Tag Archives: Tyres

Long-term review: Avon Tailrider tyres

Tyre reviews are only worthwhile if they include wear characteristics which means a long-term review is necessary.

So, with a recent 480km day ride completed, our review of a set of Avon Tailrider tyres can now include details of how they are performing after 2500km.

The tyres fitted to our long-term CFMoto 650MT are the 120/70ZR17 AV54 and 160/60ZR17 AV53 Trailriders which we reviewed shortly after fitting.

The triple-compound Trailriders are described as 10% offroad and 90% road.

Our recent 480km ride put them to the test with a mix of smooth tarmac, very broken tarmac, one road made from volcanic rock and also varying degrees of unsealed road, some with water crossings. The previous week, we had the pleasure of two days with wet roads.

Perfect conditions to evaluate these “all-road” tyres.

As a road tyre, we have high praise for the overall design and capabilities. They simply do not put a foot/tread wrong and are performing without any cause for concern. 

The levels of grip, road noise and compliance over bumps and similar is excellent.

There are many tyres on the market that would be better for trackdays, but in the real world, the Avons deliver.

In the wet, the Trailriders provide consistent and predictable grip and braking control, with the wider and deeper-than-usual tread design allowing standing water to easily disperse.

The 10 Best Motorcycle Jackets for Men [2021]

The Trailriders are fine on unsealed roads, but would best suit riders who only occasionally get their rubber dirty. If you ride more dirt than tar, Avon’s Trekrider range would provide better levels of confidence.

We have been riding with 30psi in the front and 33psi in the rear and wear on either tyre has been minimal to date.

The dual-compound rear can easily be seen, especially after a dusty road, and both compounds are wearing well.

Overall, the Avon Trailriders impress as under-rated tyres for occasional ADV riders.

Website: www.proaccessories.com.au

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Check your riding partners’ tyre pressures

What started out as a leisurely ride from Brisbane to Tenterfield and back over a couple of days with three friends and family turned into a bit of an adventure simply because one of our riders hadn’t checked his tyre pressures.

I have been banging on about checking your tyre pressures for years. Check out our article on correct tyre pressures here.

In the article we say:

You should check your tyre pressures every time you go out for a ride or it can result in bad handling, increased wear, fatigue cracking, increased chance of a puncture, decreased grip and lower braking performance.”

I probably should add that it is also important to check your mates’ tyres, particularly important when heading off on a longer ride over multiple days with several others.

Sadly, one of our riders had never checked his tyre pressures since he bought his bike and got his licence about eight months ago! 

We were unaware of this before our ride. In fact, I only became aware after the inevitable happened.

I had charted a course that took us over some notoriously bumpy country roads on the NSW/Queensland border ranges and recent floods in the area had made the roads even worse with plenty of unprepared potholes.

My crew didn’t hold back in criticism of the route, either.

So, as lead rider, I kept the pace down on known bumpy sections and unleashed on sections which I knew had been repaired in recent years.

With 20/20 hindsight, I should have kept the pace down everywhere.

Just south of Old Bonalbo where the Clarence Way has been resurfaced in recent years, we went through a lefthand sweeper shaded by a big old gum tree.

Right in the middle of the corner were two massive ruts in the bitumen with jagged edges. It looked like a truck had hit the skids when the tar was still hot and wet!tyre puncture pothole ruts roadworks

I didn’t see the ruts because of the shade, but as I went through I noticed I had luckily ridden right through the middle.

Not so lucky was my riding partner whose back wheel hit a rut which immediately ripped a gaping wound in the sidewall of his KTM 390 Duke’s rear tyre.

Normally if you cop a puncture it can be repaired, especially if it’s a tubeless tyre. Click here for details on how to fix punctures.

tyre puncture
No amount of Tyre Wed will fix a sidewall split

However, there is not much you can do about a 3cm tear and we were at least 50km from the nearest town.

Hours passed waiting for the RACQ/NRMA to send out a tow truck, so we never made it to Tenterfield, instead diverting to Casino overnight.

