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What is the best tyre for your bike ?

We get asked a lot of tough questions about tires here at Pitlane, and the answers often don’t come down to right or wrong, but rather, what’s best for you the rider. So you can really learn how to get the best. A must-read resource for every rider!

The fact is that there are often no “right answers” when it comes down to tyres, because so much about tyres comes down to your individual needs, riding style, and personal preference.

So to help clear things up, were answering the toughest questions we get asked about tyres, and we’re going to give you not just our official answers, but also explain the “grey areas” about tyres, where you might be able to bend the rules a bit (as many riders like to do.)

 

What would be the best tyre for your bike

Believe me, we wish there was a simple answer to this question because we get asked it a lot! But there is no way to tell you what the “right” tyre is for you because tyres vary so much, and riders needs vary so much. Asking what the right tyre is for you is just like walking into a shoe store and asking what the right shoe is for you, because the demands they place on their feet are totally different. It’s really no different with motorcycle tyres.
Getting the right tyre for you depends on these factors:

• Your needs, based on your specific type of bike, and how you ride it
• Your preferences, in terms of looks, brand, and riding style
• Your budget

While there is no “right answer” to this question, we also have a knowledgeable staff on hand to answer any questions you have, and point you in the direction of what we think might be best for you based on your needs, preferences, and budget.

With that said, when choosing your next set of tyres, you can really not go wrong trying our best sellers; they have a solid reputation, are a great value, and they just plain work. Check out the most popular tires we sold in 2018 below, separated by category so you can easily get to the ones that will work best for you.

Cruiser

Metzeller ME888
Michelin Commander II
Pirelli Night Dragon
Michelin Scorcher
Dunlop Elite
Bridgestone Excedra Max

Sport

Dunlop Road Sport
Michelin Power 3
Bridgestone S20
Pirelli Rosso III

Sport Touring

Dunlop Road Sport III
Michelin pilot Road 4/5
Pirelli Sport Demon

Sport Touring

Michelin Anakee 3
Pirelli Trail II
Pirelli STR
Moto-Z GPS
Bridgestone A41
Dunlop Trail Max

Can I change the size of the tyres on my bike ?

Officially, we always recommend sticking with the size recommended by the manufacturer of your bike.

A lot of engineering goes into designing and building our precision two-wheeled machines, and they did all that work with a certain size tyre in mind that they know will work.

However, we also know a lot of you like to switch tyre sizes for different reasons too.

For example, a popular mod among sport bike riders is to swap out the rounder 190/50 tires that come on many bikes for a narrower, pointier 180/55 tire.

This will make turn-in quicker, but will also make the bike feel unstable when traveling straight. Depending on where and how you ride, you may love the change, or hate it.

What tire pressure should I run ?

Our official recommendation for street riding is to run the air pressure at the level set by the manufacturer of your motorcycle (not the tyre.) Check your owner’s manual, and inflate your tyre to the max level in the range suggested for your bike.

(Note: the reason you don’t follow the max level of the tyre is because tyres fit a wide range of bikes, the max level for that tyre might not be what’s best for your particular bike.)

Proper tyre inflation is probably the single most important factor in making your tyres work properly and last a long time; but unfortunately, it’s also probably the most overlooked. Underinflated tyres will flex excessively, overheat faster, get damaged more easily, and can jeopardize handling, while overinflated tires will cause uneven wear and sacrifice ride quality.

However, with that said, a lot of riders do like to experiment with tyre pressure too, usually performance riders on sport bikes or dirt bikes. Changing tyre pressure is one of many things they might tweak to get a little more grip on the track, or to get a handle on varying off-road terrain.

Can I ride on a plugged tyre ?

For this one, we’re definitely going to recommend that you do not do it for any longer than absolutely necessary.

There is so much riding on your tyres – at any given time, you and your entire bike are only being held upright by two tiny patches of rubber – which you absolutely should not ride on a tire that has had its structural integrity compromised.

Plugging kits are a lifesaver when you need to get back on the road in a pinch, but they are a short term fix, and a plugged tire should be replaced as soon as possible.