tires that the Tusk Talon is competing with in the “hybrid dirt bike tire” market.
How does the Tusk Talon Hybrid perform?
The tire I purchased is a 110/100×18, but they also have a 120/90×18 as well. My biggest concerns when mounting up this tire for the Barnwell Iron MTN Enduro was how well it would get traction and how well it would be at braking. Since the Talon is bi-directional, I swapped it around to run it the other way for the White Rock Enduro. It’s worth mentioning that at Barnwell I was on the Sherco two-stroke, and at White Rock I was on the GasGas four-stroke.
The current available sizes, 110/100×18 & 120/90×18, and the tire’s weight, 13 lbs, is comparable to other hybrid tires. The longevity of the tire is as expected. The 150+ miles we put on the tire shows wear, but being a soft compound, that’s expected. The throttle and braking of the tire is decent for a soft compound. Tusk added stiffer side-walls which helps with tire roll and braking. The open tread pattern does shed mud well.
The grip of the Talon Hybrid is wear and it doesn’t keep up with tires like the IBEX and VE33S. As a soft compound “gummy” tire, yes, it conforms nicely to objects on the trail. The Talon falls short though in wet conditions. Just like the Tusk Recon (Seat Time Review), the “gummy compound” Tusk uses loses all grip when the tire gets wet, or when the obstacles are wet. This kills the reason to purchase this tire because these are the areas we want help from a gummy tire. A gummy tire, whether it’s hybrid or not, should EXCEL in wet and slippery conditions, not become a hindrance and a liability. If 90% of your riding is in dry conditions, the Talon will be a great hybrid tire for you. If you need it for slick, slippery conditions, I would steer you toward the IBEX or VE33s.
Where are we now with the Tusk Talon Tire?
When the Tusk Talon Hybrid Tire originally came out, it was around $60. Due to inflation and talk of tariffs, we’ve seen the price rise closer to that of the IBEX and VE33S on RMATV. If Tusk and RMATV find another location than China to get these made, and the price comes back down, it’ll be a viable option again for riders in drier terrain.
As for now, I still have a Kenda IBEX in the garage waiting for another go after the Black Buffalo NEPG mudder (I lied, it’s toast). The GasGas has been mounted up with Dunlop MX34’s, front and rear, for the year so far. I do miss the Michelin Starcross 6 Med/Soft rear I ran last year. I think it MAY be better than the MX34 rear, but I’d want to do a true comparison to state that fact.
Update: I have moved on to the AT-82’s and they are much better for me currently than the MX-34’s.
If you have a hybrid tire you like, make sure you hit the comments on the video and leave it for others to find. Enjoy #GettingSeattime & Stay #Stoked!
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