The invention of the wheel was a big deal. But it wasn’t always an enjoyable ride at first. In 1882, John Boyd Dunlop began to prove that when he developed his first set of tires to make his son’s bike a bit less grueling. A patent soon followed, and the foundation of Dunlop Tires was born. From that day, until right now (and looking well ahead into the future) the Dunlop name has been synonymous with the best in motorcycle tires. All of this history and dedication is the foundation of what sets Dunlop apart when buying motorcycle tires. There is no style, purpose, or price point at which Dunlop motorcycle tires aren’t in contention for the top spot on the podium. With a long list of accomplishments and innovations for the ages, Dunlop motorcycle tires have set the standard (and then surpassed it) since day one. Dunlop was the first to use Kevlar belts. They were the first to utilize radials. They were the first to create a 20-inch off-road motorcycle tire. They were the first to develop premium mini-bike tires.

They were -- well, you get the point. As it pertains to motorcycle tires, Dunlop has been leading the charge for decades. When shopping for motorcycle tires there is no denying that Dunlop is at the top of many lists. There are few brands as ubiquitous within a business vertical as is Dunlop with motorcycle tires, and for good reason. Sport bike to off-road, and Harley Davidson to ardent adventure touring, the Dunlop motorcycle tire arsenal hits them all, and hits with authority. No restock fees, everFree Shipping on orders over $39.99Your motorcycle has a thousand pieces. All of them work together in their own way. All of them do their part. But only two of them actually touch the ground. No matter how much power  your bike produces or how much style it majestically exudes, it is your motorcycle tires, and your motorcycle tires alone, that keep you in contact with the road. With that in mind, it is ultra-important that when selecting the best motorcycle tires for your ride, you know not only what is available, but also the benefits, possibilities, and limitations of each.

In looking at motorcycle tires, there are a ton of terms to consider. For new riders, or seasoned ones with little tire experience, the plethora of options and info can at first seem overwhelming. Once you break it down to the basics, however, the search for the best motorcycle tires for your bike and riding style gets a bit easier. This is the part that is at the forefront of most people’s minds. 125cc motorbike for sale northern irelandIn short, tread is a general term that denotes the surface of your motorcycle tires that comes in contact with the road. vespa for sale yorkshireTread patterns can vary greatly. motorcycle repair shop evansville in

From zero tread on race slicks to aggressive knobby ?tread for motocross, tread patterns help denote the tire’s specific application.  They can also give an indication of the tire’s handling characteristics, as well as how well dirt and water are evacuated. Less well-known than tread, the bead of a motorcycle tire is the portion that is directly touching the wheel. Consisting of a steel “bead wire” and a section of “bead filler,” the tire bead provides a stiff foundation for the sidewall and prevents your tires from slipping off of the rim.motorcycle dealer in gardena The carcass of a motorcycle tire can be seen as the foundation, skeleton , or HTML code upon which the rest of the tire is built. best long distance enduro motorcycleBasically, the carcass will come in one of two forms: radial or bias-ply. honda motorcycle dealer fort myers fl

Each of these terms simply refers to how the guts of the tire are constructed. Radial motorcycle tires utilize steel reinforcing belts placed perpendicular to the bead and underneath the carcass, while bias-ply employ cords of fiber running diagonally from bead to bead. The sidewall is a portion of the tire that doesn’t get credit where credit is due, but it is integrally important to performance, handling and longevity. motorcycle shops sebring floridaThe sidewall of your motorcycle tire is the portion between the bead and the tread that supports the tire carcass and dictates how much weight the tire can hold, the tire’s lean-angle, and it can even help add a bit of style to your ride. Options from classic white walls, raised white lettering and vintage profiles are just a few of the ways a tire’s sidewall can jazz up your rubber. From sizing (height, profile, or aspect ratio), to the way your motorcycle receives feedback from the road itself, the sidewall is not to be overlooked.

In looking at sportbike tires, the focus is generally on one of two things: track performance, or a balance between grip and longevity on the streets. Due to the nature of sportbikes, the right tires are relatively smooth and are geared for optimum mechanical and chemical grip on asphalt. While high-grip motorcycle tires offer better performance and allow for these high-performance motorcycles to better make use of their speedy capabilities, such tires are often more prone to lower overall mileage numbers due to the softer compounds used to construct them. Going both off-road and on requires a special set of motorcycle tires. When it comes to ADV / Dual Sport options, riders need to consider the amount of time that they intend to spend riding on the tarmac vs. the trail. Adventure and Dual Sport motorcycle tires are all constructed with a “street to trail” ratio in mind which  determines aspects such as the tread pattern and carcass construction. Dual-sport and ADV tires run the gamut from 90% street and 10% trail to 90% dirt and 10% tarmac.

Generally speaking, tires that are built for more of an off-road usage will have a more pronounced tread pattern with deeper grooves for gripping loose soil or gravel. Conversely, motorcycle tires that are designed to spend more time on the road will have smoother, shallower tread patterns and be constructed for longer miles on the tarmac. When it comes to the right tires for your Harley or V-twin cruiser, it all comes down to longevity. These heavy-weights are designed to devour  highway miles, and these tires are specially constructed to bear the wear and tear that comes with long hauls and heavy payloads. Depending on the year, make, and model of your ride, there is a wide variety of motorcycle tire options to keep in mind. From tubed vs. tubeless, a variety of load/speed ratings and the plethora of sizing options between bikes, the right motorcycle tires for your V-twin cruiser or Harley-Davidson all comes down to putting rubber to road and seeing what works best for you and your hog

The focus of dirt motorcycle tires is simple: grip, and grip hard. When looking at tires for motocross bikes, they will prominently feature high “blocked” tread and low valleys that are designed to provide increased grip and evacuate debris. Another consideration that sets dirt motorcycle tires apart is that, due to the standard dirtbike wheel style and the nature of riding, they tend to be tube-type in construction. Basically, that means that there is an inner tube that creates an air-tight seal between it  and the wheel itself. Dirt tires (like street tires) are available in a variety of tread patterns and compounds to maximize handling and performance across a wide variety of terrain. From deep sand to hard packed dirt and rock, there is a tire out there to get you over the river and through the woods. In the end, motorcycle tires are one of the most important pieces of the equation for the enjoyment, safety, and cost of your ride. Just as with helmets, jackets, or any other piece of riding gear, all tires are not the same.