Buying Guide: Which Tire for Your Motorcycle?

With the multiplication of categories, ranges, compounds and tires (!) Choosing new tires can quickly turn into a nightmare ... That's why Moto-Station.com will once again help you choose the tires most suitable for your motorcycle and will tell you this riddle for you ... with chewing gum.

When choosing new tires for your motorcycle, many questions arise: which category of tires to choose for which motorcycle? What to use? What will be their lifespan? Moto-station.com brings you this how-to guide in several sections (224 links divided into 5 categories) to answer these important questions. Let's start with a first look at the motorcycle tire market in 2011. Some of the models listed here have already been tested by Moto-Station.com (click on the model link to read it). Moreover, our “maxitest motorcycle tire” has already collected hundreds of user reviews on many models: you can find them here.

Custom / Touring Motorcycle Tire: Hard chrome gommards

Tires destined for customs (or customs ...), low riders and other proprietary buyers should primarily absorb a pair of cars, often showing 800 cc or more displacement, and an equally significant weight. They are designed for long life and comfort for the crew. Obviously, in this case, raw quality criteria such as grip at maximum angle are relegated to second place, we can't have everything (even in 3)!

Even if they may seem small (at least in France), this category of motorcycle tires still offers a wide variety of sizes. In addition, it is less subject to updating than others: therefore, many links remain in the manufacturer's directory for a long time. Each brand also offers different versions for the same tire: white sidewalls, extra large for power cruisers, etc.

Finally, Dunlop and Bridgestone massively outfitted customs with original equipment, sometimes creating a tire for each model that can still be ordered, hence the many links.

2011 Key References for Custom Tires

Avon custom motorcycle tires:

Avon Venom

Avon AM20/21

Avon Venom R

Avon Cobra

Bridgestone custom motorcycle tires:

Bridgestone Exedra G 704

Bridgestone Exedra G 702

Bridgestone Exedra G 851

Bridgestone Mag Mopus G 510

Bridgestone Exedra G 526

Bridgestone Mag Mopus L 301

Bridgestone Accordion 04

Bridgestone Exedra G 709

Bridgestone Exedra G 701

Bridgestone Exedra G 721

Bridgestone Exedra L 307

Bridgestone Exedra G 535

Bridgestone Mag Mopus L 303

Bridgestone Exedra G 852

Bridgestone Exedra G 703

Bridgestone Exedra G 722

Bridgestone Exedra L 309

Bridgestone Exedra G 544

Bridgestone Mag Mopus S 701

Bridgestone Exedra G 853

Bridgestone Exedra G 850

Bridgestone Mag Mopus G 508

Bridgestone Exedra G 525

Bridgestone Exedra G 546

Bridgestone Accordion 03

Continental Custom Motorcycle Tires:

Continental milestone

Continental TK 16/17

Continental TKN 23/24

Dunlop custom motorcycle tires:

Dunlop D220 ST

Dunlop D206

Dunlop D 251

Dunlop D 401

Dunlop D 402

Dunlop D 402 white wall

Dunlop D 404

Dunlop D 407

Dunlop D 408

Dunlop D 427

Dunlop Elite 3

Dunlop F 20

Dunlop F 24

Dunlop GT 502

Dunlop K 177

Dunlop K 425

Dunlop K 525

Dunlop K 527

Dunlop K 555

Dunlop K 591

Dunlop Sportmax D221

Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier HD

Dunlop Sportmax D 205 Wagon

Maxxis custom motorcycle tires:

Maxxis Avenue MA-AC

Maxxis Classic M6011

Maxxis Station Wagon M6011

Metzeler custom motorcycle tires:

Metzeler ME 880 Marathon

Metzeler ME 880 Marathon XXL

Metzeler ME 880 White wall

Metzeler ME 880 Narrow white stripe

Metzeler ME 88 Marathon

Michelin Custom Moto Tires:

Michelin Scorcher 11

Michelin Scorcher 31

Michelin Commander

Pirelli custom motorcycle tires:

Pirelli MT66

Pirelli Mandrake MT 15 – Price: + RUB XNUMX

Trail bike tires: more and more expensive

The track category has undergone significant changes in recent years, making the GS BMW not to be missed. Thus, despite the emergence of "adventurers", most of the current large ones have become a real road "on their feet", having learned to risk no more than rolling tracks. This category is also divided into two types: trail tires, still a mixed road/off-road type, and beginner open-oriented road tires, often radial types (some spoked rims can also be tubeless).

The first - mixed - are less effective on wet roads due to the rubber mixture and a more pronounced tread pattern. But at least they let you look at the paths or the undergrowth. The latter are increasingly inheriting road tire technology (with which they now compete in terms of performance, especially in the wet) and often benefit from a long service life. It's a fact: the sparseness of cats keeps them more and more from being used in any terrain. Sometimes the choice of tires in this category is limited to the size of the front wheel, if it is 21 inches.

