Whether it's from the desire to modify your motorcycle, after an accident, or simply due to natural wear and tear without any major reason, your motorcycle tires eventually need to be replaced. As the use of
motorcycles in the domestic market increases, so do the options for bike tires, with various designs and lifespans based on their use and construction. But do we know of any other types of motorcycle tires besides tube and tubeless tires? Have we ever tried to understand the small and large codes written on bike tires? Today's report is prepared covering all aspects related to motorcycle tires. We hope it will be of some help to you.
Types and Classifications of Motorcycle Tires
There are various types of motorcycle tires. Currently, the most discussed features of bike tires in Bangladesh are whether they are with tubes or tubeless. Any type of motorcycle tire can be categorized into these two classes. We will learn about the differences between these two classes of tires, as well as various other types of motorcycle tires.
Tube vs. Tubeless Tires
| Comparison Aspect |
Tube Tire |
Tubeless Tire |
| Popularity & Prevalence |
More common but less popular |
More popular but less common |
| Weight |
Heavier |
Lighter |
| Mileage Efficiency |
Lower mileage due to heavier weight |
Higher mileage due to lighter weight |
| Control Advantage |
May lose control if air pressure drops. |
Air pressure does not fluctuate suddenly. Thus, there is no fear of losing control. |
| Puncture Repair |
Repairing a tube tire puncture is quite time-consuming, as the entire tire needs to be removed. However, mechanics in our country have more experience and availability for this. |
Repairing a tubeless tire is a quick process; the tire does not need to be removed. For small punctures, it can be fixed with a puncture kit. There are fewer experienced mechanics for this in the country. |
| Riding After a Puncture |
If a tube tire punctures, the bike cannot be ridden; it must be pushed or transported by vehicle. |
Even if a tubeless tire punctures, you can ride it for a while to a safe place or a mechanic's garage. |
| Maintenance Cost & Price |
Repairing or replacing tube tires is quite affordable. The price is also not very high. |
Repairing or maintaining tubeless tires is more expensive. Moreover, the price is higher, so replacement costs are also higher. |
| Safety |
Less safe in case of a puncture. If it punctures suddenly, a lot of air escapes, and control is lost. The probability of a bike accident is higher. |
Even if a tubeless tire punctures, air escapes slowly. Therefore, there is no risk of suddenly losing bike control or having an accident. |
Next, we will look at the classifications of motorcycle tires according to their type. From a usage and structural perspective, motorcycle tires can be divided into several categories. Below, we will try to give some idea about them:
Sport/Racing Motorcycle Tires
Sport or racing tires are generally lightweight and wide. Their relatively rounded and wide shape makes high-speed cornering easier. These tires have very few treads or grooves, which generates more friction and provides good grip. To withstand high temperatures and expand, the sidewalls of these bike tires are made from more flexible material than other motorcycle tires. However, due to these characteristics, these tires wear out very quickly and need frequent replacement. For obvious reasons, the use of such tires on roads in our country has been prohibited. Also, these tires are not suitable for Bangladeshi roads. Therefore, if you ever try to use these tires, even out of hobby, you will have to pay a fine for your motorcycle.
Road/Touring Motorcycle Tires
Touring tires offer good friction response like sport tires, but their durability is much higher compared to sport bike tires. These motorcycle tires are somewhat straight in shape to provide good performance on straight roads. Due to some limitations in temperature tolerance, these tires have a speed limit. Generally, touring bike tires are made from somewhat robust and hard materials. As a result, although their grip is slightly less than sport tires, touring motorcycle tires have a very good lifespan and range. These tires perform well on wet roads and while riding in the rain. In most cases, these tires are at the top of everyone's preference list for long motorcycle tours.
Sport Touring Motorcycle Tires
These bike tires are intermediate in quality between sport tires and touring tires. Made with medium-flex rubber, you can use these tires on sport bikes as well as touring bikes.
Cruiser Motorcycle Tires
The major difference between cruiser and touring bike tires is that touring motorcycles can corner much better than cruisers. These tires are made of hard materials, allowing them to carry heavy loads while also providing good mileage. A big reason for better mileage is the excellent combination of tread thickness and hard material. For the same reason, these tires take longer to wear out and are slightly heavier.
Off-Road Motorcycle Tires
Off-road bike tires work very well for soft soil and rocky roads in areas of Bangladesh where there are no smooth, paved roads. Among all types of motorcycle tires, the sale of these tires is the lowest in our country. This is because our country's roads are not consistently uniform in any area. Moreover, not all riders have the experience and means to keep and change multiple types of tires.
Mixed Trail Motorcycle Tires
These types of tires are equally effective on both paved roads and uneven dirt roads. The main characteristic of this type of motorcycle tire is its widely spaced grooves. Being somewhat block-shaped, they provide good grip on soft ground. Made from hard rubber-like material, these tires have slightly less temperature tolerance but much higher durability. Due to the large grip, the contact surface of these motorcycle tires is reduced, resulting in slightly less grip on paved or flat roads. These tires are particularly useful for bikers in rural or suburban areas who have to ride on both unpaved and paved roads.
Motorcycle Tire Codes
Various small and large codes and instructions are provided on bike tires, which you can use to understand a lot about the tire yourself. Taking the codes on my tire as an example, I am listing the motorcycle tire codes and their meanings below:
First, a code like 110/80-17 can be seen on the side of a bike tire. This code indicates the size of the motorcycle tire. Here, the first number means the tire's width is 110 millimeters. The part after the slash (/) is the tire's height, which in my bike's case, is 80% of 110 millimeters. The number after the dash (-) indicates the rim diameter; my tire rim diameter is 17 inches.
Next to it is 57P. P stands for Pascal, which is a unit of pressure. On some bikes, the bike tire pressure is indicated in KP, i.e., kilopascal units.
The TWI↑ mark is given along the tire's height border. This mark helps you understand how much your tire has worn down. If the '↑' mark aligns with the tire's border, it means it's time to change your tire.
After that, in slightly smaller letters, MAX SPEED and MAX LOAD are written on the bike. My bike tire's maximum speed capacity is 150 kilometers per hour, and the maximum load limit is 230 kg. Exceeding these limits can cause tire problems and increase the likelihood of bursting or puncturing.
Furthermore, a 10-digit number is highlighted on my motorcycle tire. The last four digits of this number, 3220, indicate the tire's manufacturing time. The last two digits represent the year of manufacture, i.e., 2020, and the previous two digits represent the week, meaning it was manufactured in the 32nd week of 2020. By looking at this 10-digit number, you can get an idea of how much lifespan your bike tire has left and avoid buying expired tires.
