10 Best Motorcycle Tires of 2020

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Michelin is one of the best motorcycle tire brands in the market and looking at this Commander II, it's easy to see why. For starters, the tire has a rayon carcass ply instead of polyester, and this results in a compliant ride with better handling.

The unit is actually developed and tested by American riders for American riders and is available in different sizes so that you can fit in into rear rims of a wide variety of cruisers.

Other features include aramid belts instead of fiberglass, which controls centrifugal growth so as to maximize on the rubber to road contact, H speed rating and a load index of 77.

On the downside, the tire comes as a single piece per set, and it has a bias-ply construction, which is not as good as a radial build.

With a DuPont Kevlar mono-spiral belt construction, this tire offers stability at high speeds and is also better at shock absorption, which makes it much more comfortable on rough roads at high speeds.

Additionally, the unit is made using a silica-enriched compound, which greatly enhances grip on wet and dry surfaces.

The tire also has a radial construction and this makes it suitable for high-performance cruisers because it gives better mileage and solid performance. However, you only get a single tire per set.

3. Michelin 48057 – Best Sportbike Tire

Michelin’s 48057 is a very expensive motorcycle tire, but it has a W speed rating, which makes it suitable for racing or sports bikes because its top speed is capped at 168 mph.

Other than this, the unit has a strong radial construction that is enhanced using a stiffer casing plus a patented new motorcycle tire technology for better stability on the road.

More features include a silica-charged rubber compound that gives better grip, an advanced tread design that maximizes on traction, a tubeless design and an XST+ sipe technology, which reduces the braking distance by up to 17% on wet surfaces.

This motorcycle tire from Kenda is characterized by deep offset tread sips for water dispersion so as to avoid hydroplaning, and this leads to superb wet weather traction.

Stiff sidewalls add onto the tire’s superior performance capabilities, making it better when it comes to handling.

The tire is actually available in different sizes and each one has a 6-ply rated, tubeless construction that is ideal for touring, sport and cruiser bikes.

Other features include a DOT approved design, an H speed rating that limits the tire’s top speed to 130 mph, a load index rating of 83 and a wide contact patch that gives superior traction (especially in wet weather) while also improving the fuel economy. 

On the downside, this product comes as a single tire per set.

If you are on a tight budget, Dunlop provides this 45605397 as an affordable option, and it is actually the best-rated motorcycle tire in this review.

That said, the unit’s tread patterns are designed to be very effective at eliminating water from underneath the rubber for better traction while an offset center groove gives superior straight-line stability.

These treads are made using an advanced tread compound that enhances grip and increases mileage. Other features include an H speed rating, load index rating of 57 and a black sidewall.

However, the tire has a bias-ply construction, which makes it slightly less inferior to radial tires, and it is not recommended to use on Harley Davidson motorcycles.

6. Shinko 87-4152 – Motorcycle Tire with a 4-Ply Nylon Carcass

Shinko’s 87-4152 features a 4-ply nylon carcass that gives it a high level of sturdiness, and even though this is a bias-ply construction, the tire can comfortably carry up to 677 pounds in weight and can accommodate a maximum air pressure of 40 PSI.

This tubeless tire also has a staggered tread pattern, which provides excellent wet weather performance by pushing out water under the rubber so as to maximize on the grip.

A speed rating of H ensures you can accelerate your bike to speeds of up to 130 mph and more features include increased mileage with better performance. However, the tire comes as a single piece per set and it’s bias-ply construction makes it slightly inferior to the radial type.

Coming in different sizes, this motorcycle tire from Metzeler is designed as an ultra-high mileage tire, particularly for V-twin cruisers and heavy touring bikes.

In actual sense, the unit is equipped with a new tread design that has variable inclination grooved walls, and these reduce irregular wear, thereby enhancing performance. This, in turn, increases the mileage by up to 50% because you get a very long tread life.

This new tread design consists of compound bridges, which discontinue the transversal grooves of tread patterns, thereby creating more solid and stiffer blocks. These reduce the stress exerted on carcass’ plies and belts, which in turn results in a more durable design.

Other features include a load index rating of 67, which means the tire can carry up to 677 pounds in weight, an H speed rating, which limits your top speed to 130 mph, crossing and longitudinal grooves for evacuating water below the tire.  

You also get a set of two tires: one for the front and the other for the rear wheel. However, the load rating (67) is quite low.

Pirelli is also a well-known tire brand and their Angel ST lineup consists of multiple differently-sized units for the rear wheel of sports and touring bikes.

All these varieties are made using a high silica tread compound that is environmentally friendly and gives good grip on dry, wet and cold surfaces.

This tire is actually a holder of 7 world records, and this can be attributed to a high W speed rating, which limits your top speed to 168 mph.

Other features include a tubeless design and a patented 0˚ steel belt radial structure, which provides uniform and predictable grip in all conditions. However, you only get a single tire per set.

Kenda’s motorcycle tires are particularly unique due to their new tread design, which not only looks good but also contains deep, wide grooves that eliminate water underneath the tire for improved grip on wet surfaces.

These treads are made using a new rubber compound that gives better stability on a straight line while also improving cornering.

More features include a 3+2 casting design for the front and rear so as to improve handling, a DOT approved design, an H speed rating (up to 130 mph) and a load index rating of 74. However, the tire only comes as a single piece for either the front or rear wheel.

With this two-tire set from Continental, you get very high-quality pieces because they feature a 0˚ steel belt construction (rear tire only), which enhances the stability and comfort of the ride.

This sturdy construction also contributes towards the tire’s high-speed rating, in which they are rated W, meaning that they can reach a maximum of 168 mph. This is very high and qualifies them to be used in sport motorcycles as well as touring bikes.

Other features include a newly formulated polymer tread compound that is wear-resistant for durability purposes, and the treads are arranged as a modern force-oriented pattern that gives better grip.  

However, the included front tire has a relatively low load index, which is 58. On the bright side, most of the weight is loaded to the rear wheel and therefore, this rating might just be enough.