Motorbike tyre features: characteristics that matter

Buying motorbike tyres can be confusing, especially if you're new to riding bikes. There's a lot to think about, here are some of the things you need to consider if you're changing your bike tyres

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Tyre recommendation

FRONT AND REAR BRAND
Using different brands of front and rear tyres simultaneously may cause problems. Regrettably, we cannot test PIRELLI tyres in combination with all our competitors‘ tyres, and therefore, we urge you - for safety reasons - to use PIRELLI tyres on both the front and rear.

LIQUID SEALANTS
We do not recommend the use of liquid sealants. Liquid sealants are a form of temporary repair which can adversely affect ply material and bide any secondary damage caused by the penetrating object.

NEW TYRES - NEW TUBES
PIRELLI tubes fit with PIRELLI tyres. Tubes are a vital part of the tube-type wheel assembly. They should be handled with care. A new tube should be fitted at the same time that a new tyre is fitted. An old stretched tube fitted into a new tyre, can cause it to crease and fail. Always make sure that your tyre size is printed on the tube, thereby ensuring that you have the correct tube size.

NEW TUBELESS TYRES - NEW VALVES AND VALVE STEMS
When fitting a new tubeless tyre onto the tubeless-type rim of your motorcycle you should always use a new valve. We highly recommend this because the body of valves used in tubeless rims are made out of a rubber material, which will harden and age with the time. The aging and hardening process is accelerated when the valve comes into contact with oil, ozone and other hostile elements.

When braking or accelerating, the valve is bent by dynamic forces. An old valve could brake under such forces and cause a sudden air loss. PIRELLI recommends the use of short valve stems. A high speeds the strong centrifugal forces work on the valve and the tension of the spring. The air pressure is not sufficient to keep the valve closed. Due to smaller mass of short valve stems (compared to long valve stems) the valve remains closed at high speeds.

REPLACING A WORN TYRE
Remember, precise matching of front and rear tyres is necessary to obtain optimum performance and handling. When fitting a new front tyre, check the wear on the rear tyre. A new front tyre combined with worn rear tyre may cause instability. Please bear in mind that many other factors can affect the handling of a motorcycle, including the weight and height of the rider, and the addition of luggage of fairings. Please consult the motor-cycle manufacturer before making non standard modifications.

RUN-IN
In order for your new tyres to provide optimum performance, all new tyres should be ridden very cautiously for the first 100-200 kms. Immediately after new tyres are mounted, sudden acceleration, heavy braking, and hard cornering must be avoided until the 100-200 Kms run-in period is completed.

TREAD DEPTH
Legally the tyre has to be changed accordingly to the national law. PIRELLI recommends changing tyres when the remaining tread depth is below 2 mm.

TYRE REPAIR
Tubeless tyres: due to the specific regulations of different national governments, we can not give a general recommendation regarding tyre repair. Please refer to your distributor for information on your country‘s regulations. in case you are allowed to repair a tyre, we recommend that you repair only small punctures which are restricted to the tread area, by using a mushroom head type plug. The repairer is solely responsible for the repair and any instructions given to the user concerning the repaired tyre. Repaired tubeless tyres should never be used with a tube.

Tubetype tyres: tube repair is not permitted. Punctured tubetype tyres must have a new tube fitted. if punctured, in addition to having the replaced, the tyre and the rim have to be inspected by an expert. The puncture in the tyre should be repaired by a local vulcanisation, executed by a tyre repairer, so as to prevent moisture from attacking the tyre casing. The repairer is solely responsible to the user for the repair and any inspection of the repaired tyre.

SPEED RATINGS
The speed index (SI) indicates the maximum speed the tyre is homologated for. Even if PIRELLI tyres allow high speed performance ability, we do not recommend the use of any of our products in excess of legal speed limits. Tyres can have the same pattern and size, but a different speed rating, this is due to the tyre construction and therefore they will perform differently. When selecting your new PIRELLI motorcycle tyres, be sure to choose the right speed rating. Before buying, consult the fitment chart and the technical data in your PIRELLI manual or call us directly. Maximum speed capability varies from size to size, but is always equal to or greater than that of the original equipment tyres when fitted in accordance with PIRELLI recommendations. The use of a tyre with a higher speed rating (e.g. “H” instead et “S”) is allowed only if it listed in the fitment chart. Especially in cases where the speed rating exceed 210 km/h, the PIRELLI recommendations must be respected.

LOAD CAPACITY
Tyres are offered in different load carrying capacities. It is extremely important not to exceed the max. load rating. You must take the weight of the motorcycle, the weight of any optional equipment, as well as the weight of a passenger and the total has not to be higher than the approved tyres load capacity indicated by the motorcycle manufacturers. A tyre‘s load carrying ability can be reduced by underinflation.