India has been loving motorcycles for generations. You can find motorcycles on almost all Indian roads, from busy metropolitan cities and suburbs to tiny villages and rugged hill stations. While commuter bikes commonly navigate through bustling streets as an essential mode of transport for millions, an increasing number of people are embracing high-performance superbikes. Regardless of the type of bike you have, it would demand a specific type of tyre. Today, the best online tire stores in India sell a wide variety of motorcycle tyres. Let’s learn more about the most popular ones: –
Types of Motorcycle Tyres
Tyres are a crucial link between the rider and the road. If your bike tyres are worn out or under-inflated, it would hamper your safety on the road. So, it should be your priority to buy the right pair of bike tyres, properly maintain and replace them timely. To buy the right tyres for your two-wheeler from a bike tyre store, you must have a good understanding of the popular bike tyre varieties available on the market.
Tread type is a popular denominator for categorising diverse types of motorcycle tyres. The tread pattern has a significant impact on its water evacuation capabilities, grip, and suitability for different surfaces. India has varied terrain, comprising rugged rural roads, swirling hill roads, and smooth highways. Therefore, you should select tyres with the right tread pattern to ensure the safety and performance of your bike on the road.
Street Tyres
Street tyres feature lightly grooved or smooth tread patterns that help maximise the contact patch with the road surface. The design of such tyres focuses on ensuring good grip on dry pavement and provides excellent stability and handling. Street tyres are commonly used for riding on well-maintained highways or commuting on urban roads. They offer good grip for everyday riding conditions. In addition to commuter bikes and standard motorcycles, street tyres can also be seen in certain sport-oriented motorcycle models.
Sports Tyres
Sports tyres have aggressive tread patterns with deeper grooves. These tyres have a higher land-to-sea ratio, which means that there is more rubber in contact with the road. The features of sports bike tyres help enhance cornering grip and facilitate more aggressive riding styles. They usually utilise softer rubber compounds to ensure maximum adhesion. Sports tyres are a good choice for riders who enjoy occasional track days or spirited riding on winding roads.
Touring Tyres
Touring tyres are perfect for all-weather performance and long-distance riding. They have deep and wide grooves that can channel water away efficiently. This ensures excellent grip even in wet conditions. The tread patterns of touring tyres are commonly optimised for comfort and stability, making them perfect for extended journeys. In fact, the rubber compounds used for these tyres are typically formulated for longevity.
Touring tyres are well-suited for long-distance touring. They are widely popular among riders who frequent diverse weather conditions. Moreover, touring tyres boast of providing a good balance of durability, wet-weather performance, and grip. They are ideal for varied climates and road conditions present in India. These tyres can deliver dependable performance both on highways and well-maintained rural roads.
Dual-Sports Tyres
Just like the name suggests, dual sports tyres are perfect for on and off-road use. These tyres come with knobby or semi-knobby tread patterns that provide traction on loose surfaces like mud, dirt, and gravel. While providing adequate traction on loose surfaces, dual sport tyres can also deliver reasonable performance on pavement. The tread blocks are spaced wider in comparison to touring or street tyres and allow for improved grip on uneven terrain. Many large adventure bikes come with dual sports tyres today. The popularity of these tyres in India is growing steadily with the rise of adventure motorcycling. Dual-sport tyres provide the versatility needed to tackle varied terrains present across India, including paved roads, dirt trails, and rocky mountain passes.
The perfect tyres for your motorcycle would depend on its type, riding style, and the conditions you encounter while riding. Before visiting a bike tyre store, you need to carefully think about your riding style and the specific requirements of your bike to purchase the right product. The information about the right tyre size for your bike would ideally be found on the manual or even on a sticker located on the swingarm or chain guard. It is always better to stick to the manufacturer’s recommended tyre sizes.
Author Bio: This article has been written by a motorbike enthusiast and blogger. He posts articles on a variety of topics on his blog, including reviews of latest sportbikes and tips for navigating rugged trails on adventure motorcycles.
