Best Motorcycle Tires
“Keep the rubber side down” is motorcycle speak for either see you later or good luck. Motorcycle tires and two impossibly small rubber contact patches are the only thing between the rider and the road or craggly desert ground. Finding yourself rubber side up is exponentially worse on a motorcycle than in the comparative safety of a four-wheel automobile with its protective cage and airbags, so choosing the right tires is about as important a task as there is for a rider.
The best motorcycle tires, however, are the ones best suited to your bike and your riding style. Customs, choppers and air-cooled Volkswagen-powered trikes aside, the safest and most effective tires are the same type and size as the ones your bike rolled out of the factory with. Going with the exact same tires eliminates the guesswork. Replacements don’t have to be the same brand but they should match the manufacturer’s recommended size for peak performance.
We scoured our Amazon and Revzilla partners for a few picks within traditional motorcycle categories but all the manufacturers featured here offer tires for all types of riders. Unless you’re lucky, the tire sizes shown here won’t fit your wheels, so keep an eye on the size if you decide to order some up some new shoes. Read LessHide Summary
- Dunlop 400-Series : Best Cruiser Motorcycle Tire
- Michelin Power 5 : Best Sport Motorcycle Tire
- Metzeler Roadtec 01 : Best Touring Motorcycle Tire
- Bridgestone Battlax BT-4 : Best Vintage Motorcycle Tire
- Shinko 705 : Best Adventure Dual Sport Motorcycle Tire
