With dozens of different types of tires to choose from, you need to know which are best for your motorbike. It is also imperative you understand which would be best for the riding style you intend to enjoy. Are you best off with track-day tires, street tires, or something else altogether?
Below, this article will explore some of the main differences between these two popular tire types. As you read the post, you will learn how they have very different designs and performance characteristics. By the end, you should have a much better idea of which would be best for your needs.
Track-Day Tires
Choosing these tires is perfect for when you want to take a ride on a high-performance race track. Track-day tires ensure you receive the performance you need to speed up, brake, and turn with precision, rather than durability in mind. They can also withstand some of the higher excesses of racing, such as heat and grip needs.
Construction Method
There are some specific things to bear in mind when it comes to creating track-day tires. First of all, they need to handle the extreme lateral forces motorcycle riders will put upon such bike tires.
For this reason, the side walls of the tire are reinforced a lot more than street tires. This might comprise multiple layers of both rubber and fabric, as well as other materials to make it much stiffer.
At the base of the tire, the tire's carcass holds the whole component together. It has several steel belts which wrap around the full circumference of the tire. In some cases, this might comprise fabric instead of metal, but it still performs the same role of holding the tire's shape.
In the case of track-day tires, the carcass often has more belts, and they are often thicker. This means they are likely to be able to withstand a more punishing riding style.
Manufacturing Materials
While all manufacturers use a vulcanized rubber compound in their bike tires, track-day tires are often a softer material. This softness allows it to match the shape of the track easier and give a much higher level of traction, as more of the grip touches the road.
Many different track-day tires exist, though. This means you might have a unique blend when it comes to any specific manufacturer's tires. Talk to your tire dealership to find out more about what they can offer.
Grip and Tread Patterns
Track-day tires often use less motorcycle tread. This "slick" style of tire tries to maximize the amount of contact with the surface of the track. Because of this design, you can likely change direction much faster and ensure your bike handling is at peak performance.
Corner Handling
As track-day tires have the maximum grip possible, motorcycle riders can expect to be able to handle corners at speed with a good level of control. They are also much more predictable, and allow you to take corners with much higher precision.
Best Riding Style
Specific types of motorcycle tires are best when choosing different types of riding. If you pick up track-day tires, you are much better suited for actions such as aggressive riding and high-speed cornering. While one could do this on the road, it is much more recommended you only perform these actions on a dedicated track.
Street Tires
Of all the types of motorcycle tires, street tires are best placed for riding on everyday public roads. They are a very popular and common tire, due to the simple fact most motorbikes exist in such a space. Compared to track-day tires, street tires focus on longevity and safety as opposed to extreme performance.
Construction Method
Much like track-day tires, street tires have a similar carcass that holds the whole thing together. At its core, though, there are significant differences. Street tires tend to have fewer belts and are much thinner. This is mostly so they do not get as expensive, but also helps them absorb the shocks of an uneven road.
Manufacturing Materials
Compared to track-day tires, street tires comprise a much harder rubber. This allows them to last a lot longer, as a motorcycle rider tends to use them daily for longer rides.
When choosing which tires to use, this durability saves the owner money as they will not need replacing nearly as often.
Grip and Tread Patterns
Where track-day tires eschew the idea of motorcycle tread, street tires have many more channels and grooves in them. This is to help with traction and grip in situations where the road might not have the same level of consistency as a race track. If there is water on the road, you want to maintain good bike handling, and having channels for water to run through helps with this.
Corner Handling
As street tires exist for both wet and dry weather, you can generally expect a consistent and predictable grip with them even on corners. Despite this, the grip will not be as firm as with track-day tires, whose design is for much more extreme driving. Instead, you can be confident in their use with more conservative rides.
At the same time, those rides will be much more comfortable. Street tires have thinner belts and more flexible sidewalls. This means they are more capable of absorbing shocks to give you a smoother experience.
Best Riding Style
You can perform many different types of riding with street tires. While you may not be the best at each of them, it allows you to switch between them without too much difficulty. Though, we would not recommend any extreme driving using these.
Choosing Track-Day Tires or Street Tires
All this information should give you a good idea of whether you want to invest in track-day tires or street tires moving forward. Still, now you know what you want, where do you pick it up?
We have a wide range of different motorcycle components for you to look through. With such a varied set of options, there is no double you will find something to suit your riding style and ensure it is stress-free. So, check out our store and pick out something to fit your needs today.