Motorcycle tyres

Tyres are fitted to the wheel rims and provide every bit of grip for accelerating, braking and cornering. Motorcycle tyres have a rounded profile so the bike can lean, and the contact patch is roughly the size of a credit card at each end.

Main types include sport, sport-touring, touring, adventure (road-biased or 50/50), enduro and motocross knobbies, scooter tyres and ATV tyres. Size markings such as 120/70 ZR17 give width in mm, sidewall height as a percentage, construction and rim diameter in inches, followed by load and speed indexes.

Check pressures cold at least every couple of weeks, watch the tread depth and wear indicators, and look at the DOT date code: old, hardened rubber grips poorly even with plenty of tread.