Motorcycle tires come in many shapes, sizes and forms. Unlike other vehicle tires, motorcycle tires have circular cross sections to allow riders to lean on to the tires when taking corners with the bike. Just like the tires, the motorcycles themselves are of many forms.
Off road motorcycles or dirt bikes are a whole different type of bikes that are created to take on any rough terrain without much hassle. Therefore, the off road motorcycle tires also have to be of a certain quality to make sure that the bike does its job. Off road motorcycle tires are designed with mountainous terrains, rocks, mud and cracked ground in mind. In other words off road motorcycle tires are capable of taking on any unpaved rough terrain.
The idea of off road motorcycle tires is to allow a full range of motion even in the roughest most uneven of terrains. Therefore, off road motorcycle tires are much more knobby in comparison to regular motorcycle tires. However these off road motorcycle tires are also incredibly versatile. They will easily adapt to a paved surface as well as a steep mountainside.
Off road motorcycle tires are created with rubber knobs that will dig in to the uneven terrain with the combined weight of the bike and the rider. The idea is to maximize grip to keep the bike from tipping over at the slightest protrusion. The rubber knobs are paired with deep and wide grooves to provide maximum grip with the ground. The grooves and knobs will grip on to rock, soil, dirt and even mud to propel the bike forward without tipping it over.
As mentioned earlier off road motorcycle tires are highly versatile. Just because they are created with dirt, mud and rough terrain in mind that does not mean that they will keep over at the first transition in to an asphalt road. Instead, the grips and grooves of the off road motorcycle tires will work just as effectively on even ground as the roughest rocky mountain slope.
However, there is one specialty with off road motorcycle tires that will make them a bit difficult to handle on even ground. The tires are kept at a low pressure in comparison to regular tires to make the gripping easier. There is also a high chance of the tires coming off the wheel due to this low tire pressure. In order to prevent this from happening off road motorcycle tires are always paired with a device known as a bead lock or rim lock to keep the tire in its rightful place. The bead lock will perform the function of clamping the tire to the wheel and keeping it secure to ensure the safety of the rider.
Motorcycle tires online are not always the best way to purchase motorcycle tires because you can’t be certain it’s the best for your motorcycle as you can’t physically feel them.
So how do you shop for motorcycle tires online without accidently spending a lot of money on the wrong tires?
First and foremost, compare tires together with their ratings online. Michelin and other companies have ratings pages on their websites, or you could try resources like Motorcycle USA or the website of Knee Draggers at kneedraggers.com. You must know beforehand which brands are best and which kind of tire goes with which kind of motorcycle. Do it would be advisable to check with your user manual that came with the motorbike when you purchased it, to understand what kind of tires you are supposed to look for when you search for motorcycle tires online. You should check for warranty restrictions, size modifications and safety stipulations.
You should know what kinds of tire styles go best with your motorcycle, and which types you like. Of course the style of the tires is determined by the type of motorcycle you are using. There are three categories that can be loosely described as the main ones. They are sports, racing and touring. For example motorcycle tires online in racing are made for high speeds, touring bikes are for travelling long distances so they need durability and finally, sports bikes require tires capable of great traction.
You must also know the size of your tires. In order to understand that, first measure the width of the tire above the tread from sidewall to sidewall. After you have figured that part out compare the aspect ratios, which is the ratio of width to height. So for example, if a tire is 100mm wide and has a 90% aspect ratio it would be 90mm tall. If it has a 50% aspect ratio and still is 100mm it would be 50mm tall.
You can also tell what kind of tire you require by taking note of the materials that the tires have been made out of. Remember that the softer the composition of the materials used in the tire, the better it is in terms of traction. It makes riding the best and at optimum safety. But the disadvantage of tires with a soft composition is that they wear away quickly. If you want tires for touring bikes which lasts longer and have a good durability then you should go for tires made up of harder materials. You can check the composition of the tires on any of the sites that sell motorcycle tires online. If not, drop them an email and enquire about the materials used in the making of your chosen tires.
Finally, don’t forget the most important of all the comparisons, price. Make sure the amount you are paying for your tires are worth it. That is why purchasing from branded companies such a Michelin or Dunlop is advised. It will benefit both you and your bike in the long run.
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