CBR600RR, ZX6R, R6, GSXR600, 675 Daytona, 675 Street Triple, and other 600-class bikes– The 600 class of bikes are the most prevalent bikes at a track day. They offer a good balance of power with very good suspension and brakes out of the box. These bikes aren’t the cheapest thing to run. They can eat up tires and crashing them can get expensive. Older CBRs, R6s, GSXRs and ZX6s can be had cheaply. Note, that if you want a track-only bike with race bodywork, premium suspension and bike protection, it’s often cheaper to find a bike that is already prepared and outfitted for track use than to take a street bike and converting it to a track-only machine. Just be aware of their condition.
Whatever is most important to you in a set of tires, trust that we’ve ridden and reviewed the best to report back to you in our 2019 Motorcycle Tires Gear Guide! Find our top selections in every category, and then keep those insights in mind as you Shop All Motorcycle Tires on RevZilla.com. And if you need a refresher on the difference between bias ply & radial or metric sizing vs. alpha sizing, click on over to Common Tread’s Motorcycle Tires 101.
Sporting tires, on the other hand, provide the best grip and are great for high speeds and have an impressive durability. They’re the most versatile as they’re made from softer rubber, with lesser treads. For a racing/track tire, they’re almost similar, but the latter provides better grip. This makes them good for rugged terrains and when taking corners.
The Roadtec 01 is what Metzeler describe as their Sports Touring Tyre and we wouldn’t disagree. The name of the game here is fast and dependable performance. A Ducati Multistrada 1200 has 160 bhp on tap and we know how they’re ridden – their owners want a tire that can keep up when the throttle is pulled back and maximum power is applied as well as when the rain comes. This tyre excels at both.
Dunlop’s Elite 3 has improved wear resistance, assuring increased mileage coupled with impressive traction. With this tire, you can hit up to 15,000 miles, regardless of whether you are an aggressive accelerator or not. This tire has an impressive tread pattern, which delivers reliable traction even in standing water puddles. For a confident and solid feel when cornering, this tire comes with an in sport-derived profile, so you'll enjoy each mile of your riding. If you’re looking for the best combination of stability, cornering, dry traction, wet traction and tread life, Elite 3 rear tire is a great deal.
But, these bikes can also be a hindrance to stress free learning. Many new track day riders are better off with a simple, low powered machine that keeps them running a bit slower until they can get a handle on racetrack riding. One reason my friend Josh was having trouble at his first several track days is because he was driven to ride his GSXR1000 faster than he should have. Read about Josh’s mishap.
You can never be totally confident that your motorcycle tires will last long enough unless you go for a brand that is synonymous with quality. One such tire brand is Michelin, which has been on the market for over 120 years. Today, Michelin is among the three leading manufacturers and marketers of tires globally. This is no small feat, considering that the company has stood the tests of time, technological improvements, and vigorous competition for all those years. Research shows that annually, this French company releases over 184 million tires.
Shinko 244 Series tires also stand out for how easy they’re to mount. So, even if you're doing it for the first time, you can easily do it on your own. From other users’ experiences, you can easily tell that the tire’s performance can match or even outperform some other highly priced tires. Some users indicate that the tire can hit up to 8,000 miles.
Despite all the differences, the average price of a motorcycle tire is between $100 and $300. While there are some cheap motorcycle tires that can cost as low as $25, they’re not the best. In this review, we didn’t include them. Instead, we picked models that we believe are built to last and ones that won’t compromise your safety. On the upper end, there are tires costing up to $1500 that you can check out if you’re really serious about your ride!
These tires are a downright steal. If you race competitively we would suggest you purchase a few and keep them on hand for when you need a spare set. If you are a competitive racer than we also suggest that you look into the other models in the Bridgestone range to see whether there is a tire that may be a little more specifically tuned to your needs.
The Roadtec 01 is what Metzeler describe as their Sports Touring Tyre and we wouldn’t disagree. The name of the game here is fast and dependable performance. A Ducati Multistrada 1200 has 160 bhp on tap and we know how they’re ridden – their owners want a tire that can keep up when the throttle is pulled back and maximum power is applied as well as when the rain comes. This tyre excels at both.
To mark the beginning of a new riding experience, it’s also the best time to invest in other riding gears to enhance your safety. A motorcycle helmet, for instance, is not only essential for your safety while riding, wearing one is also required by law when you’re on your bike. A riding jacket is likewise a key element in your style as well as your safety, as it can help reduce the effects of falling off your bike, especially if you find yourself sliding on the pavement.
Sporting tires, on the other hand, provide the best grip and are great for high speeds and have an impressive durability. They’re the most versatile as they’re made from softer rubber, with lesser treads. For a racing/track tire, they’re almost similar, but the latter provides better grip. This makes them good for rugged terrains and when taking corners.
Take it from the experts, who’ve had the chance to try out all the latest rubber on a variety of bikes—there is no single best set of tires for any one motorcycle, only the best riding tires for YOUR motorcycle and how YOU use it. Have a sportbike that you use more for sport touring rather than the track? You’re going to want to look into the top-rated dual compound tires for the longest lasting reliability and best cornering performance. Ride a cruiser you use for commuting AND for long trips? You’ll need an all weather tire that performs in any conditions, and touts high mileage durability for consistent handling, mile after mile.