After the tyre was replaced the next morning, we fuelled up and checked our tyre pressures.

The front tyre on the KTM was 21psi when it should have been 39psi, so we assume the rear tyre may have been similarly low on pressure, causing the impact wth the pothole to split the tyre.

We all learnt a valuable lesson tat not only should you check your tyre pressures before as ride, but you probably should also check your riding partners’ tyre pressures as well!

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

AVON Trailrider Tyre Review

Avon Tyre made its first motorcycle tyre in 1911 and 110 years later the plant in Wiltshire, UK, is still going strong.

As many owners of adventure bikes will relate to, getting quality rubber in matched pairs is not as easy as road bikes, so when the CFMoto 650MT finally needed new rubber, the new Avon Trailriders appeared to be a great option.

Importer Pro Accessories provided a pair for review at a favourable price.

The triple-compound Trailriders are described as 10% offroad and 90% road.

The tread is over 5mm in the centre of the tyre and tapers off to just a couple of mm of tread depth on the edges, which offers great stability while cornering, while also offering excellent wear and grip characteristics under all conditions.

So far, they have performed extremely well in both wet and dry conditions on the road. The tyres have been exceptionally quiet, for a ‘chunky’ tread design and the stability under all conditions has been without question.

The main interest for this type of tyre is their ability to handle a dirt road and possibly less favourable conditions.

For this test, we headed south from Brisbane on the Ripley Rd with a myriad of surfaces as it winds its way through the hills towards the town of Beaudesert.

We started out with 33psi front and 35psi rear, as per the recommended road pressures, but dropped them to 27 front and 29psi rear for the dirt.

The levels of grip and predictable sliding was quite encouraging. 

I tested out the non-switchable ABS (on purpose!) and the control even at reasonable speeds and under heavy braking was excellent and controllable.

I believe the pressures could be lowered another 2psi and it would improve further.

The AVON Trailriders proved to be very capable offroad tyres, with a very comfortable ride under all conditions so far. 

We will update with wear characteristics in a few thousand kilometres.

Note: For those riders looking for a version with more offroad bias, please see AVON’s Trekrider range.

As tested:

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart IV

Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart IV

New Product Advertorial


There is no experience quite like sport touring. You know that exhilarating feeling of freedom is almost unmatched. With such diversity of riding conditions however, the beauty of it can be much like a double-edged sword. From tyres lacking adequate shock absorption and wet grip, to those which fail to provide the needed mileage, the number of problems you can face is seemingly endless. The solution lies with the newest addition to the RoadSmart family. The RoadSmart IV, will provide you with the ability to go further, with more comfort in tougher riding conditions.

Committed to providing you with the ultimate touring experience, Dunlop has looked back to capture the essence of sport touring and looked forward to the innovation of a new standard. This tyre not only has increased longevity and mileage, but also advanced shock absorption technology – providing you with the smoothest ride into a new era of sports touring performance.

Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart IV

With enhanced CCT technology, both the heaviness of steering around corners and the difficulty of riding linear on a winding route is reduced significantly to provide you with more responsive handling. The assistance of Progressive Comfort Technology and enhanced shock absorption allows for maximum comfort, preventing unnecessary resistance from the bumps in the road. The RoadSmart IV tyre has been tested rigorously, with results showing their effectiveness in reducing fatigue, giving you the ability to ride uninterrupted for longer periods of time. Adequate grip in wet conditions is no longer a concern thanks to the PCL progressive construction, which simultaneously facilitates higher mileage, complimenting the unique design of the HI SILICA X compound technology.

Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart IV

FRONT from RRP AU $215.00 | RRP NZ $252.90

  • Optimised handling
  • CTT technonlogy
  • Slim bead apex and Aramid JLB technology for enhaced absorption of smaller bumps
  • Enhanced durability against uneven wearing
  • HI Silica X compound for enhanced wet grip and mileage performance
  • 23% mileage increase from the RoadSmart III
FRONT from RRP AU $215.00 | RRP NZ $252.90

REAR from RRP $269.00 | RRP NZ $306.90

  • CCT technology
  • IPT and Slim bead apex technology for enhanced shock absorption to large bumps
  • Hi Silica X Technology for enhanced wet grip and mileage performance
  • PCL progressive construction for enhanced longevity for performance
  • 26% milelage increase from the RoadSmart III
REAR from RRP $269.00 | RRP NZ $306.90
Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart IV

Find out more by viewing the 2020 Dunlop Catalogue
Australia | New Zealand

Source: MCNews.com.au

Dunlop increase tyre touring range

Dunlop has introduced the Roadsmart IV which they claim has about a quarter more mileage than their popular Roadsmart III sport-touring tyres.

They tested the tyres on a 2018 BMW K1600 GTL at their company proving grounds in Huntsville, Alabama, and on a 2018 Honda CB1300 SB in Japan on public roads and highways.

Their tests showed a 23% mileage improvement in front tyre mileage and 26% on the rear.

They also claim nimbleness and steering response improved about 5% in the dry and a 10% improvement in the wet.

While mileage is important to touring riders, so is safety and Dunlop claims the new model maintains its grip performance throughout its lifespan.

That means it has the same amount of grip when the tyre is due for changing as it did when it was freshly fitted.

They say Roadsmart IV, or RSIV, now comes with new tread patterns, construction, compounds, and profiles that also increase ride comfort and grip.

Like many modern tyres, it has multiple sections within the tyre wth different compounds so that it yields long wear in the hard centre, but has more grip as you lean into corners with a softer compound on the edges.

They also feature new sidewall construction to improve wet and dry handling and comfort.

An interesting new technological feature is “camber thrust tuning” which means it is designed to perform well under the extra strains of leaning in a corner.

Dunlop says their technology allows the RSIV to better balance front and rear tire patterns, construction and profile for nimble and neutral handling.

The tyres are available in a range of sizes that suit most medium to large sports tourers.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Dunlop extend adventure tyre line-up with Trailmax Mission

Dunlop announce Trailmax Mission Adventure tyre


In the new Trailmax Mission tyre Dunlop have acknowledged the increasingly high demands many riders require when looking at a 50/50 dual-sport tyre, where riders are increasingly expecting less compromises with their tyre choice.

To deliver this Dunlop looked at the expertise of Sumitoto who they acquired in 2015, and the highly successful Falken Wildpeak off-road light truck tyre, with technology and elements from the Wildpeak incorporated into the new Mission.

Trailmax Mission Adventure tyre

After two years of development the Mission is claimed to  offers almost knobby-like off-road performance, alongside high levels of grip on the road with a strong focus on ride quality and stability.

Durability was also a goal, with testing showing the Mission rear tyre offering 8000 miles, with the new tyre extensively tested at Dunlops Huntsville Proving Grounds in all conditions, as well as on the street.

The Mission offers the optimal combination of Dunlop’s dirt and street tyre technology, offering unmatched versatility.

Rather than offering a one-design-fits-all tyre, Dunlop have tuned the front and rear tyres specifically for the various ADV machines on the market, ensuring optimal performance and longevity on every machine.

Staggered Step technology was also incorporated into both front and rear tyres, giving the side knobs more rigidity and lug stability to prevent flex. This creates more biting edges, ensuring as the tread wears the next biting edge steps up, with the rear featuring different sized and shaped lateral blocks as a result of testing.


Features of the Trailmax Mission include the following

1. Improved Tread Grooves
Deep tread grooves help the Mission deliver unyielding grip in a wide variety of terrain.

Improved Tread Grooves
Deep tread grooves help the Mission deliver unyielding grip in a wide variety of terrain.

2. Staggered Step
These steps in the grooves give the side knobs more rigidity, and create more biting edges for increased off-road grip.

Staggered Step
These steps in the grooves give the side knobs more rigidity, and create more biting edges for increased off-road grip

3. Aggressive Upper Sidewall
Wrap-around side lugs add rigidity and durability in rocky terrain, and improve steering in sand, mud and gravel.

