A Rider Who Doesn’t Understand Tires Is Definitely Not An Experienced Driver!

Tires are the only bridge between the road and the vehicle. For two-wheeled motorcycles, the contact area between the tire and the ground is no more than the size of a bank card, so it is very important to correctly choose and use tires on the limited grip area of ​​motorcycles. Tire size When choosing tires, we should first choose tires of the corresponding size to match our own vehicles. Oversized tires will reduce the speed of the vehicle and the stability when cornering. Undersized tires will affect the stability and grip of the vehicle. What do these characters on the tires mean? In addition to the brand name of the tire, there are many characters on the sidewall of each tire. Understanding these characters can better understand this tire.
As a rubber product, the hardness of the tire also determines the driver's use requirements and its performance. Harder tires are more wear-resistant, have a long service life, and have good economy, but the disadvantage is that in order to make the tire more durable, the harder tires are ordinary in terms of grip performance, which is suitable for urban commuting of small-displacement motorcycles. Softer tires are suitable for those with medium or large displacement and those who prefer sports. Although they are not as durable as hard tires in terms of service life, the soft tire surface can firmly grasp the ground. Whether it is emergency braking, instant acceleration output, or cornering, it will provide the driver with good grip performance, giving the driver full confidence in intense riding.
People often ask me if your tires have no treads, won't they slip on the road? On the contrary, the tires with less or even no treads have the best grip performance, because the grooves of these treads cannot contact the ground to obtain grip, so in order to obtain more ground contact area and squeeze more grip, sports tires have very few treads. Treads are also called drainage patterns. On rainy days or gravelly roads, they can effectively drain water and gravel along the grooves to maintain driving stability. When it rains, rainwater and the ground will form a layer of water film. The vehicle will become unstable when driving on the smooth water film. This is why we say that riding a motorcycle on rainy days will be very slippery. At this time, the tread is used. The tread can break the water film, effectively disperse the water and then discharge it. After breaking the water film, the tire can better contact with the road surface to obtain better grip. However, even so, the road surface is slippery on rainy days, and you still need to drive safely and carefully. In addition to drainage, another function of the tread is to act as a paddle on a gravel road.
In summary, if you often drive on roads with good road conditions, it is recommended to use sports tires, which are softer and have less tread, providing you with strong grip, making driving more confident and happy. If you often drive a motorcycle on rainy days, then I recommend you to use tires with treads. This type of tire has moderate performance in all aspects, whether it is raining or sunny, and is suitable for daily use.
Tire pressure is a detail that we often overlook. It is inseparable from the safety of road driving. The tire pressure should not be too much or too little. If the tire pressure is too low, the tire will become soft and the vehicle will become "powerless" when driving, which can easily damage the wheel hub when passing through bumpy roads. Too high tire pressure is also not good. Too high tire pressure will reduce the contact area between the tire and the ground and affect the grip. In addition, when driving at high speed, the internal air pressure will expand and there is a great risk of tire blowout. Whether the vehicle is parked for a long time or used frequently, we need to check the tire pressure regularly and increase or decrease the tire pressure according to the specified value.
Finally, I believe everyone should find that no tire is perfect. In order to maximize the performance of a certain aspect, manufacturers will make purposeful compromises at the beginning of tire design. As users, we must also learn to compromise. The most expensive tire used by professional racers, or even the tire that others say is good, may not be the best choice for you. The best tire is the one that meets your riding needs and is most suitable for your riding style.