This writer has been riding motorcycles for nearly 40 years and he can safely tell you that changing the tyres to better ones is the best and immediate performance upgrade.
Bikers always talk about making their motorcycles go faster. It usually involves modifying the engine, changing the exhaust system, replacing stock parts with lighter ones, and even recalibrating or replacing the suspension.
In truth, a new set of good tyres can make all the difference, because your engine may gain 30 extra horsepower, but you are unable to explout this gain because the tyres are crappy.
1. Safety
This goes without saying. An old or bad tyre does not grip as well. It may hop over irregularities in the road, resulting in less grip on less than a completely flat surface. The compound may have already harden also making it less pliable to grip the road’s surface.
More critically, a sub-standard tyre also compromises braking performance which results in instability or worse, loss of traction. On bikes with ABS, you can feel the ABS being triggered prematurely. As such, you will compensate by applying less braking pressure, resulting in increased stopping distance and time.
2. Traction
Good tyres provide the necessary traction to maximize the engine’s power during acceleration and high-speed riding, optimise the brake’s performance, and help the suspension work better in all aspects. It also helps to pick the right type of tyres for the right type of motorcycle and riding, for example, sport-touring tyres when you want to ride your sport-tourer cross border.
3. Handling
This is another obvious advantage. Certain tyres may feel great when they are new, only to keep standing up in corners. A set of good tyres that fits your bike’s characteristics goes a long way in helping your bike steer better at all lean angles.
4. Comfort
An old tyre may have lost its elasticity, causing it to feel hard. Consequently, you can feel every bump it hits, leading to your hands going numb and your body feeling like you wrestled with a bear.
The caveat here is to find the best tyre for your bike and needs. Generally, Bridgestone has the hardest construction, followed by Michelin, then Pirelli, and the supple being Metzeler. It also depends on the type of tyre, for example, sport vs. sport-touring vs. dual-sport.
5. Confidence
A good, new tyre provides the necessary performance when it comes to all aspects of traction including steering feel, cornering feel and traction during braking. These aspects add to your confidence which in turn letting you feel more relaxed when you ride.
Conclusion
So, think about upgrading your tyres first the next time when you want to go faster. Plus, modifying your engine and other components costs a lot more money, will void your warranty (if your bike is still new), and may result in higher maintenance costs.
Good tyres offer a whole lot more and is a better value for your hard-earned money.