Aggressive Upper Sidewall
Wrap-around side lugs add rigidity and durability in rocky terrain, and improve steering in sand, mud and gravel.

The wrap-around side-lug was inspired by the Falken Wildpeak, adding rigidity and durability in rocky terrain, as well as allowing lower pressures to be run off-road with less risk of pinch flats, alongside thicker sidewall rubber. Other benefits include boosting steering stability in tricky conditions and making it easier to steer out of ruts off-road on the bike adventure bikes.

Both front and rear Mission tyres also feature a higher land/sea ratio, with 60 per cent land to boost road performance compared to the more dirt orientated and highly popular D606 which offers 30 per cent land ratio. Deeper tread depth also adds to the Mission’s features in comparison to the Trailsmart.

Trailmax Mission Adventure tyre

The Trailmax Mission is a bias tyre, as this construction is generally considered superiour for off-road use, with tread and sidewall elements designed as a single element, while a similar heavy-duty material as found in the American Elite and Elite 4 touring tyres was also used.

Designed and produced in Bufallo, New York alongside the brand’s premium touring and high-performance racing tyres, this is the first off-road capable tyre out of this facility.

Dunlop Trailmax Mission Adventure tyre Australian pricing

  • Front from: RRP AU $220.00 | RRP NZ $258.90
  • Rear from: RRP AU $290.00 | RRP NZ $375.90
Dunlop tyre Adventure range
The Dunlop Trailmax Mission offers the greatest range and flexibility in all conditions from the brand’s adventure range
Dunlop Trailmax Mission Adventure tyre

Source: MCNews.com.au

Patent promises better tyre grip

Italian company Directa Plus has received a patent through the Chinese Patent Office for tyre technology that they say will lower rolling resistance as well as increase grip.

In most motorcycle and automobile tyres, rolling resistance and grip are at odds. Tyre companies usually improve one quality at the sake of the other.

However, Directa Plus says the patent will cover the formula which unlocks the potential of the G+ technology for the tread component, enabling manufacturers to balance the conflicting properties of rolling resistance and grip while enhancing both.

That will allow companies to choose how much rolling resistance they want to improve fuel economy and also grip for safety.

Directa Plus Founder and CEO Giulio Cesareo says their G+ graphene technology also has “a lower carbon footprint than existing technologies as a result of our sustainable and non-toxic production process”.

It can be used on motorcycles, bicycles, cars, truck and bus radial tyres. 

The patent is their sixth with the Chinese Patent Office.

“The grant of a Chinese patent for our G+ technology in tyres is a first step towards exploiting China’s large and growing market for elastomeric compounds for tyres,” Giulio says.

Global market research and consulting company TechSci Research estimated China’s tyre market was worth about $A40 billion ($US28b) in 2018 and forecast the market to grow at a compound annual rate of over 10% to reach $A75b ($US52b) by 2023.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Truck tyre debris a hazard to riders

Our highways are littered with shredded tyre debris mainly from trucks often using retreaded tyres, posing a significant danger to vulnerable riders.

Ride down any highway in almost any country and you will see heaps of tyre debris, mainly from trucks.

In the USA they quaintly call it “road gators” because they look like alligators crossing the road. Both should be avoided!

Retreads are cheap and legal so long as they comply with the Australian Standards. Retreads have a lower speed rating of 140km/h, but it is still well above the legal highway limit.

Modern retreading processes are supposed to be a lot more reliable and are even used in the airline industry and military.

Tyre debrisTyre debris

So why do we see so much dangerous truck tyre debris on the road such as the above which was dragged off a busy highway?

We assume that there must be a lot of rogue truck operators and tyre companies out there that are retreading the same tyres too often and/or overusing tyres. 

RACQ Principal Technical Researcher Russell Manning says retreads are mainly used by the heavy vehicle industry due to the high cost of new tyres.

“It would be financially and environmentally irresponsible to throw away a truck tyre just because the tread has worn down due the amount of raw materials that go into its manufacture,” he says.  

The displaced tyre treads you see on the road typically come from a rear (usually a trailer) axle so they’ve done a lot of work and have been retreaded a number of times before they failed.”  

