About Sport Motorcycle Tires
Motorcycle tires are produced in a variety of shapes, patterns, treads and compounds used. Each has their particular performance benefits and drawbacks, and different mixes produce tires for different conditions. Sport motorcycle tires in particular tend to be a major selling point, giving the impression that an equipped motorcycle will perform better. This is half-true and half a selling myth for marketing. Below are some of the reasons that clarify the issue.
Other People Are Reading
-
Tire Compounds
-
The type of rubber and hardness in a tire production has a lot to do with the performance of a motorcycle tire. Sport tires tend to be softer and spongier because both factors provide better grip to the road surface. Michelin motorcycle tires are traditionally chosen for this particular reason because the compounds produce a tire that gives a "stickier" feel for the rider. Stickiness is a critical performance issue because it means the tire holds better in turns and doesn't slide. The drawback of a softer, spongier tire is that the tire surface degrades faster, particularly on the race track. And once the tire has degraded enough, it will slide just as much as a hard street tire.
Hard tires, alternatively, are more durable over the useful life of a tire, but they don't hold road surface as well. On tight turns driven at speed, it is common to have hard tires slip and slide, which can cause accidents.
Tread and Contact Space
-
On completely dry surfaces, tires don't need treads in their shape. And for just such conditions, "baldies" or tires with no tread whatsoever can be used on motorcycles. However, most motorcycle tires assume riding in some kind of inclement weather where treads become critical because they help push water away, enhancing road contact.
Sport motorcycle tires have limited tread, which looks like big, long stripes in the tires. This provides some level of water disposition but maximizes the tire surface on the road. Since the contact space is small, sport motorcycle tires use the most tire surface to increase road contact for handling. As a result, sport tires tend to be used mainly during dry season times and will skid and slide heavily in wet conditions.
-
Cost
-
Sport motorcycle tires tend to be aftermarket and much more expensive than stock motorcycle tires. It is not uncommon for sport tires to run between $100 to $200 each. This can be a bit of a cost for a weekend racer going out to the track since tires are useless for track riding after a day or two of use. For road riders, the cost is likely spread out over much more time, but it is still higher than that of a set of regular tires.
Manufacturers
-
There are plenty of manufacturers for sport motorcycle tires. Bridgestone, Michelin, Dunlop, Firestone, Pirelli, IRC, Cheng Shin and more all produce sport tires. That said, not all are top quality or good for the particular area and weather you ride in. It helps tremendously to talk to fellow riders in your area regarding which tires perform better. But keep in mind that opinions will vary, and some folks are dedicated to particular brands versus others, so the discussion can get a bit heated. A good way to counter this bias is to also talk to local dealers and find out which brands they sell more than others in terms of what they stock.
Avoid Used Tires
-
Don't get into the business of purchasing used sport tires for the sake of a few dollars saved. Frequently used tires are old, have wear-down spots, may be cracked or have other issues. What you save in a reduced price could in turn result in a critical failure while riding.
Remember, you only have two tires on a motorcycle, so a tire failure has a higher probability of a serious crash versus a car with four tires. Spend a bit more on new tires when changing out to avoid a major injury later.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit detail moto image by francois clappe from Fotolia.com
