Factors to consider while buying a new tyre for your two-wheeler

From selecting the right size to the correct compound and tread pattern, various factors need to be considered while buying a new tyre for your scooter or motorcycle.

• Always stick to the tyre size recommended by your two-wheeler manufacturer, and know about the annotations mentioned in it.
• While tubeless tyres offer various benefits over tube-type tyres for two-wheelers, the latter is still recommended for motorcycles equipped with spoke wheels.
• Try to buy a good quality tyre from a renowned brand which offers the longest-possible warranty for a trouble-free riding experience.

Unlike cars, finding the right balance on two wheels while riding a scooter or motorcycle is a tricky thing which needs practice and more concentration. And finding this balance can be a task if the tyres of your two-wheeler are not in good shape. Among all the components, tyres undergo the most amount of wear and tear in your two-wheeler. 

Thus, finding the right replacement for your worn-out two-wheeler tyres needs more attention and knowledge. Following are those tips which should be given a high priority while buying a new tyre for your two-wheeler:

Know a thing or two about the aspects of a tyre size

If you have ever read the complete tyre specification mentioned on its sidewall or brochure, you must have come across various annotations, consisting of alphanumeric codes which hide. The complete size of a two-wheeler tyre includes the tyre width, aspect ratio, wheel size, speed rating, load index and construction type, in the same order. You should ensure that the new scooter or motorcycle tyre you want to buy matches the tyre specification mentioned by its manufacturer.

Know about the different tread designs and compounds of a two-wheeler tyre

There are reasons why a two-wheeler tyre manufacturer has different tread patterns for different tyres. Want to ride on rougher terrain? Get a pair of tyres with a knobby tread pattern. Want to ace your cornering skills on a race track? A tyre with smoother tread patterns is the one to consider.

Apart from the tread pattern, the type of compound of your two-wheeler tyre also determines its grip levels and life cycle. While a soft compound tyre feels sticky as it heats up faster, it wears out sooner, especially if ridden over rougher surfaces for long, and vice-versa for hard compound tyres. Depending on your riding conditions, and not on their visual appeal, you should select the correct tread pattern and compound for your new two-wheeler tyre.

Never mix different types of tyres in a two-wheeler

Tyres vary from each other in terms of categories. Tube-type tyres or tubeless tyres, and bias-ply or radial, all have their own set of purposes, advantages and disadvantages. Depending on what your two-wheeler manufacturer has recommended, select the correct replacement for worn-out tyres of your scooter or motorcycle.

The two-wheeler manufacturers conduct extensive research and development while finalizing the correct tyre sizes and types for your scooter or motorcycle. Never try to mix two different types of tyres on a motorcycle for front and rear wheels, until and unless it is mentioned by your two-wheeler’s manufacturer. 

Also, never install a tube-type tyre on a tubeless rim, for the variations in bead design might make this combination not so efficient in holding air while riding.

Always consider genuine tyre brands with long warranty services

Picking the right brand for your scooter or motorcycle tyres can be a tricky decision, considering that there is a plethora of options to choose from. However, most of them have a good presence at both national and global levels and offer good quality tyres with warranties, ensuring their durability in the longer run. For your scooter or motorcycle, try to pick those tyre brands offering the longest possible warranty for a worry-free riding experience.

Always go for tubeless tyres, except for one condition

Two-wheeler tyres have come a long way in technological prowess, with tubeless tyres and self-healing tyres making our lives easier while riding a scooter or motorcycle equipped with them. For a safer, more durable and worry-free riding experience, tubeless tyres are more recommendable over tube-type tyres. However, this statement doesn’t hold for motorcycles equipped with spoke wheels.

Most commuters have switched to alloy wheels, and many sports bikes are already equipped with them. However, various retro roadsters, cruisers and adventure tourers come with spoke wheels – either out of purpose or for visual aesthetics. If you use a tubeless tyre on a spoke rim, there is a high chance that air will leak from the contact patch between the rim’s surface and that of the tyre.

So, while tubeless tyres have become the preferred option for motorcycles and scooters with alloy wheels and steel rims, motorcycles with spoke wheels are still recommended with tube-type tyres.