Tires
About Tires
A motorcycle tire is the only part of the bike that touches the road, so its condition decides grip, braking and how the bike feels in a corner. Riders shop here when the tread is worn, the sidewall has cracked with age, a puncture cannot be repaired safely, or they want a different tire for a different kind of riding.
Start with the size molded into the sidewall, for example 130/70-18 63H. The first number is the width in millimeters, the second is the height as a percentage of the width, and the number after the dash or the R is the rim diameter in inches. The last two characters are the load index and the speed rating. Front and rear tires are different and are listed separately. An R means radial construction, while a dash or a B points to bias-ply or bias-belted. Stay with the sizes and construction your owner's manual lists, and check whether your wheels are tubeless or take a tube.
Tread pattern and construction follow how you ride. Street sport, touring and cruiser tires are built for pavement, while adventure and dual-sport patterns add tread blocks for dirt. Tires also age: the four-digit date code on the sidewall gives the week and year of manufacture. A few listings are for other machines, such as ATV sizes, so read the full title.
Brands here include AMS, Bridgestone, Pirelli, Dunlop, Continental and Moose Offroad. Pick your bike in the Ride Finder at the top of the page to see sizes made for it. A tire change is also the usual time to renew the valve stem, so see Valve Stems & Caps, and look at Wheels & Rims and Wheel & Tire Packages if the wheel is changing too. The group is Wheels, Tires & Parts.
FAQs on motorcycle tires
How do I read the numbers on a motorcycle tire?
A code such as 180/55R17 73W reads as 180 mm wide, a height of 55 percent of the width, radial construction, a 17-inch rim, then load index 73 and speed rating W. Use the load and speed ratings your owner's manual calls for.
How can I find out how old a motorcycle tire is?
Look for the DOT code on the sidewall. The last four digits are the week and year it was made, so 2423 means week 24 of 2023. Rubber hardens with age even when the tire is not used, so follow the tire maker's guidance and check for cracks.
Can I fit a different size tire than the original?
Only within the sizes your bike and rim are rated for. Rim width limits the tire widths that seat correctly, and a different size can touch the swingarm, fender or chain, and change handling and speedometer reading. Check the owner's manual or the tire maker's fitment chart.
Do I need an inner tube with this tire?
That depends on the wheel as well as the tire. Tubeless-type wheels use tubeless tires without a tube, while most spoked wheels need a tube unless the rim is sealed. The sidewall marks tubeless or tube type, so check it and your wheel before buying.
Do new motorcycle tires need a break-in period?
Yes. New tires have a slick surface from the mold, so ride gently for the first stretch, avoid hard braking and big lean angles, and build up gradually. Set the pressure to your owner's manual, and follow any break-in advice from the tire maker.
