How to Choose the Right “Shoes” for Your Motorcycle

The two mainstream types of tires with excellent anti-skid performance for motorcycles – bias-ply tires (commonly known as “angled-line tires”) and radial tires – each have their own unique features.

Bias-ply tire

The diagonal line tire is a traditional tire structure with a long history. The steel wires inside this tire are distributed in a layered and interlaced manner at an angle of 30 or 45 degrees to the cross-section of the tire. The cord layers are cross-stacked at an angle of 30° – 45°, making the tire wall thick and highly rigid. The characteristics of the diagonal line tire are strong tire wall rigidity, sufficient elasticity, and strong compression and load-bearing capacity.
It has excellent load-bearing and compression resistance, stable grip at low speeds; the tire wall has good elasticity, suitable for complex road surfaces such as potholes and gravel.
However, due to the complex internal structure of the tire, it also has some shortcomings. At high speeds, the cord layers are prone to misalignment and heat generation, resulting in high rolling resistance and limited high-speed performance. Therefore, the diagonal line tire is not suitable for high-speed driving. It is recommended for use in urban commuting, long-distance cruising, retro models, or situations with high load requirements. Nevertheless, this tire still has good grip and stability at low speeds.

Radial tires

Radial tires are a common tire structure used in modern motorcycles. The steel wire plies inside the tire are distributed parallel to the cross-section of the tire. The cord lines are almost perpendicular to the centerline of the tread (90°), and are further restrained by circumferential bands. The tire body is arranged in a “radial” pattern. The contact area is wide, the unit pressure is low, and the dry and wet grip are excellent; moreover, the rolling resistance is low, the heat dissipation is fast, the high-speed stability is excellent; the cornering support is strong, and the tracking is clear. In addition, the steel wire plies of radial tires are less likely to shift, so they are suitable for high-speed driving. However, due to the structure of parallel arrangement in the transverse direction, the tire walls of radial tires are relatively thin, with weaker impact resistance and puncture resistance, and higher manufacturing costs, resulting in a higher unit price. They are more suitable for sporty cruisers, sports cars, track days, or high-intensity riding that pursues extreme control.
When choosing motorcycle tires, one needs to consider factors such as the vehicle model, usage, and safety. For daily commuting and leisure riding: bias-ply tires and semi-synthetic tires can balance durability and economy; if used for competitive or aggressive driving, priority should be given to all-synthetic tires or radial tires to achieve the maximum grip limit.
Last but not least, safety comes first: No matter which tire type is chosen, it must match the original factory specifications of the vehicle. Regularly check the tire pressure, wear and aging degree to ensure that the tires are always in the best working condition.