Tyres for motorcycles and scooters

On two wheels, tyres are your only link to the road: two contact patches the size of postcards. Here is what differs from car tyres, and how to choose well.

A motorcycle tyre is not a car tyre

Its profile is rounded to allow lean: the bike rides on the centre in a straight line and on the shoulders in corners. The marking reads like a car tyre (for example 180/55 ZR17), with one difference: front and rear have different sizes and patterns, and are not interchangeable.

The direction of rotation, shown by an arrow on the sidewall, must be respected when fitting. And depending on the rim, a motorcycle tyre runs with a tube or tubeless: mixing the two is a classic cause of slow punctures.

Choosing for the way you ride

Sport / road: soft compound, quick warm-up, shorter life. For frequent riders and mountain pass roads.
Sport-touring: the most common choice, a good balance of grip, wet behaviour and mileage.
Trail / dual sport: forgiving profile, reinforced carcass, usable on tracks. Available from 90/10 to 50/50 road-offroad versions.
Scooter: small sizes but real demands, especially in town where painted lines and tram rails turn treacherous in the wet.

Running-in and pressure: the two vital points

A new tyre is coated with a slippery mould-release agent. Allow 100 to 200 km of progressive riding, increasing the lean angle little by little, before using the full grip, especially in the rain.

Check pressure cold every two weeks: a motorcycle gives no warning, it lets go. The manufacturer's values are on the swingarm or in the manual. Underinflated, the tyre overheats, wears fast and makes the bike vague in corners.

What Swiss law says

Legal minimum tread depth: 1.6 mm for motorcycles too.
Prescribed load and speed ratings must be respected, as on cars.
Mixing brands or profiles between front and rear is legal but unwise: manufacturers develop front and rear as a matched pair.

At the workshop

Fitting on a removed wheel or the complete bike, balancing included. Call +41 21 616 35 31 to check availability for your size: motorcycle tyres are often ordered for next-day delivery.

Punctured? A motorcycle tyre can sometimes be repaired, under strict conditions: a hole in the tread and a speed limit afterwards set by the manufacturer. Bring in the wheel and you will get a straight answer.