There is no doubt that choosing the right motorcycle tyre, is one of the most important decisions a biker can make. Tyres are the only parts of the motorcycle which are in contact with the road. Safety in acceleration, braking, steering and cornering all depend on a relatively small area of road contact. It is therefore of paramount importance that tyres should be maintained in good condition at all times and that when the time comes to change, you choose the correct type for your machine.
If you make a bad choice when purchasing tyres, it will wreck your enjoyment of your machine, and knock your confidence something rotten! So the question remains, which motorcycle tyres are right for me ?
Well, to coin a phrase, from the late, great, David Jefferies, "Black round ones" are a good start!, but it obviously goes much further than that! There are a few questions you need to ask yourself before deciding on the type of tyre you are going to use.
1. How often do you ride - is durability a major factor in your choice, or, do you mainly do quick blasts?
2. What type of bike do you ride - and how do you ride it? - do you ride it hard, and hang off, and rely on grip, or do you have more of a touring style, and ride in all weathers?
These will help you make the decision on the type of motorcycle tyre you are going to need.
If you ride long distances and tour, and ride in all weathers, then pick a medium compound tyre, one that will retain heat, and grip, and have good durability. If you go on quick blasts, and don't need a tyre that's going to last a long time, then get a supersport type tyre, which will give loads of grip, feedback, will heat up quickly and retain heat.
If you need a tyre for commuting, and the occasional blast, go for something with a reasonably hard compound.
In this series of articles, I have obtained data from Northukbikers members, and tyre suppliers own tyre reviews.
Supersports Tyres
Michelin | Pirelli | Bridgestone
Coming Soon
Touring Tyres
Commuting Tyres
Great Deals On Bike Kit