Types

• Street-sport tires come standard on sport bikes and are best described as race-designed tires built for the street. DOT race tires offer the most grip as they are made for racing, but have the shortest tread life because they are not designed for ride comfort or longevity. Their purpose is to keep the motorcycle from sliding out during hard braking, acceleration, sharp turning and top speed. Sport-touring tires are for the commuter or daily motorcyclist with ride comfort and longevity as their focal points. Off-road tires are knobby instead of smooth like road tires. The knobs dig into loose terrain and give the rider the ability to maneuver dirt, sand, gravel and mud.
  
  

Function

• The science of a motorcycle tire is continually evolving, which is why no two tires are exactly the same. Each is designed for a specific riding style. For instance, the Pirelli Angle ST Sport-Touring Radials is leaning further towards sport then longevity and ride comfort, which is opposite from the traditional sport-touring tire. The Michelin Power One DOT-race tire offers stiffer rubber and increased side angle so that the rider can easily flick the bike into a turn and hold a tight line compared to its street-sport younger brother, the Michelin Power 2CT (Ref 3). Rubber density, side angle, size and tread pattern factor into how a motorcycle tire performs.
  
  

Features

• Every tire has a tread pattern (sunken groves effecting performance), size, speed rating (maximum sustainable speed), load index (maximum weight tire can support), manufacturer date, max PSI rating (maximum air pressure), sidewall (vertical side of tire; higher angled walls allow motorcycle to lean quicker and sharper), tread-ware rating (comparative government rating of how long a tire should last) and traction and temperature scores (letter rating stopping ability and resistance to heat). With the exception of the tread pattern, all of these features are located on the tread wall.
  
  

Identification

• The best approach to deciding on a new set of motorcycle tires is asking yourself where and how often you ride. Is the climate normally dry or wet? Do you daily commute or only ride on the weekends? Is performance or longevity more important? What is your price limit for a new set of tires? How aggressive is your riding style? These questions will help focus a tire-buying decision.
  
  

Warning

• The quality of the riding surface has an effect on tire performance. Bumpy, hole-ridden roads eat away at a tire faster than smooth asphalt. Wet weather will slow braking, acceleration and can cause loss of grip in turns.