#MotorcycleTires

Tires, oftentimes, are the unsung heroes of the motorcycling world. We use ’em – sometimes abuse ’em – and then toss ’em in the gutter and go buy another. When you consider the demanding burden that these black hoops are expected to manage, and now, more than ever, multitask, it’s an arduous assignment that rarely gets its due. It’s easy to forget the amount of time and money dumped into R&D to make tires what they are today.

Metzeler North America is pleased to announce that the spring moto rebate program has been extended for residents of the United States and expanded to include residents of Canada. This program allows motorcycle enthusiasts who purchase Metzeler tires through their local participating dealership and select online retailers to receive as much as $25 USD / $40 CAD rebate per tire or $60 USD / $100 CAD rebate per tire set on eligible street and off-road tires through July 31, 2023.

Claiming the mantle of the world’s largest tire and rubber company, Bridgestone Corporation is a well-known brand among motorcyclist and is placed among the premium tires offered for a wide variety of riding. So, we are happy to announce that for January 2023 Bridgestone has offered two lucky winners a choice of one set (one front and one rear) of Bridgestone motorcycle DOT street or off-road tires. Please note that this giveaway excludes road race tires. So, if you’ve got a street or dirt bike of any shape or form, you have a chance in this giveaway. All you have to do is enter via the link below.

As motorcyclists, we are well aware of how important tires are. Our ride – even our survival – depends on just a few square inches of rubber. So, why is it that rarely does a week go by in which we don’t see a motorcycle out on the road with visibly under-inflated tires? These are tires that are way past the point of affecting handling and into the zone of being dangerous. Perhaps it’s because tire technology has advanced so much in recent decades that we take them for granted. It used to be that one of the easiest upgrades you could make to your bike – particularly for sport-focused riders – was getting rid of the OEM tires and spooning on some aftermarket rubber. Now, street tires can offer grip that would surprise racers from a decade ago while still delivering reasonable mileage. Additionally, less performance-oriented tires are now capable of considerably more wet-weather grip and durability, a real boon to commuters and touring riders.

In addition to being the largest tire manufacturer in the world, Michelin is also one of, if not the oldest tire maker, with a brand that’s known worldwide for much more than tires, and a mascot, Bib, who’s also instantly recognizable (even though he quit smoking cigars some years ago). Michelin’s road maps, travel itineraries, and hotel and restaurant guides have told people where to go ever since the miracle of internal combustion made it possible for them to go there. The fine dining industry lives and dies by the Michelin stars its Red Guide awards to restaurants for their haute cuisine. In fact it may have been Michelin that coined the phrase so many motorcycle riders have taken to heart: “Eat to ride, ride to eat.”

Once upon a time, many generations ago, motorcycle tires were in limited supply. You wanted them black, round, and capable of holding air. Well, the technology has changed to the point that there is no universal best motorcycle tire. Rather, the motorcycle tire industry developed the capability to create carcasses and tread compounds to handle very specific conditions. Hence, we have the fragmentation of the motorcycle tire market. Let’s take a look at the differing categories, but if you want to jump straight ahead to your type of motorcycle, click on the link at the top of each section.

Have a father? Plan on celebrating Father’s Day? Well, it’s time to get to gift giving. You’ve been searching for that perfect gift for the guy who’s spent your entire life being your dad, but you can’t decide what to get. Is your dad a motorcyclist? If so, things just got easier. Not only because buying any biker motorcycle-related stuff will be an instant win, but also because MO put together a super rad Father’s Day Buyer’s Guide with gifts guaranteed to win you the coveted favorite child award. Rest assured, when your pops tears the wrapping off of one of these bad boys, he’ll forget all about that other child and his lame robin’s egg blue tie.

With the introduction of its all-new Geomax MX32 and MX52 motocross/off-road tires, Dunlop appears to be hell-bent as ever to be the best in the aftermarket off-road tire segment as well as the top OE tire supplier.

Carbon Fiber Technology, or CFT, is the catchy buzzword Dunlop is using to advertise its latest street/trackday tire, the Q3 reviewed here. The successor to the popular Q2, we were initially suspicious whether Dunlop would be able to better the appealing Q2, but it did. And in impressive style. CFT refers to carbon fiber filaments reinforcing the sidewall of the tire. This in turn provides enhanced stability under braking and at maximum lean angles.

There was a time when being a motorcyclist also meant being a mechanic – or at least being mechanically inclined.

If you are fortunate enough to live in an area where well-stocked motorcycle shops abound, it’s likely possible to get same-day service on tire mounting and balancing. For the rest of us, purchasing new tires often requires leaving a bike at a shop for a few days. As often as I go through tires, this involves considerable down time. Since I can change a set of tires in about 90 minutes, and save money in the process, it makes sense for me to do it myself. It might make sense for you as well.