Motor tires. Comparative tests. Reviews and tests of motorcycle tires.

Additional equipment for motorcycle

Vehicle wheel tires are the only structural element that comes into contact with the road surface.

The grip of the rubber on the road and the confidence of any vehicle on the road surface depend on contact.

A car has four structural elements for contact with the coating, while a two-wheeled motor vehicle has only two. Therefore, the contact patch (contact area) of the tire with the road on a motorcycle is much smaller.

This is where certain differences arise between auto and motor tires. Also, not only the health, but often the life of the driver depends on the right quality wheels.

Types of tires

Factories producing motorcycle tires produce several types of tires:

• sports;
• road and tourism;
• enduro - street;
• for ATVs.

Tires can also be divided into summer and winter. The latter, in addition to the tread profile, can also be studded, for example, made specifically for speedway competitions.

Sports tires provide the greatest contact between the wheel and the road surface and are recommended mainly for racing competitions.

These wheels may have no tread profile at all, and they are recommended only for sports racing. When driving, the tire material warms up, becomes softer and more elastic, which increases effective traction.

And they can be made with a tread with different indentations to drain water, if the equipment is used for normal driving.

Tires for long-term driving or touring are designed to carry increased weight loads and, moreover, not lose effective traction.

They are made with a special tread profile that removes water from the contact patch and reliably holds two-wheeled equipment on the track.

Enduro street tires are recommended for riding motorcycles on off-road terrain or on poorly paved roads. These tires are made from special rubber.

This makes it possible to easily move over sand, stones, and mud. The tread profile of such wheels also helps to navigate off-road.

The best motorcycle tires for a sports motorcycle

Michelin Pilot Power 3

The leader of the sports series was produced by the inimitable Michelin company. I really want to find fault with them, but there seem to be no shortcomings. Stunning grip properties on both types of trails - brilliant handling on wet and dry roads. The motorcycle seems to merge with the highway and shows everything it is capable of. Braking is its special advantage: fast and precise, does not cause any complaints even among the review authors. In terms of comfort and wear resistance, the model is all at the highest level. This wonderful tire from French craftsmen deservedly becomes the leader in the section of motorcycle tires for sport bikes.

Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE

For a sports bike, tires from the manufacturer Metzeler are perfect. The model perfectly reflects the title “sports”, as it clings to the asphalt track beyond all praise - very subtle and confident handling, effective braking. On wet and dry roads the tires show very stable behavior. The motorcycle feels very light and maneuverable, the biker can easily control every movement under him.

Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP

In third place were the tires of the famous Italians Pirelli. These tires are simply created for a dry track - the control is intuitive, the braking is fast, and the motorcycle does not lose grip even on sharp turns. With excellent feedback, these tires provide convenience and comfort throughout the entire journey - and this is their main advantage. The downside may be rather mediocre properties on wet roads and problems with wear resistance.

Manufacturers

The evolutionary development of motorcycle technology has reduced everything to the fact that now any person can get behind the wheel of a bike without fear.
But is it really safe? Safe, provided that the tires are recommended by the manufacturer and are guaranteed to be suitable for this equipment. Well-known companies, carriers of world-famous brands, are engaged in the development and production of such safe parts for motorcycles.

Even a beginner who has never tried to get behind the wheel of a two-wheeled “horse” knows such brands of motor vehicles as Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda.

They can even be called motorcycle production monsters. There are also equally well-known manufacturers in a more narrowly focused area.

Decades of consistent quality, successful and efficient work of motorcycle tire manufacturers earn the respect of consumers and millions trust their products.

Companies specializing in such production produce a huge number of tire models suitable for motorcycles of any brand, design, and purpose.

The list shows only some of the world famous brands:

• Bridgestone/Bridgestone;
• Continental/Continental;
• Kenda/Kenda;
• Metzeler/Metzeller;
• Avon/Evon;
• Dunlop/Dunlop;
• Michelin/Michelin;
• Pirelli/Pirelli;
• Shinko/Shinko.

The products of these brands are famous all over the world. The use of special technologies and many years of experience make the motorcycle tires of these manufacturers deservedly reliable and durable.

Budget ATV Irbis (Irbis) ATV 200 U - review and characteristics of the model.

Touring motorcycle Honda DN-01 with automatic transmission.

How to properly break in new tires

Any new tires must first be broken in. The surface of the product is always smooth and it is necessary to achieve some roughness for better traction.

