Our motorbike tyre categories

A motorcycle's handling and performance are intimately linked to the quality and condition of the tyres with which it is fitted. Care must be taken in the choice of tyre to ride long distances with peace of mind and without risk. Take a look at our practical advice for choosing the right tyres for your motorcycle.

What are the different types of motorcycle tyres available?

There are 4 main families of motorcycles tyre:

• Road tyres;
• Sportbike tyres;
• Motorcycle track tyres;
• Motocross trail tyres;

The road tyre is the best known and most used model. This is the one fitted to the vast majority of new motorcycles. It offers a good return in terms of comfort and longevity. Whether you're driving in the city or on the motorway, this type of tyre will allow you to enjoy a smooth ride in all situations.

The sportbike tyre offers enhanced performance in terms of grip and handling. It is specially designed to satisfy the needs of speed enthusiasts and increase the pleasure of sports style riding. Its configuration aids rapid changed of direction. Its temperature rises very quickly.

The motorcycle track tyre (or slick tyre) is suitable for racing on the track. It offers excellent handling when cornering.

The motocross trail tyre offers optimised handling. Off-road enthusiasts will find it to their liking as it adapts easily to mixed terrain.

When should I change the tyres on my bike?

When they are aged or worn

A motorcycle tyre that has reached the legal wear limit of 1 mm must be replaced. This limit is indicated by the wear indicators located in the grooves of the tyre. When your rubber reaches the level of these wear indicators, the tyre is no longer performing properly and the tyre must be changed promptly.

Should I change both my tyres?

It all depends on their respective levels of wear. For example, if one of your tyres is completely worn out and the second is still in good condition, you may decide to replace only the deteriorated one for the time being to save some money. But there's also nothing to stop you from changing all your rubber to get a completely fresh start. This will allow you to have two tyres that will wear equally (or almost equally). If you decide to change only one of the tyres, it is advisable to keep the same profile between front and rear tyres.

If you have any doubts, don't hesitate to ask your mechanic for advice.

Criteria to be taken into account when choosing motorcycle tyres

Do you want to change the tyres of a motorcycle to gain performance or power? Here are some criteria you should consider.

Type of motorcycle

What type of motorcycle do you own? Is it a scooter, a tourer, a roadster, a sports bike or an enduro bike? This is very important to know, because each type of motorcycle has its own specific tyre type. For example, if you are riding an enduro motorcycle, you will need sturdy tyres with big lugs. On the other hand, if you have a scooter, you'll use small tyres with little tread.

The dimension

Before ordering tyres for a motorcycle, the first thing to do is to identify the size of your current tyres. To find the size, just look at the side of your tyres. You will find an inscription that reads something like: 120/70 R17. These characters represent respectively:

• The width of the tyre's contact surface with the road (in millimetres);
• The ratio of sidewall height to tread width;
• The tyre structure (radial);
• The diameter of the rim.

Once you know the dimensions of your originals, use them as a basis for choosing your new tyres.

You may decide to fit your motorcycle with wider wheels than the original ones. In this case, be sure to follow the official recommendations for changing the size of a motorcycle's tyres.

The season

It is recommended that you choose tyres that are suitable for the season in which you will be riding. Standard tyres are suitable for dry and moderately wet surfaces, they are very practical in summer. You don't have to worry if you go out mainly during this time of the year.

If you also take trips during periods of frost, you should think about getting winter tyres for your motorcycle. These wheels have specially designed rubber to resist low temperatures and prevent skidding. They can be identified by the 3PMSF marking visible on the side.

Load and speed indices

The load index of a motorcycle tyre is the maximum weight it can support. It is a numerical code (between 20 and 120) that is found on the sidewall of all tyres, right next to the dimensions. The speed rating refers to the maximum speed that a tyre can support. It is an alphabetical code between A1 and W.

It is forbidden to drive with wheels whose load and speed ratings are lower than those of the original tyres. The reverse is allowed.

The structure of the tyres (tubeless or tubetype)

Tyres that need an inner tube to function are called tubetype. Tubetype tyres are mainly used for cross-country as this reduces the risk of punctures. Tubeless models do not need an inner tube.

The brand

Brands such as Pirelli, Michelin, Dunlop, Bridgestone, Continental and Metzeler are among the best. They have received unanimous acclaim over the years for the quality and performance of their products. By choosing one of these manufacturers, you are sure to get tyres that incorporate the latest innovations in safety and handling.

There are also a multitude of other less well-known brands on the market that also offer very good quality motorcycle tyres. With the many customer reviews available on the internet it is very easy to judge the quality of a tyre.

Where can you buy motorcycle tyres?

To buy your tyres, you can go to a physical store or an online sales platform. The second option is by far the most advantageous. The Internet, and in particular GRIP500, offers a very rich and diversified range of motorcycle tyres at competitive prices. This gives you the opportunity to carefully study the characteristics of the products you are interested in and compare them in order to make the right choice. If you have any doubts, you can rely on the opinions of our customers to make the right decision.

Finally, we offer you a network of partner garages to help you with the fitting of your motorcycle tyres.

Running tyres in

Like all tyres, motorcycle tyres need a running-in period before they reach the performance expected from the rubber. In fact, a new motorcycle tyre will have less grip on the road for the first few kilometres, due in part to the thin layer of paraffin that may stick to the rubber when the tyre is made. Therefore, be sure to ride carefully and conservatively after any tyre change for a little while so have time to get used to the new tyre and avoid unpleasant surprises.

How should you maintain your motorcycle tyres?

Regardless of the quality of the tyres you choose and their price, they won't last long if you don’t look after them. To do this, it is important that you regularly check your tyre pressure with a gauge. If you don't have one, you can go to your garage to have the check done for you.

The general condition of the tyres on your motorcycle should also be inspected periodically. If you notice any deformation or signs of irregular wear, seek professional advice as soon as possible.

Be sure to consult the GRIP500 catalogue to fit your bike with high-performance tyres at prices that beat the competition.