Motorcycle Tyres: specifications, types

— 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 excellen...t 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.

- 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.

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).

The season (and, accordingly, the temperature regime) for which the tyre is designed.

"Seasonality" is primarily due to the fact that any composition used in the construction of motorcycle tyres has a certain temperature range in which it shows optimal performance. If the temperature is too low, the rubber will remain hard and will not provide the desired degree of grip, and if it is too high, it will soften, impair stability and be subject to increased wear. In addition, winter and al...l-season models often have specific design features that ensure efficient operation in difficult conditions — special-shaped grooves for effective moisture removal, massive protrusions for “biting” into the snow, etc. Therefore, it is highly undesirable to deviate from seasonal recommendations.

At the same time, it is worth noting that motorcycles themselves as a mode of transport are designed mainly for use in the warm season — by the word "season" most owners of motorcycles mean the period from approximately mid-spring to mid-autumn. Therefore, the vast majority of motorcycle tyres are summer tyres, all-season models are very rare, and winter tyres are even rarer, mainly among cross -country rubber (see above).

Nominal tire profile width in inches. This designation is quite widely used in motorcycle tires along with millimeters (see the corresponding paragraph). However, the meaning of such designations differs: the actual width is indicated in millimeters, and inches essentially indicate a kind of general tire size. One inch standard size often includes several width options in millimeters, and this width depends on the height of the profile. You can determine the exact dimensions of inch tires using...special tables.

As for the width in general, this is one of the parameters that determines compatibility with a specific rim (another parameter is the mounting size, see above for details). The main criterion for choosing a tire width is the manufacturer's recommendations for a given motorcycle model. It is highly undesirable to deviate from these recommendations: although some types of motorcycles (for example, road) allow a deviation in width of +/- 10 mm on the rear wheel, such a wheel will still function in a mode different from the standard one. On the front wheel, no deviations are allowed at all.

Today, the market offers mainly tires in the following widths in inches: 2", 2.25", 2.5", 2.75", 3", 3.25", 3.5", 4", 5.

Nominal tyre width (section width) in millimetres. This is one of the notation options; in addition to it, there may also be a designation in inches, for more details, see "Width" above.

Width — whether in millimetres or inches — is one of the parameters that determine compatibility with a particular rim (the other parameter is the fit diameter, see above about it). The main criterion for choosing a tyre in width is the manufacturer's recommendations for a given motorcycle model. I...t is highly undesirable to deviate from these recommendations: although some types of motorcycles (for example, road bikes) allow a width deviation of +/— 10 mm on the rear wheel, such a wheel will still function in a mode that differs from the standard one. On the front wheel, no deviations are allowed at all.

Tyre profile height. This parameter is specified as a percentage of the profile width (see above).

The higher the profile, the better the motorcycle can carry heavy weight and increased loads when driving on rough roads and the lower its stability at high speeds. Therefore, for high-speed driving on high-quality flat tracks, hard-surface motorcycle tracks, etc. use ultra-low-profile rubber, with a profile height of up to 60%. For most east european roads, given their overall quality,...rather low-profile tyres are recommended — 60 — 80%. And tyres with a profile height of more than 80% should be chosen when the key points are not speed, but cross-country ability and resistance to stress.

Now on the market there are tyres with the following profile height: 40%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 100%.