2011 Key References for Trail Tires

Avon trail bike tires:

Avon Gripster

Avon Distance

Bridgestone trail motorcycle pneumatic:

Bridgestone Battlewing 501

201 Bridgestone Trail Fender

39 Bridgestone Trail Fender

48 Bridgestone Trail Fender

Bridgestone Battle Wing 502

202 Bridgestone Trail Fender

40 Bridgestone Trail Fender

53 Bridgestone Trail Fender

101 Bridgestone Trail Fender

203 Bridgestone Trail Fender

42 Bridgestone Trail Fender

54 Bridgestone Trail Fender

152 Bridgestone Trail Fender

204 Bridgestone Trail Fender

47 Bridgestone Trail Fender

301 Bridgestone Trail Fender

18 Bridgestone Trail Fender

25 Bridgestone Trail Fender

26 Bridgestone Trail Fender

Continental Trail Bike Tires:

Continental TCS 80

Continental escape

Dunlop Trail Bike Tires:

Dunlop Trailmax TR 91

Dunlop Trailmax radial D 607

Dunlop Trailmax

Dunlop K 460

Dunlop K 180 (small displacement)

Dunlop D 602 ​​(small displacement)

Maxxis Trail Bike Tires:

Maxxis Detour MA-PD socket

Mototrassa Pneus Meceler:

Metzeler Tourance EXP

Metzeler Tourance

Metzeler Enduro 3 Sahara

Metzeler Karoo T

Michelin Trailbike Tires:

Michelin Anaki 1

Michelin Anaki 2

Michelin Orphan

Michelin T 63

Mototrassa Pneus Pirelli:

Pirelli scorpion trail

Pirelli Scorpion MT 90 S / T

Pirelli MT60

Pirelli Scorpion MT 90 A / T

Pirelli MT70

Pirelli MT40

Pirelli Scorpion Sync

Roadtser / sport touring motorcycle tires: most popular

Here is the essence of the tire market in France: road tires account for almost 45% of sales. The most logical distribution when you consider that they mainly equip roadsters - the best-selling motorcycle category we have with the Z750, Bandit, FZ6 / FZ8, Hornet, etc. - and sports cars. Therefore, following the market trend, these motorcycle tires have diversified widely and greatly improved their performance in recent years with the advent of new technologies, including the famous multi-compound compound. Road tires have more or less sporty features from one manufacturer to another.

There have been many innovations in this category in recent years, and as a result, second-line tires that do not use the latest technology are still being produced, either because they are still very successful or to expand manufacturer catalogs. and offer less expensive rubbers because they are economical and better suited to older motorcycles.

Undoubtedly, these roadster / sport touring tires are the most versatile tires on the market. Grip, warm-up times, dry and wet grip, endurance, comfort ... they need to know how to do it right, but not excel at any particular issue, and equip a very wide range of motorcycles. Recent technological investments in this category have made impressive progress. Please note that some of the links exist in sizes suitable for trails.

2011 Key References for Roadster / Sport Tour Tires

Pneu moto roadzer / sport tourism Avon:

Avon Azaro-ST

Avon Storm 2 Ultra

Avon Roadrider

Avon Speed ​​Master MKII

Avon Safety Mileage MKII

Bridgestone Motorcycle Roadster / Sport Touring Tires:

Bridgestone VT-23

Bridgestone VT-21

Bridgestone VT-57

Bridgestone VT-22

Bridgestone VT-020

Bridgestone VT-028

Bridgestone VT-39

Bridgestone VT-45

Bridgestone BT-39SS

Tire moto roadtser / sport touring Continental:

Continental ContiRoadAttack

Continental Contifors

Continental avenue

Continental TC 22RC / 44 RC

Continental K 112 / RB 2

Dunlop moto roadtser / sport touring tire:

Dunlop Sportmax RoadSmart

Danlop Sportmax Mutant

Dunlop Sportmax D221

Dunlop Sportmax D220

Dunlop Sportmax D 220 ST

Dunlop Sportmax D218

Dunlop K 82 (vintage motorcycles)

Dunlop K 81 TT 100 (retro moto)

Dunlop K 700

Dunlop K 70 (small displacement)

Dunlop K 655 (medium displacement)

Dunlop K 530 (medium displacement)

Dunlop K 505 (medium displacement)

Dunlop K 275 (medium displacement)

Dunlop D 252

Dunlop D 205

Dunlop D 204

Dunlop Arrowmax GT 501 (medium)

Dunlop Arrowmax D 103 (small displacement)

Dunlop TT 900 G (small displacement)

Pneu moto roadcer / sport tourism Maxxis:

Maxxis Promaxx M6102

Maxxis Promaxx M6103

Maxxis V1 M 6002

Tires moto roadtser / sport touring Metzeler:

