12-15-2021, 05:41 PM
Copied from advrider.
There Are No Terrible Motorcycle Tires
Tire Tech has come a long way
Those of us who have been riding for a long time remember the days when all motorcycle tires were very different, and choices were slim. It was radials and bias ply, or knobbies vs racing tires. I’m talking times when dual sport tires didn’t even exist. Dual compound what? Some tires were just trash from the moment we mounted them on the rims. It wasn’t unusual to find tires that had no (or worse, unpredictable) grip. Often, they were rotten in the rain, rotten in the cold, or weirdly sensitive to road surface.
Friends, tire technology has come a long, long way. It continues to scream along. In only the past decade, motorcycle tire manufacturers have made incredible improvements.
Current inflated prices and supply chain issues notwithstanding, we’re living in a golden age of tire tech. You can dial in the exact rubber your bike will love. Often those tires will be trustworthy until their end of life.
The old adage for tires used to be “cheap, sticky, long-lasting: pick two.” These days, though, major tire manufacturers are managing to create tires that are all three.
What Changed?
In the tire business, the “magic triangle” is abrasion resistance (long-lasting), rolling resistance (or lack thereof), and traction (especially wet traction) for acceleration, cornering and effective braking. Breakthroughs in tread compounds are where the magic is happening.
Inexpensive, sticky, and (relatively) long-lasting: we can finally have it all.
Tire ingredients comprise rubber (of course), and carbon black, an elastomer reinforcement, which decreases rolling resistance, increasing fuel efficiency. More recently, manufacturers have added silica compounds to the mix, which strengthen the compound further improving rolling resistance, while simultaneously increasing traction of the rubber on the road surface, especially in wet conditions.
Why Silica?
Silica-filled rubber includes silanes. These compounds chemically link the rubber to the silica, so that even in a high-impact or a very cold or wet environment, the silica-rubber compound won’t crack or chip. The tread remains pliable but strong. There’s also some science behind silica-filled rubber compounds and water penetration.
We Have More Choices Now
These features are all tunable depending on the needs of the vehicle. When it comes to motorcycles, grip is still king, so motorcycle tires are still biased (see what I did there?) toward traction. Manufacturers create different models of tires within a given style; for instance, anything labeled “GT” is for a heavier touring bike.
The proportion of rubber to carbon black to silica, as well as the construction of the tread itself (we’ve all seen dual-compound tires) are extremely closely-guarded industry secrets. But, truly, the days of super crappy tires are over. If you have long-held prejudices against a given tire manufacturer, it’s time to rethink.
You’re going to have a story about a bad tire; we all do. But was that tire manufactured in the last five years?
Surely, the “which tires should I mount on my bike for my next adventure” flame wars will never die. Try saying “oh, they’re all good these days!” It might not fix the problem but it will probably add to the excitement.
There Are No Terrible Motorcycle Tires
Tire Tech has come a long way
Those of us who have been riding for a long time remember the days when all motorcycle tires were very different, and choices were slim. It was radials and bias ply, or knobbies vs racing tires. I’m talking times when dual sport tires didn’t even exist. Dual compound what? Some tires were just trash from the moment we mounted them on the rims. It wasn’t unusual to find tires that had no (or worse, unpredictable) grip. Often, they were rotten in the rain, rotten in the cold, or weirdly sensitive to road surface.
Friends, tire technology has come a long, long way. It continues to scream along. In only the past decade, motorcycle tire manufacturers have made incredible improvements.
Current inflated prices and supply chain issues notwithstanding, we’re living in a golden age of tire tech. You can dial in the exact rubber your bike will love. Often those tires will be trustworthy until their end of life.
The old adage for tires used to be “cheap, sticky, long-lasting: pick two.” These days, though, major tire manufacturers are managing to create tires that are all three.
What Changed?
In the tire business, the “magic triangle” is abrasion resistance (long-lasting), rolling resistance (or lack thereof), and traction (especially wet traction) for acceleration, cornering and effective braking. Breakthroughs in tread compounds are where the magic is happening.
Inexpensive, sticky, and (relatively) long-lasting: we can finally have it all.
Tire ingredients comprise rubber (of course), and carbon black, an elastomer reinforcement, which decreases rolling resistance, increasing fuel efficiency. More recently, manufacturers have added silica compounds to the mix, which strengthen the compound further improving rolling resistance, while simultaneously increasing traction of the rubber on the road surface, especially in wet conditions.
Why Silica?
Silica-filled rubber includes silanes. These compounds chemically link the rubber to the silica, so that even in a high-impact or a very cold or wet environment, the silica-rubber compound won’t crack or chip. The tread remains pliable but strong. There’s also some science behind silica-filled rubber compounds and water penetration.
We Have More Choices Now
These features are all tunable depending on the needs of the vehicle. When it comes to motorcycles, grip is still king, so motorcycle tires are still biased (see what I did there?) toward traction. Manufacturers create different models of tires within a given style; for instance, anything labeled “GT” is for a heavier touring bike.
The proportion of rubber to carbon black to silica, as well as the construction of the tread itself (we’ve all seen dual-compound tires) are extremely closely-guarded industry secrets. But, truly, the days of super crappy tires are over. If you have long-held prejudices against a given tire manufacturer, it’s time to rethink.
You’re going to have a story about a bad tire; we all do. But was that tire manufactured in the last five years?
Surely, the “which tires should I mount on my bike for my next adventure” flame wars will never die. Try saying “oh, they’re all good these days!” It might not fix the problem but it will probably add to the excitement.
Darrell
2016 R1200RS
2022 R1250RT
2016 R1200RS
2022 R1250RT