When you are about to go on a cross-country tour on your heavy touring motorcycle, one thing that literally connects you to the road is your tires. Having been riding touring bikes for over 10 years across different roads and terrains, I have come to learn that choosing tyres suited to heavy touring motorcycles requires more knowledge than simply buying ones that look good or are affordable. A proper tire selection can transform your riding experience, while an improper choice can turn your dream ride into a nightmare.
Learning About Heavy Touring Motorcycle Requirements
Heavy touring bikes have some special issues which require special tire considerations. These are usually machines that are loaded with luggage, rider, and passengers of 700 to 900 pounds. It is a heavy weight which puts particular performance pressures that the typical motorcycle tires do not effectively handle.
The main factors that render the selection of tires a critical one are its ability to remain at a stable high speed, an outstanding load carrying capacity, a long life span of the tread in long distance travel, and constant performance during wet weather.
The first major ride I went through in the Pacific Northwest was an error that I made by putting sport-touring tires on my fully-loaded bike. It became evident that the accelerated wear occurred in the course of 3,000 miles and led to an emergency replacement of tires in a small town when there was none available and the prices were high.
Key Features of Quality Touring Tires
Some of the most important features of quality touring tires include:
Reinforced Construction for Heavy Loads
Shop compatible parts ShinyWing can be considered a good place to start when it comes to finding the tyres, which are compatible with heavy touring motorcycles.
Quality touring tires are those that have been reinforced in their construction to withstand constant heavy loads without losing its structural integrity. The design of the carcass is usually more plied and has stronger construction of the sidewalls as compared to standard motorcycle tires.
Tread Compounds Built for Longevity and Grip
Formulation of tread compounds is another important factor. Touring tire compounds are engineered by manufacturers in order to balance lifecycle with grip characteristics.
Touring compounds provide more performance over 10,000 to 15,000 or longer than sport bike tires which are designed to offer maximum grip but do not last as long. This long life span comes in handy when you are traveling across several states or nations whereby tire supply may be unpredictable.
Tread Patterns That Handle Wet Weather
Even the tread pattern should be given some evaluation. Good tire designs in touring tyres have the ability to direct water in an effective manner and ensure that stability is achieved throughout the contact patches in different load conditions.
Circumferential grooves are in tandem with the lateral sipes in order to drain the water out and minimize the chances of hydroplaning, which occur when there is sudden rain. I have been out on the Appalachians when the rain suddenly poured, and correct tire tread patterns were the only things that gave me the confidence to control the bike and not to drive with white knuckles.
How to Find the Right Tires for Your Riding Style and Routes
Not every touring case requires the same tire requirements.
For Highway-Focused Touring
The riders who are highway-oriented and mostly ride interstate routes enjoy tires that focus on straight line stability and low rolling resistant tires. These designs have fewer tread blocks and are smoother in contour that will minimize noise and enhance fuel efficiency in long highway patterns.
For Mountain Roads and Mixed Routes
On the other hand, bikers who use winding mountain trails or diverse roads in their sightseeing must ensure they use tires that have high cornering grip and responsiveness in handling features. These balances are found in sport-touring choices in the heavy touring category, but at the price of decreased tread life in the dynamic riding scenarios.
In making the choice of tyres that are appropriate to heavy touring motorcycles, shop compatible parts ShinyWing offers in many categories to accommodate the different touring preferences.
Checking of load rating can never be compromised. Always check that the tires that you are using have the necessary weight capacity and that they are not overweight especially when carrying a full luggage and passengers.
Installation and Maintenance Factors
The installation of tires properly has a great influence on performance and safety.
Proper Installation Matters
The correct bead seating is guaranteed by using professional mounting, and balance problems generating vibration and accelerated wear are eliminated. Although other riders might change their tires themselves, the cost of professional installation is well paid in terms of comfort and best performance.
Tire Pressure Checks on Tour
It is also significant to check pressure during your trip. The touring motor cycles with heavy loads demand higher tire pressures than the lighter ones and the pressure must be higher with the additional load.
My routine of testing tire air pressure in the morning each time I take part in a multi-day tour and adjusting it depending on the load and the conditions that that specific day will impose. The change of temperatures between mountainous passes and desert valley could pose a substantial pressure difference that would influence handling and tire life.
Tread Depth and Wear Monitoring
Routine tread depth checks can make you not get caught with old tires when you are miles away with no way of replacement. Touring tires have wear indicators, although I would change the tires before they are worn down to those minimum depth indicators, particularly when you are taking long rides over long distances into remote places.
The last thousand miles of tire life is hardly worth the gamble as you are several hundred miles away the next motorcycle store.
It Is Now Time to Make Your Purchase Decision
The research does not end at reading the specifications of manufacturers when you are ready to invest in new touring tires. The actual rider feedback is invaluable information on the performance of the particular tire models over a long distance and in different environments.
Community forums and tours that are propounded online can determine long term performance features which marketing material ignores.
A comparison of the tyres that would be appropriate in heavy touring motorcycles, the shop compatible parts that ShinyWing has and the competitor products would help realize the optimum value proposition when it comes to your needs.
Price should not be the only factor to be considered. Expensive tires will in most cases will provide better mileage and better performance which will be worth the higher initial costs in terms of longer service life, and better safety margins.
FAQ: Heavy Touring Motorcycle Tires
More often than not, people have a lot of questions regarding heavy touring motorcycle tires.
How does temperature influence the choice of touring tires?
The question that most riders ask themselves is how temperature will influence the choice of touring tires.
Riding in cold weather requires tires that remain flexible in low temperatures and those used in hot climate touring are those with compounds that do not tend to overly soft. All-season touring compounds provide the best versatility in performance in case you live in multiple climate regions or tour all year round.
When should touring tires be replaced?
The other question that is usually posed is the tire replacement.
Although most touring tires claim a 12000 mile or more life cycle, the reality is that this life cycle will be greatly affected by the style of riding, loading characteristics, road conditions, and maintenance activities. The riders on the smooth highways could cover a higher range than the advertised mileage whereas aggressive riders on the rough roads could experience much less tire wear.
Should you replace both tires at the same time?
Another question often posed by the riders is whether they should change both the tires at the same time.
Although front side and rear tires do not wear the same, changing the tires together would not only be guaranteeing comparative handling properties but also avoids issues of mixing tire technologies or tread designs which may react in an unforeseeable way.
Should you stick to one tire brand or experiment?
Another common discussion point is in the question of tire brand loyalty versus experimentation.
There is consistency in keeping with performers that have done it before but experimentation with new technologies at times will enable you to identify some improvements that will add better to your touring experience. I usually test a single position of the tire and not both at the same time so that I can compare the new alternatives with the known bases.
Final Thoughts
Selecting the appropriate touring tires is no longer a confusing task, but an easy one to deal with, as long as you know what exactly you need and what technologies can be used to fulfill these needs.
The most vital feature in safety on your motorcycle is your tires. You need to take the time to ensure you choose wisely and you will be able to enjoy your tours better, comfortably and safely.