Metzeler Roadtec Interact Z8

Metzeler Roadtec Z6 Interaction

Metzeler Roadtec Z6

Metzeler MEZ4

Metzeler Lasertec

Metzeler ME 22 (retro motorcycles)

Metzeler ME 77 (80s motorcycles)

Metzeler ME 11 (small displacement)

Metzeler Block K (small to medium displacement)

Metzeler Block C (small to medium displacement)

Michelin roadtser / sport touring motorcycle tire:

Michelin Pilot Road 3

Michelin Pilot Road 2

Michelin Pilot Road

Michelin Pilot Activ (medium displacement)

Michelin M45 (small displacement)

Michelin Macadam 50 (medium displacement)

Michelin M 45 (small displacement)

Pirelli moto roadtser / sport touring tire:

Pirelli Angel ST

Pirelli Diablo Street

Pirelli Scorpio Sync

Pirelli MT 75 (medium displacement)

City Demon (small move)

MT 65 (small displacement)

Motorcycle tires for sports and supersport: versatility and performance

Supersport tires are designed for pure sports cars or sports roadsters (these motorcycles are often borrowed from real sports cars). And here they can equip a very wide range of motorcycles and give preference to performance, especially on dry ground. However, they also take into account a certain notion of endurance in a run, or even stability of performance over time.

Their sporty versatility allows them to be used in everyday life, especially on wet surfaces; they allow you to drive a week in the city and a weekend at the circuit. There are also a lot of secondary links here, in addition to ad campaigns. The sports / supersport tires will be less durable, less able to withstand the load on the motorcycle than the sports GT, but will perform better on dry surfaces.

2011 Key References for Sports / Supersport Tires

Avon sport / supersport motorcycle tire:

Avon VP2 Sport

Avon VP2 Supersport

Pneu moto sport / supersport Bridgestone:

Bridgestone BT-016 Pro

Bridgestone VT-016

Bridgestone VT-014

Bridgestone VT-012

Bridgestone VT-015

Bridgestone VT-011

Continental sport / superport tire:

Continental ContiSport Attack

Continental ContiForce Max

Continental TKV 11/12

Dunlop sport / supersport tires:

Dunlop Sportmax SportSmart

Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier and Qualifier NK, MT, FPT

Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier II

Dunlop D 208

Dunlop D 208 RR

Dunlop D 208 SM

Dunlop GPR 10

Dunlop D 218

Dunlop D 202

Pneu moto sport / supersport full й:

Full bore M1 Street Sport

Pneu moto sport / supersport Maxxis:

Maxxis Supermaxx M6029 (small displacement)

Pneu moto sport / supersport Michelin:

Michelin Power Pure

Michelin Pilot Power 2CT engine

Michelin Pilot Power

Michelin Pilot Sporty (small displacement)

Pirelli Pneu moto sport / supersport:

Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa

Pirelli Diablo Rosso II

Pirelli Diablo Rosso

Pirelli Diablo

Pirelli Diablo Corsa III

Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp (retro motorcycles)

Pirelli Sport Demon (medium displacement)

Tires for racing or hypersport motorcycles: tires for champions

They are also called "Racing Street" tires. They are the sportiest motorcycle tires on the market, often recognized for their sculpture-less shoulders and stylish styling. Approved for use on the road, they were primarily developed for use on the road. Sometimes they are multi-rubber: in the case of single-rubber tires, the chemical composition is specially adapted for use in extreme sports, and sometimes there are rubber of different qualities (hard, medium, soft). As a result, these tires heat up very quickly and the rubber compound provides maximum traction at the expense of durability. Likewise, the tread pattern of the tire has been greatly reduced at both the front and rear in order to increase the percentage of rubber in direct contact with the ground, and therefore grip on dry ground and on the track.

Precise and often with a sharper front profile, these tires emphasize cornering speed. The materials from which they are made have high selling prices. In terms of size, they closely follow the production of sports cars. In fact, some older generation sports cars (like 16-inch front wheels) cannot be fitted with this modern wrap.

2011 Key References for Racing or Hypersport Tires

Avon Circuit or Hypersport Motorcycle Tire:

Avon VP2 Extreme

Bridgestone Circuit or Hypersport motorcycle tire:

Bridgestone BT-003 Racing Street

Bridgestone Battlax R10 Racing

Continental motorcycle tire or hypersport:

Continental Race Attack

Dunlop motorcycle tire or hypersport:

Dunlop D 211 GP Racer

Dunlop D 209 GP Racer

Dunlop Qualifier RR

Maxxis Racing or Motorcycle Hypersport Tire:

Maxxis Press Sports MA-PS

Pirelli racetrack or hypersport motorcycle tire:

Pirelli Diablo Super Corsa SC