How to Choose the Right Motorcycle Tires
Choosing your motorcycle's tires is an important factor in how your bike will ride and perform. Many advances in tire design, construction and artificial rubber materials provide a wide array of tire types to fit any kind of bike. Each motorcycle rider must choose a tire to accommodate his personal riding habits. If you're into doing burnouts, cutting doughnuts and performing stunts, you'll want a different kind of tire from the guy that uses the bike to commute to work.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Motorcycle
- Tire manufacturer's literature
- Tire dealer ads and pamphlets
- Tire specifications
-
-
1
Match your motorcycle's category classification with the type of tire designed specifically for it -- motorcycles come from the factory with the correct size tires of a general type made to fit the bike's category. Choose a different brand or type of tire to custom-fit your exact type of riding needs. Learn about the specifications and construction materials of the tires you are considering; compare the pros and cons of the different tire types before you buy new tires.
-
2
Gather as much information as you can about the different kinds of existing motorcycle tires. Read the manufacturer's features and specification sheets. Learn the differences between front and rear tire requirements. Look for a larger, heavier back tire to carry the majority of the bike's weight load and endure the stress of providing power for acceleration. Compare lighter, narrower and smaller front tires designed for lots of turning. Pick tires with sturdy sidewalls if you do high speed cornering and lean heavily into curves.
-
3
Review the type of riding you most often do and prioritize your comfort, performance and tire longevity requirements. Choose sport-bias motorcycle tires for hard, sport-bike road riding. Pick a wide rear tire with a large area of surface contact and radial-type tread patterns. Get tires with a high tread-to-void ratio for good road adherence in wet and dry weather. Look for tires made of wear resistant compounds for an increased tread life.
-
4
Use tires with an alternating bias-ply design of synthetic rubber and composite mesh for large cruiser bikes. Look for tires designed for comfort and weight-carrying capacity. Pick soft tires with a low crown and an offset center groove tread for stability during long, straight-ahead hauls. Softer tires have a shorter tread life, but are more comfortable than hard tires. Get a tread design adapted to a variety of road surface types.
-
5
Get a front tire with a tall arch and a high crown for fast steering and cornering if you want to race your bike. Pick a back tire with less tread for better road-gripping capabilities for quick starts. Use extra-ply racing tires with tight internal wrapping for a stiffer, harder tire. Choose tires designed for high heat, friction and high-speed wear-and-tear if you're serious about racing. Get a set of hard-rubber, puncture resistant, full-knobby tires for off-road racing.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Conduct comparative shopping between dealers for the best tire price.
Promptly replace worn tires for safety reasons.
Related Searches
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