In the summer, it is enough to travel 120-220 kilometers on a motorcycle. Do not forget to use the side surfaces of the wheels, changing the angles of inclination while moving.

This mileage is enough for the tire to sit securely on the rim and all its elements (tread, bandage, frame) to break in. For winter break-in, it is necessary to increase the break-in mileage to 300 kilometers.

After finishing the running-in, it is necessary to check the correct fit on the rim and the pressure in the wheels.

If necessary, pump up to the pressure recommended by the manufacturer. Failure to follow these recommendations leads to increased wear and failure of the tires.

Tire wear is promoted by an aggressive driving style (intense acceleration and braking) and operating conditions (off-road and poor road surfaces) and leads to frequent replacement of tires.

Also, always remember that tires are most effective when accelerating, braking and turning when they have warmed up to operating temperature.

ADDITIONAL NOTATIONS

An indicator arrow (->) is also applied to the sidewall of the tire, sometimes with the inscription Rotation, which shows the required direction of rotation of the wheel. If the tire is installed incorrectly, the tread will not drain water and the motorcycle will not “want” to “stand” in the rain.

The letter “E” in a circle with a digital one- or two-digit index confirms that this model has been certified for compliance with UNECE Regulation No. 30. The digital index is the conditional number of the country that carried out the certification (Russia is listed as No. 22 in the UNECE registers).

Each tire manufacturer applies its own trademark. Design features, consisting of a different number of layers of breaker and frame or cord material, are also fixed on the sides. For example, the inscriptions Tread: 4 plies (2 plies Rayon+2 plies Steel and Sidewall: 2 plies Nylon) mean that the tire breaker is 4-layer, consists of two layers of viscose cord and two layers of metal cord, and the sidewall is made of two layers of nylon cord.

Storage

For the winter period, tires are preserved in a suspended state, having previously treated them with products specially designed for preservation.
This treatment will protect the rubber from drying out, eliminate deformation, cracking and return it to its original properties . When you start using wheels after preservation, be careful - at first the wheel material will be slippery and can cause unpleasant moments on the road.

It is not recommended to store tires for years, since over time the properties of rubber change, the material becomes tanned and loses elasticity. This leads to reduced safety and comfort when moving.

Shock absorption properties are lost and adhesion to the road surface is reduced. Such rubber is easily recognizable - it becomes gray in color and slightly rough to the touch.

You can blacken it with special means, but the properties of the rubber itself cannot be restored. Therefore, try to use new tires.

The best motorcycle tires for sports tourists

Bridgestone Battlax Bt-023

The leading tires from Bridgestone have an excellent balance between dry and wet roads, proving to be the leader in comfort and reliability of movement on summer surfaces at high speeds. Wear resistance and strength are indicative of sport-tourist motorcycles, for which the endurance of rubber during long trips is especially valued. Maneuverability, precise and fast braking, comfort and smooth ride, responsiveness and clear feedback - all this characterizes the model of the Japanese tire makers as the best for touring trips.

Michelin Pilot Road 4

French tires from Michelin have remarkable qualities of “grabbing” dry and wet roads. Therefore, the motorcycle stays on the track like a glove, even during the tightest turns with a deep lean. As speed increases, the movement remains stable, the ride quality is high, and the steering and brake responses leave a very pleasant impression. An excellent choice of tires for all long-distance travel enthusiasts.

Dunlop D214

The Dunlop company has created a touring tire with average characteristics for comfortable travel on long journeys, on wet and dry asphalt and light off-road. The rubber is not afraid of hydroplaning and feels very confident at high speed. No significant drops were noticed when braking and accelerating on a dry road. Good wear resistance and a smooth ride complete the picture of well-made motorcycle tires for those who can't sit still.

Prices

The cost of motor tires can vary significantly depending on the manufacturer’s brand and size. Here you need to know that high-quality and reliable products cannot be cheap.

The price is also influenced by the financial policy of car dealerships, stores and Internet portals offering these products for sale.

Therefore, it would not hurt to spend some time obtaining information and find organizations that offer the desired tire model at an affordable price, taking into account both the reliability of a well-known brand and affordability.

At the same time, while saving money on your purchase, do not skimp on your safety. After all, tires are one of the most important operational parts of a motorcycle.

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Photo gallery

In order to feel safe on the road, whether it’s a cross-country track or city streets, you need to choose the right tires for your bike. In our photo selection, we tried to select the most popular types of tires.