Now the clocks have turned back, autumn has truly come into its own with darker nights, darker mornings, shorter days and weather that changes its mind every couple of hours, not to mention every day! However, this is no reason to reduce your riding time: all we need is the right equipment, good bike preparation and suitable tires!
In this blog, we’ll look at the 5 best winter motorcycle tires and give you the information you need to make the best choice and give you confidence on the road.
Winter is coming
As we enter winter, we automatically think about preparing for leaky/frozen pipes, drafty windows and doors, and perhaps this year, a Covid vaccine along with a flu shot – but as bikers, instead of just focusing on bike maintenance and cleaning, we need to think about our tires too!
During the winter months we sometimes get a few dry sunny days, but as we all know these are few and far between and that means if we want to ride all year round then we need to make sure we have good all round tires on our bikes! When the temperature drops and it starts to rain, our sticky summer tires just won’t cut it. Generally, the stickier the tire, the longer it will take to warm up to the desired temperature, and the more difficult it will be to maintain the tire’s temperature and gain any traction.
If we drive all year round or want a stress-free commute without looking like Bambi on ice, then it’s important to choose tires that perform well in the wet, warm up quickly and give us good feel and reliable handling. . Any modern high-quality sports touring tire will withstand such a load! A sport touring tire must provide the driver with good grip and handling, perform well in the cold and across a wide range of temperatures, and provide good mileage to ensure its longevity!
Sport touring tires are an increasingly popular option among many riders – the modern wonder of the motorcycle tire world! Most modern motorcycles can easily handle a European adventure, a trip to the local bike meet, or a commute to work, and we need a tire that can handle it all!
Below is the best collection of affordable tires to keep you going in the fall/winter and spring…
Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE
The Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE is an evolution of the multi-award winning Roadtec 01, which has been at the forefront of the sports touring tire category for some time… The Roadtec 01 SE showcases the sporty side of touring – improving handling and grip no matter what you’re doing. a sports tourer, a naked bike or even a sports bike. The tread pattern is instantly recognizable from the Roadtec 01, but new compounds and an increased land/sea ratio mean slipperier rubber at the edges, resulting in better cornering and a sportier feel on dry roads.
Like its predecessor, the Roadtec 01 SE’s tread pattern provides superior mechanical grip, water shedding, improved traction on wet roads and low-friction surfaces, instilling confidence when accelerating, braking and cornering. Its shorter but larger contact patch reduces tire wear, and its dual-compound design is precisely tuned structurally to provide stability, precision and predictability – ideal characteristics for a loaded sport touring motorcycle! Available individually or as a set with tires.
Michelin Road 6
Michelin Road 6 is a revolutionary advancement in tire technology, designed to excel in wet and cold weather conditions. With 15% more wet grip than its predecessor, the Road 5, thanks to advanced silica gel technology and a redesigned tread design, this tire provides superior stability and handling in challenging weather conditions.
Dunlop Roadsmart IV
In addition, the tire’s new sidewall design improves handling on wet and dry roads, contributing to overall improved comfort. Enjoy the road like never before with the Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart IV motorcycle tire. Click now to improve your riding performance with the perfect combination of durability, grip and comfort. Cover the miles with confidence on tires that deliver class-leading handling and mileage. Accessible individually or how tire package.
Pirelli Angel GT II
Pirelli sports touring tires have earned a reputation as some of the best in the world, and Pirelli is known as one of the world’s leaders in the design and development of motorcycle tires. Angel GT II is an extensive development of the incredibly successful Angel GT. Building on the strengths of the original Angel GT, the Angel GT II offers: fantastic handling (in keeping with the Pirelli DNA used throughout the range), exceptional wear characteristics, durability and superior wet grip thanks to its racing tread pattern. . It is also designed to work in conjunction with modern electronic controls on new motorcycles to provide optimal performance and response. No matter what or where you ride, the Angel GT II is guaranteed to keep you rubber-side down and put a smile on your face! Available individually or as a set with tires.
Bridgestone T32
The Bridgestone T32 is Bridgestone’s newest flagship sport-touring tire that embodies everything the category strives for. It delivers exceptional handling, great mileage and impeccable performance in both wet and dry conditions – what more could you ask for in a sport touring tyre?
Bridgestone says the T32 motorcycle tire is one of its most advanced motorcycle tires available today and sets a new standard in the sport-touring tire category. It uses the latest materials and compounds and combines them with advanced carcass and construction technologies to create a sport touring tire that performs like a sport tire – without sacrificing braking or handling, but still delivers the mileage and comfort you’d expect, and also excellent water drainage thanks to the new Pulse Groove tread technology. Available as a tire set here or purchased individually here.
These are the best winter tires, but there are also great all-season tires so you can prepare your bike for the sun.
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