Selecting Appropriate Tyres

Unless you are always going to replace your tyres with exactly the same make and type that were fitted by the manufacturer when the bike was new, you are going to need to know (or ask a man who does) a bit about the huge choice of tyres on sale and what specs mean when the time comes to buy the baby new shoes.

The days when all you needed to know was the size and how much they cost have long gone. Modern tyres come in so many varieties with so many differing performance values even the experts have a job keeping up with it all.

Some rules are fairly general. For example

The speed rating of the tyre must match the capability of the bike i.e.

Then you have to watch how radials, bias belted and crossply tyres are mixed. It's better to avoid mixtures if you can, but the following is law.

Of course it doesn't stop there! Bikes come in all shapes and sizes. Some rims won't take some makes or tyres and some swinging arms are too close to permit some tyres to be fitted. You'll need to know what can go on your bike - and what is going to happen once that lovely new radial comes under load!

Then there is the difference with the compounds to be considered. Mixing hard (long wearing) and soft (maximum grip) tyres on the same bike can be okay but equally can be disastrous if they are not compatible or on the wrong wheels.

As if all this wasn't enough, some tyres are not warranted for road use at all. Then different parts of the world need different tyres dependant on the climate and road conditions. Ask any Gold Wing rider who bought those 'good value' American tyres a while back and 6,000 miles later found they had worn out! Wings are normally good for up to 15,000 miles but British roads are not the same as their counterparts in the States.

Information kindly supplied by ATS Euromaster