Having general satisfaction wirth cheaper tires in the past, I have also experienced quality control issues, and thus, I focused on top-brand originals. After much research, there were only three tires that looked like they would be up to the task. Two of them raised a major red flag: low tread durability from what others have experienced. That made the D606 the best candidate.

The D606 is visibly well-built. Upon inspection of all of our sets, there were no noticeable irregularities. The carcass was very stiff, which indicated it may be controllable during a flat. The compound seemed rather hard such that I was initially worried about wet pavement use. Although the knobs are tall and well-spaced, they're laid out in a way that eliminates the characteristic squirrelliness of a knobby.

Mounting them was headache-free, in spite of the, stiff carcass. The first day on the road, we did 650 miles. This was all at speeds ranging between 60 and 85 mph and half the day was in the rain. After 400 miles, we stopped for dinner and noticed that the whiskers were still present on the knobs. The combination of wet & dry pavement performance and initial wear made us confident that we chose the right tire. By the end of the second day, wear was just beginning to show. and on day three, we learned that they grab the dirt quite well. As we reached the Labrador border 2,000 miles from home, it was clear that the D606 was an excellent choice.

There is one thing to note however. Althoough these tires are tough and durable, prolonged use on live railroad tracks at 55 mph is not recommended. Sheldon got a flat rear tire and I had exposed cords after 62 miles on the tracks. I don't think any tire, except maybe a steel-belted one could take that abuse. My tire did manage to go another 115 miles on the Trans Labrador Hwy (gravel that chews up tires) before my innertube was exposed and I had to change the tire. Harry opted not to go on the railroad excursion and his tires were trouble-free for the entire trip.

After my experience with the Dunlop D606, it has become my tire of choice for all-purpose use. The nice thing about the tire is its price! Shop around online and a set can be had for less than $130.00 USD shipped.
Four months after Labrador, I took a set on a two-way iron butt ride to Daytona for Biketoberfest at speeds up to 96 mph.

Ups:
-Excellent all-around traction on a variety of surfaces.
-Great wear for a knobby
-Excelent cornering and high-speed handling
-Pattern resists cupping
-They look 'mean'

Downs:
-I can't really think of any, but a steel-belted version would be great for us morons who like to take risks.