Type
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Sports. In this case, sports driving means high-speed driving on as smooth surfaces as possible. Accordingly, all such tires have a high speed rating - not lower than W (270 km/h). In addition, sports motorcycles are characterized by relatively low weight; As a result of this (as well as for some other reasons), the rubber of this direction is made radial (see “Design”). Note that such models are characterized by a shallow tread pattern. This provides excellent traction on quality, smooth surfaces, but on uneven, wet or muddy roads, driving on such tires requires caution. This is especially true for
track sports tires without any tread at all, the so-called slicks, which are placed in a separate section and are intended exclusively for driving in dry weather on the race track. It is strictly forbidden to use such tires on city roads, for your own safety.
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Road. Tires designed, as the name suggests, for driving on regular roads with a hard (but not necessarily perfectly smooth) surface. Such models can be produced for a wide variety of equipment - from heavy choppers and cruisers to small classics and retro bikes. However, in all cases, road tires are characterized by a fairly high load index, which allows them to easily carry quite a large weight of the motorcycle and contact with uneven roads. Most road tires are bias-ply, but radial tires are also available.
...The speed rating of such tires is lower than that of sports tires (although there are models with a speed of 270 km/h); In addition, even the most sleek models have a fairly deep tread pattern, which ensures effective moisture removal and reliable contact with uneven roads.
- Cross. A specialized type of motorcycle tire, created exclusively for off-road driving and intended, in accordance with the name, for use in motocross. The most noticeable external feature of these tires is the deep tread pattern with characteristic ridges that improve traction.
— Enduro. Initially, enduro was a type of motorcycle racing in which riders had to ride on different types of terrain - from smooth paved roads to complete off-road conditions. This determined the main features of tires for this purpose: they are a cross between road and cross-country tires (see above) and are suitable for both highways and rough terrain. Of course, in terms of speed characteristics, such tires are inferior to road ones, and in cross-country ability - to cross-country ones; However, in cases where versatility is more important than advanced performance, enduro tires are simply irreplaceable. Note that in appearance such models can be similar to both motocross models (with noticeable protrusions) and road models (relatively smooth, with a small number of grooves). In the first case, a special rubber composition is usually used, which ensures a sufficient level of grip on hard surfaces; in the second, various design tricks are used to increase cross-country ability.
- Adventure. This category includes all-terrain scrambler-type models and durable touring motorcycle tires that can withstand increased loads caused by a large number of things on the road. Adventure tires are suitable for driving on asphalt surfaces and conquering moderate off-road conditions. The tread pattern of the tires is quite aggressive - it is well suited for country roads, and at the same time it is quite smooth for prolonged driving on hard road surfaces. Adventure motorcycles began their journey as road models, converted by manufacturers or owners for off-road riding. The closest relatives of adventure motorcycle tires are enduro tires with a more “evil” tread pattern.
— Trial. Specialized tires for motorcycle trials competitions - overcoming difficult routes on rough terrain with many natural or artificial obstacles. During the races, touching obstacles with parts of the body is strictly prohibited - penalty points will be awarded for this. Motorcycle trial tires are omnivorous for various types of coatings under the bike's wheels, have improved grip properties, and a small pressure is inflated inside them, which is done for the sake of maintaining a wide contact patch.
— For scooters. Rubber for small motorcycle equipment. As a rule, scooters have narrow, relatively small wheels. Tires for them are available both in tubeless version and with a tube. Also, similar tires differ in tread pattern: for moving in the rhythm of life in a metropolis, tires with a shallow road pattern are well suited, and for mixed travel with frequent forays on dirt roads and off-road, tires with an aggressive tread are suitable.Recommended axle
The axle on which this tyre is recommended to be mounted.
In the vast majority of modern motorcycles, the
front wheel is steering, and the
rear wheel is driving; in addition, the rear wheel usually bears more weight. Accordingly, the features of the work of both axes will also be different. So, the front tyre has to turn in different directions along the course, and the rear one has to be subjected to increased loads in terms of weight and twisting along the main axis of rotation, in addition, it must “cling” well to the road in order to avoid slipping. In light of all this, putting tyres on a "non-native" axle is highly undesirable: it will work in an emergency mode, and the consequences can be very deplorable. At the same time, there are
universal models suitable for both the front and rear axles (although they can cost more than specialized ones, and at an equal cost, they can be inferior to them in terms of individual characteristics).
Speed rating
The speed rating characterizes the maximum speed at which the tyre maintains performance, in other words, the highest speed at which you can safely drive when using this tyre in normal mode (on the “native” axle, with normal load, etc.). This parameter is indicated by Latin letters, each of which corresponds to its own maximum speed value — for example, a value of 210 km/h is denoted as H. The most modest modern tyres, used mainly for scooters and motocross motorcycles, have the index J (100 km/h), and in high-speed sports models there are models of the
W level (270 km/h).
You should choose a tyre for this parameter based on the recommendations of the motorcycle manufacturer, and if there are no such recommendations, then with a margin of at least 10-15 km/h in excess of the maximum speed with which you plan to ride; this will give an additional guarantee of safety in case of emergency situations. It is technically OK for most motorcycles to use tyres that are less fast than recommended, but in fact this should not be done. And the point is not only that the driver will have to limit the speed of movement — such tyres are generally less durable than high-speed ones and may not tolerate sharp accelerations well.
Design
The design of the tire depends on the arrangement of the cord threads - a special fiber that gives the rubber base additional strength and rigidity.
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Radial. In radial models, the cord fibers are located across the tire, parallel to its radius. Such tires are not as prone to heating up as diagonal tires, so they can easily provide a high speed rating (see below). At the same time, radial models are poorly adapted to high weight loads, and their profile is generally flatter and lowered. Therefore, a similar design is found mainly in high-speed tires for sports and road use (see “In the direction”), intended for sport bikes and other relatively light equipment. However, enduro class models can also use this option; but among cross-country ones it is practically not used.
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Diagonal. In bias-ply tires, the fibers are arranged in the form of a characteristic grid, intersecting each other at an angle of about 40–60°. Such tires heat up more when driving than radial tires, which is why they are poorly suited for high-speed driving. On the other hand, the bias-ply design makes it possible to create high-profile tires with a high load index that can withstand driving well on uneven roads. Therefore, this particular option is used in road tires designed for heavy equipment such as choppers and cruisers, as well as in cross-country models.
