The sidewall of the tyre fitted to your motorbike features several indications: we'll look at which ones are most important to us, how to make sure that a type-approved model is correctly fitted and also give you some advice on choosing and caring for your tyres, for both driving satisfaction and safety.
Let's start with a tyre's “master data”: the first piece of information we see is the brand and name of the product, for example Pirelli DIABLO SUPERCORSA SP V4.
The most important information, which defines whether the tyre is suitable for your bike, is its technical characteristics: its size and the stresses it can withstand, in terms of load and speed. In order to be compliant, all this information printed on the sidewall of the tyre must be exactly the same as on the registration document.
How do you check tyre data?
Let's see what you need to check, by taking this example, which is a rear tyre on a sports bike: 190/55 ZR 17 M/C (75W). 190 expresses the width of the tyre from side to side in millimetres; 55 is the height of the side expressed as a percentage of the width (55 per cent of 190 mm, approximately 105 mm); ZR is the construction type, construction code R means this tyre is radial. 17 is the diameter of the rim, expressed in inches; (75W) contains three pieces of information: the load index, 75, the speed index, and this combination in brackets. Each of these codes has a corresponding value: the first in kg (in this case code 75 corresponds to 387 kg); the second in km/h (code W corresponds to 270 km/h) and the third (in brackets) indicates that the tyre is type-approved for speeds above the corresponding speed index (i.e. above 270 km/h).
To comply with the highway code, this information must match the details on the registration document. Sometimes the registration document might specify two different sizes, in which case you can choose one or the other, depending on your personal preference.
Other information
There are other indications, but these don't raise any concerns. They are: the type approval number, which indicates that the tyre complies with ECE R 75, which is valid in the European Union; the abbreviation DOT (US and Canada Department of Transport) which specifies its suitability for road use also in the United States; the abbreviation M/C, which is an abbreviation for motorcycle. Last but not least, the word TUBELESS indicates that the tyre is suitable for tubeless use, if the motorbike allows it, and there is also an arrow indicating the direction of revolution, which is important for verifying correct fitting.
Is an “old” tyre safe?
The date of manufacture, expressed in 4 digits, is also shown on the sidewall of your tire, for example: 0320. The first two digits indicate the week; the second two the year of production , so in this case they mean the third week of 2020. One question you may ask is this: is a tyre from a few years ago still safe? Of course. First of all, tyres do not have an expiry date, and if they have been stored correctly, their characteristics remain valid. So if you go to a reputable tyre dealer you need not worry, and in any case, except in special cases, you will have a hard time finding tyres that are older than one or two years on the market today.
Which tyre should you choose for your bike?
Now you know how to choose your tyres to comply with the highway code and also to guarantee maximum safety, which has always been very important but is even more so today because motorbikes offer exceptional performance.
The next step is to choose the tyre that is right for you: are you sporty? Are you a tourer? Which product will suit your needs? Today, there is a wide range of products on offer, and finding your way around is no easy feat. So let's take an example and figure out how to move forward.
Go to the Pirelli website, type in the name of your bike and the system prompts several products that belong, for example, to these three families:
1) SUPERCORSA
2) DIABLO ROSSO
3) ANGEL
How do you choose? You need to know what your goal is, considering that there are two extremes, with tyre features that go in opposite directions: do you want maximum performance in a sports ride, even on the track? Or do you demand endurance because you need to go on a long journey and it will probably rain too?
Considering the three product families mentioned here, the website provides clear guidance: a SUPERCORSA tyre is suitable for maximum performance on the road and is also suitable for use on the track; a DIABLO ROSSO is dedicated to sports driving on the road; an ANGEL is instead devised for those who travel long-distance, covering plenty of kilometres at a time. So the tyres on offer range from maximum sportiness to touring, but always with that touch of drive that distinguishes Pirelli products. To find out more, the “Tyre Details” section of the website provides all the information you'll need to make the choice that best meets your expectations.
The last few recommendations for safe travels
The quality of a tyre is crucial not only for your driving satisfaction (which is what anyone looks for in a motorcycle), but especially for safety: so please turn to well-known brands. There are also some simple precautions to be taken when using your motorcycle. It is essential to check that the inflation pressure is as indicated in the owner's manual, both for a quality ride and to avoid uneven tyre tread wear.
One last tip: don't try to postpone changing your tyres and wait until the last minute. The law imposes a minimum tread groove height, but if you are preparing for a particular trip, it is a good idea to set off with a tyre that provides an ample margin: if the grooves are shallow, the quality of the blend does not change, so the grip does not decrease, but the effectiveness of the water evacuation decreases, with the risk not only of aquaplaning but also of less grip when cornering. So listen up: don't scrimp on tyres.