Blowout danger

To avoid hitting these “road gators”, we suggest you avoid following vehicles too closely as they can obscure the road ahead.

Also ride in the wheel tracks as they are more likely to be cleared of debris by other vehicles.

Not only is truck tyre debris a danger to riders, but so are the tyres when they blow out as this video graphically shows.

That is why I always quickly ride past a truck and would prefer to cop a speeding fine than be hit by a blown-out tyre.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

When Is The Best Time To Buy Motorcycle Tires?

Contributed post for our northern hemisphere readers

Just like with lots of other things, people’s buying habits for motorcycle tires go in phases. Or cycles, if you don’t mind a terrible play on words. And, just like with lots of other things, a lot of it comes down to personal preferences and habits.

There are different kinds of riders with different motorcycles, different styles, different expectations. They’ll all have different motivations for buying tires, other than “the old ones were worn out.” So, let’s break it down a little.

  • Retailers run sales periodically. The problem is, “periodically” also means “sporadically,” and there are only a few predictable seasons where you might see a deep discount on motorcycle tires. Spring and Christmas sales come to mind, or of course, the post-holiday sales where retailers need to move that old unsold stock out the door. For instance, February is commonly a time for motorcycle dealers to start pushing bikes, and as you can see from the chart below, there’s a pretty sharp spike in motorcycle tire sales in March likely from this February push. It makes sense since February means that Spring is right around the corner and everyone is ready to get out of the house and get on those bikes.

tireSource: Simpletire.com

  • There’s also the occasional special where manufacturers will discontinue a model of a tire, which is closeout time. The best thing that a rider can do is to just keep checking back for sales, or maybe subscribe for emails or push notifications about upcoming sales and discounts.

Different Riders, Different Bikes, Different Tires

Regardless of what type of motorcycle you’re into or what your demands are, tires are going to be one of the biggest ongoing expenses you’ll have.
Grand touring tires on a car can last 60k miles, but sport touring tires for a motorcycle might last a fraction that long. Rubber formulations have a lot to do with that life expectancy for tires, and they have a pretty profound effect on handling and ride quality as well. And, of course, that soft
rubber compound on a sport-bike tire is going to be stickier for killer handling ability, but it’ll also wear a lot quicker.

  • The right choice of tire makes a big difference in your safety, especially in wet weather. Just like with automotive tires, the depth and design of tread grooves have a lot to do with how well tires channel water from the road and evacuate water from the grooves. That, of course, is to prevent hydroplaning. So, if you’re setting out on a weeklong cruise on your touring bike, those sportbike tires with the minimal tread pattern are probably not the best choice.
  • Lots of guys want to customize their bikes, starting with a wider set of tires or just a wider rear tire. If there’s something like that to be done to a bike, you can bet that someone has done it already and put it on YouTube.
    Just remember, though, that a motorcycle is designed for a certain type and size of tire. A deviation from that can have unexpected results in terms of handling, road manners, and cornering. If you’re contemplating a wider tire or a change from factory spec, be  sure you research it carefully for your year/make/model of bike.

A Few Great Picks For Tirestires

Let’s get a quick rundown of a few top-notch picks for tires, across several different tire types:

  • Bridgestone Battlecross X40: Designed on the rigors of motocross, the Battlecross features chunky, aggressive tread blocks to dig into soft soil, as well as fins to dissipate heat on harder surfaces. This tough tire offers exceptional cornering ability and unparalleled wear characteristics.
  • Continental ContiTour: Excellent design for heavy bikes and touring. The ContiTour features a long-wearing rubber formulation for long service life. The rear tire is designed with no grooves in its center tread band for lower rolling resistance and better directional stability.
  • Bridgestone Battlax BT-016: This ultra-high-performance tire features an innovative tread pattern and durable rubber compound for long life and enhanced performance even in wet weather. It’s hard to beat this one for handling, style, and overall value.

