MICHELINAdventureDual-Sport

Desert Race

Name: Desert Race Motorcycle Tires
Brand: MICHELIN
Rating: 8.2 (1 reviews)

Michelin's rally-raid-proven desert tire, DOT-certified for the road sections between epic off-road stages — built for serious adventure and competition riders.

MTC8.2/10★★★★☆Adventure · Rally-Raid Specialist

motorcycletireco.com

BrandMICHELIN

TypeAdventure / Dual-Sport

FitmentRear

Sizes1

Born from rally-raid competition: Michelin's racing program feeds directly into the Desert Race's construction, giving you proven off-road DNA in a street-legal package

R-speed rated to 106 mph: confident highway transit between dirt sections on loaded adventure bikes without swapping wheels

True multi-terrain capability: hardpack, sand, gravel, and pavement all handled by a single compound designed to stay consistent across surfaces

Temperature-stable compound: maintains grip and predictability whether you're grinding through Baja heat or cold early-morning desert stages

Engineered for loaded machines: the carcass construction accounts for big-displacement bikes carrying full luggage systems, keeping handling stable under weight

Durability-forward design: robust construction resists the abrasive wear of desert and gravel terrain far better than street-oriented adventure tires

Riders Also Considered

Terra Force-EX SM Super Light

Enduro Trail-Rally MH Super Light

From $145

MITAS

Enduro Trail-Rally Pro Super Light

From $145

MITAS

Terra Force-EX SM Super

From $112

Select Size

Prices use MTC dealer formula · Load/speed index explained in the FAQ below

Fulfillment

Live pricing · Walk-in mount & balance available

🛞 Running a spoked wheel? Mitas Ultra Heavy Duty Tubes fit 140/80-18 — from $20 →

Save below MSRPIn-stock · ships fastWalk-in install

MTC Rating

MTC Score

8.2/10

★★★★☆

The Desert Race is purpose-built for rally competitors and remote adventure tourers who demand genuine off-road performance and can accept the trade-offs on pavement.

Performance

Dry Grip7.8

Wet Grip7.2

Street Manners6.5

Track Capability3.0

Mileage8.4

Value7.9

Best For

Rally Competitor

You're running rally-raid events, navigation rallies, or off-road endurance stages and need a tire that performs in the dirt while staying DOT-legal for transit sections. The Desert Race handles terrain changes and temperature swings without flinching — this is exactly what it was built for.

Perfect Match

Remote Adventure Tourer

You're loading up a big-displacement adventure bike and heading somewhere the pavement ends — and stays ended for a while. The Desert Race handles highway miles to get you there and delivers when the road turns to gravel, sand, or hardpack. Luggage weight is not a problem.

Great Match

Street-Focused Adventure Rider

If most of your miles are on asphalt with the occasional maintained dirt road, the Desert Race is more tire than your riding demands. You'll get better wet-weather grip, on-road comfort, and overall street manners from an adventure-touring-focused tire instead.

Consider Michelin Anakee Adventure or Road 5 Trail

Full Size Chart & Part Numbers

Pos.	Size	Load/Speed	P/N	MFR Part #	UPC-A	Our Price / MSRP
Rear	140/80B18	—	0313-0380	02099	086699020994	$330.45$366.95Save $37

Frequently Asked

Technically yes — it's street-legal and handles highway speeds without issue. But it's honest to say this tire is optimized for off-road performance first, with street capability as a supporting role. Riders who spend most of their time on pavement will get more comfort, better wet grip, and longer wear life from a street-oriented adventure tire. Save the Desert Race for when the dirt is the destination.

The R-rating certifies this tire for sustained speeds up to 106 mph — more than enough for legal highway riding in California. For rally and adventure riders, it means you can confidently link pavement transit sections at pace without babying the tire. Michelin built in that high-speed stability because rally stages demand it.

Michelin engineered it to stay consistent whether you're on hardpack, sand, loose gravel, or asphalt. Rather than specializing in one surface and compromising on everything else, the construction and compound target the mixed-terrain reality of rally-raid and remote adventure riding. It's a generalist in the dirt, not a specialist.

Yes, and that's a deliberate design choice. The Desert Race carcass is built specifically around the demands of large-displacement adventure bikes running full luggage systems. The added weight changes handling dynamics, and Michelin accounted for that in the construction — stability and predictability hold up even when you're loaded down.

The Desert Race scores an 8.4 out of 10 for wear life, which is strong for a tire with this level of off-road capability. That said, mileage is heavily influenced by how much of your riding is on abrasive terrain versus pavement. Expect significantly better longevity than a pure knobby, but less than a street-focused adventure tire. The construction is tough enough to resist desert and gravel wear well.

The Anakee tires are tuned for adventure touring with a street-first bias — better wet grip, more on-road comfort, and smoother pavement manners. The Desert Race flips those priorities: it comes from Michelin's rally-raid program and puts off-road capability at the top of the list. If you're spending more time on dirt than pavement, the Desert Race wins. If the reverse is true, go Anakee.

Michelin Desert Race Tires in Orange County — MTC

Motorcycle Tire Center in Orange, CA stocks the Michelin Desert Race for Orange County adventure and rally riders who need genuine off-road performance without giving up their street-legal registration. This tire carries real rally-raid competition heritage — Michelin's racing program shaped its construction, compound, and multi-terrain capability. If you're riding the dirt sections between Irvine and the desert, or running a rally stage in Baja, this is a tire that belongs on your machine.

