Motorcycle Tyres

AUTOMOTIVE · GLOBAL

Motorcycle Tyres

Reading the sidewall, compounds and types, pressures and scrubbing in

A motorcycle has two contact patches the size of a credit card, which makes tyre choice and condition more consequential than on any car.

Reading the sidewall

A marking such as 180/55 ZR17 73W gives width, aspect ratio, construction, rim diameter, load index and speed rating. Fit the size and ratings the manufacturer specifies rather than something wider for looks.

A wider tyre than intended changes the profile and how the bike turns, usually for the worse.

Types

Sport tyres warm quickly and grip hard and wear fast. Sport-touring tyres last considerably longer and work in the wet. Touring tyres prioritise mileage. Adventure tyres are rated by road and off-road bias, commonly stated as a percentage split.

Track and race compounds need heat cycles and are unsuitable for cold road use.

Front and rear must suit each other

Manufacturers design tyres as pairs with matched profiles. Mixing makes or models front and rear is not recommended and changes the steering.

Pressures

Check weekly when cold against the figure in the handbook, not the tyre sidewall. Motorcycle tyres lose pressure noticeably, and under-inflation causes overheating, poor handling and rapid wear.

Adjust for a pillion or luggage as the handbook specifies.

Scrubbing in

New tyres have a smooth release-agent surface and need around a hundred miles of progressive riding before full grip, building lean angle gradually.

Wet and cold riding

Grip is lowest in the first minutes of a ride and on cold mornings, before the tyres have warmed. Be particularly careful on white lines, manhole covers, tram rails and diesel spills at junctions.

Smooth inputs and earlier braking matter more than tyre choice in the wet.

Fitting and balancing

Have tyres fitted and balanced by someone equipped for motorcycles, check the direction arrows, and re-torque the axle to specification.

Storage and spares

Store spare tyres clean, dry, out of sunlight and away from electric motors, which produce ozone that degrades rubber. Carry a tyre repair kit and a compact pump on longer rides.

A plug repair is a get-home measure rather than a permanent fix on a motorcycle.

Buying

Check the date code, buy from a supplier with turnover, and fit front and rear as a matched pair.

Check tyre pressures before every long ride, not only at services.

Have the tyres inspected at every service, since sidewall damage is easily missed.

Age and condition

Check the four-digit date code. Rubber hardens with age regardless of tread, and many riders replace at around five years.

Replace a tyre immediately for cuts, bulges, exposed cords or uneven wear across the tread.

WHERE TO BUY

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