Safety First, Last, and Always

Regardless of what kind of motorcycle you ride and what your demands are, there’s one thing you don’t want to do, that is, over-stretch the life of your tires. Riding on worn motorcycle tires is just plain dangerous, as you compromise traction and risk having a tire failure. Either one of
these can be catastrophic, obviously.

Don’t take that chance. If your tires are in need of replacement, don’t put it off until it’s too late.

Go ahead and pull the trigger on a new set of tires.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

How to fix a motorcycle tyre puncture

Your motorcycle tyre can cop a puncture just about anywhere, not just out in the country.

Most of the punctures I’ve ever had on motorcycles have been in the city, picking up nails and screws that have fallen out of trade utes. Riding on the road verge can be a particular trap.Motorcycle tyre puncture

If you are lucky, it will not cause an immediate loss of air and therefore traction and control.

Those with tyre pressure monitors, either factory fitted or aftermarket, will get a warning.

If not, you can sense the loss of pressure through the steering and handling which becomes heavy and vague.

On some occasions, my tyre has picked up a screw or nail that blocks the loss of air and I’ve only noticed it when I’ve done my pre- and post-ride checks. That’s why it’s so important to do these checks before and after a ride.

Tubeless Vs tubed tyres

There are advantages and disadvantages in tubeless and tubed tyres.

A tubed tyre will often hold the air better after a puncture, allowing you to ride to safety. A tubeless will often lose a lot more pressure a lot quicker.

It is a lot more difficult fixing a punctured tubed tyre at the side of the road, but it can be done.

Otherwise, you better have good roadside assist!

Queensland Motorcycle Breakdown Service tyre punctures cheap

If it’s just a small tube puncture, you can fix it cheaply and ride on in confidence. There may be no need to buy another tyre. At worst you may need a new tube.

A tubeless tyre may be easier to fix with a repair kit, but it limits the longevity of the tyre. Even though it is not illegal, it may void your insurance in a crash, so you may need a whole new tyre.

How to fix a tubed tyre

Fixing a tubed tyre requires a lot of tools and usually reasonable luggage capacity.

You will need tyre levers, a puncture repair kit, spanners and a compact air compressor that runs off the bike’s battery as a few canisters of compressed air will not re-inflate a tyre from totally flat.

Rarely can you fix a punctured tube without  having to take the wheel off, which makes it extra problematic. In which case, you may need to transport the bike.Transport puncture flat tyre GT10009 move

Popping the bead of the tyre can also be difficult as they are often cemented in place to stop them slipping on the rim.

On one occasion, we had to ride over the tyre with another bike to pop the bead, severely scratching the rim.

Use the levers to get the tyre off the rim to expose the tube.

To find the leak, spit on any blemishes to see if it bubbles or listen for hissing.

Repair kits include a small piece of sandpaper which you use to rough up the area around the whole. Then apply the cement and place a patch over the hole.

Push the tube back in being careful not to twist or pinch it, put the tyre back on the rim and the wheel back on the bike, reattach the chain if it was the back wheel and pump it up.

It’s a lot of work and difficult on your own, but it can be done.

How to fix a tubeless tyreMotorcycle tyre puncture

Most road bikes and even some adventure bikes now come with tubeless tyres.

They are a comparative breeze to fix.

Usually the hole is easy to find as there is still a nail, screw or other object embedded in them.

Take it out with a screwdriver or pliers.

Your repair kit will have a rasp-like tool that you then ream in and out of the hole to rough it up a bit to make a good contact with the cement which you inject into and around the hole.

The kit will also have a tool that looks like a big needle and plugs or sticky rope-like pieces to plug the hole.

I prefer the rope version because it seems to fit into irregular holes better.Motorcycle tyre puncture

Thread it through the “needle” tool and then ram it into the hole and pull it out quickly.

This will leave the plug in place and you can cut off the excess, leaving about 1cm of plug.Motorcycle tyre puncture

You won’t usually lose all the pressure from the tyre as you would from a punctured tube so you may be ale to pump it back up with two or three canisters of compressed air.

It’s important to then ride the bike for at least 15 minutes at about 80km/h to heat the plug so it bonds with the tyre.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com