At MTC, we mount and balance tires while you wait — no appointment needed. Our walk-in service covers mount, balance, and disposal for a straightforward $69 mount + $9.95 balance + $3.50 disposal fee per tire. We price the Michelin Desert Race below MSRP, and our team knows adventure and dual-sport fitment inside and out. Whether you're running a KTM 890 Adventure R or a loaded-up Africa Twin, we'll make sure you leave on the right rubber.

We serve riders from across Orange County — Anaheim, Mission Viejo, Huntington Beach, Fullerton, Newport Beach, and beyond. Have questions about whether the Desert Race is the right call for your riding versus the Anakee Adventure or another Michelin option? Call us at (714) 516-9059 and we'll give you a straight answer, not a sales pitch.

Riders Also Considered

DUNLOP

D908RR Rear

Dunlop's rally-raid rear tire built for large-displacement adventure bikes that eat desert terrain and still need to cover highway miles between stages.

Rally Raider RickBackcountry Explorer EmmaPavement-Priority Paul

View tire →8.2

DUNLOP D908RR Rear

Dunlop's rally-raid rear tire built for large-displacement adventure bikes that eat desert terrain and still need to cover highway miles between stages.

The D908RR Rear is purpose-built for rally-raid and remote backcountry riders who need genuine off-road aggression with enough highway capability to link it all together.

Best for

Rally Raider RickBackcountry Explorer EmmaPavement-Priority Paul

DUNLOP

D606

A genuine off-road performer with street credentials — built for riders who spend real time in the dirt and need DOT legality to get there.

Weekend Trail ExplorerAdventure CommuterPavement-Focused Dual-Sport Rider

View tire →8.2

DUNLOP D606

A genuine off-road performer with street credentials — built for riders who spend real time in the dirt and need DOT legality to get there.

The D606 is the right call for riders who prioritize off-road performance and need their tire to survive a mix of fire roads, loose terrain, and connecting pavement.

Best for

Weekend Trail ExplorerAdventure CommuterPavement-Focused Dual-Sport Rider

MITAS

Terra Force-EX SM Super Light

Competition-grade enduro rubber built for riders who live in the dirt and only touch pavement to get back there.

Technical Trail SpecialistHard Enduro CompetitorBalanced Dual-Sport Rider

View tire →8.2

MITAS Terra Force-EX SM Super Light

Competition-grade enduro rubber built for riders who live in the dirt and only touch pavement to get back there.

Purpose-built for technical trail and enduro riders who need maximum off-road traction and will accept minimal street capability to get it.

Best for

Technical Trail SpecialistHard Enduro CompetitorBalanced Dual-Sport Rider

MITAS

Enduro Trail

A true 50/50 ADV tire built for riders who split time between highway slabs and dirt roads — without compromising either end of the spectrum.

Adventure TourerDual-Sport ExplorerAggressive Off-Road Rider

View tire →8.2

MITAS Enduro Trail

A true 50/50 ADV tire built for riders who split time between highway slabs and dirt roads — without compromising either end of the spectrum.

The Mitas Enduro Trail earns its place as the go-to 50/50 tire for ADV and dual-sport riders who need one tire to handle everything from the 405 to a fire road in the San Gabriels.

Best for

Adventure TourerDual-Sport ExplorerAggressive Off-Road Rider

MITAS

Enduro Trail-Rally MH Super Light

MITAS's most aggressive off-road adventure tire — purpose-built for rally competitors and serious dual-sport riders who demand maximum traction over terrain, not mileage.

Rally CompetitorAggressive Dual-Sport RiderAdventure Tourer

View tire →8.2

MITAS Enduro Trail-Rally MH Super Light

MITAS's most aggressive off-road adventure tire — purpose-built for rally competitors and serious dual-sport riders who demand maximum traction over terrain, not mileage.

The Rally MH Super Light is built for riders spending 70%+ of their time off pavement — ideally suited to rally-raid, desert, and technical dual-sport riding.

Best for

Rally CompetitorAggressive Dual-Sport RiderAdventure Tourer

MITAS

Enduro Trail-Rally Pro Super Light

MITAS's most aggressive rally-ready adventure tire — built for competitors and serious backcountry riders who demand maximum off-road traction above all else.

Rally CompetitorAggressive Backcountry ExplorerBalanced Adventure Tourer

View tire →8.2

MITAS Enduro Trail-Rally Pro Super Light

MITAS's most aggressive rally-ready adventure tire — built for competitors and serious backcountry riders who demand maximum off-road traction above all else.

The Rally Pro Super Light is the tire for serious off-road and rally riders who put grip first and understand that performance comes with a shorter wear window.

Best for

Rally CompetitorAggressive Backcountry ExplorerBalanced Adventure Tourer

MITASTerra Force-EX SM SuperMTC

MITAS

Terra Force-EX SM Super

A competition-grade 20/80 dual-sport tire built for enduro and desert racing, with the street legality to get you to the trailhead.

Desert Racer DanTrail Connector TimBalanced Dual-Sport Dave

View tire →8.2

MITAS Terra Force-EX SM Super

A competition-grade 20/80 dual-sport tire built for enduro and desert racing, with the street legality to get you to the trailhead.

Best for enduro and desert racers who need serious dirt performance and street legality to connect trails — not a commuter tire

Best for