Tires 101: An Introduction: Difference between revisions

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Tires are a mysterious thing. Think about it: A reinforced bladder with about thirty pounds of air is all that keeps your motorcycle from rolling on its bare metal rims. That thin bit of rubber is what lets you get out there and enjoy a good ride. Obviously, it pays to know about your tires.

There are a few basic elements to consider when looking at tires. The type of tire, the size, the profile, and the aspect ratio are all elements that can affect the behaviour of the tire, and thus the behaviour of the bike. We'll take these elements and go through them, and the effect that they can have on your bike.

There are a few basic elements to consider when looking at tires. The type of tire, the size, the profile, and the aspect ratio are all elements that can affect the behaviour of the tire, and thus the behaviour of the bike. We'll take these elements and go through them and the effect that they can have on your bike.

The most apparent difference between tires is the size and the aspect ratio. These are indicated by the numbers on the side of the tire, usually something along the lines of "120/80V-16" or "4.50H-16". There is also an alphanumeric system that would look something like "MR80H-16". So what do all these numbers mean?

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The aspect ratio is approximately how tall the tire is in relationship to its width. Thus, a 120/80 tire is about 95 mm tall, from the bead to the tread surface.

The speed rating indicates at what maximum speed the tire is considered safe for continuous use. In this instance, the V ~~stand~~ for speeds up to 149 mph. A table of speed ratings is listed below.

The speed rating indicates at what maximum speed the tire is considered safe for continuous use. In this instance, the V stands for speeds up to 149 mph. A table of speed ratings is listed below.

The last number is the diameter of the wheel that the tire is intended for. In this case, we are talking about a 16 inch rim for the tire.

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 Tires are a mysterious thing. Think about it: A reinforced bladder with about thirty pounds of air is all that keeps your motorcycle from rolling on its bare metal rims. That thin bit of rubber is what lets you get out there and enjoy a good ride. Obviously, it pays to know about your tires.
-There are a few basic elements to consider when looking at tires. The type of tire, the size, the profile, and the aspect ratio are all elements that can affect the behaviour of the tire, and thus the behaviour of the bike. We'll take these elements and go through them, and the effect that they can have on your bike.
+There are a few basic elements to consider when looking at tires. The type of tire, the size, the profile, and the aspect ratio are all elements that can affect the behaviour of the tire, and thus the behaviour of the bike. We'll take these elements and go through them and the effect that they can have on your bike.
 The most apparent difference between tires is the size and the aspect ratio. These are indicated by the numbers on the side of the tire, usually something along the lines of "120/80V-16" or "4.50H-16". There is also an alphanumeric system that would look something like "MR80H-16". So what do all these numbers mean?
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 The aspect ratio is approximately how tall the tire is in relationship to its width. Thus, a 120/80 tire is about 95 mm tall, from the bead to the tread surface.
-The speed rating indicates at what maximum speed the tire is considered safe for continuous use. In this instance, the V stand for speeds up to 149 mph. A table of speed ratings is listed below.
+The speed rating indicates at what maximum speed the tire is considered safe for continuous use. In this instance, the V stands for speeds up to 149 mph. A table of speed ratings is listed below.
 The last number is the diameter of the wheel that the tire is intended for. In this case, we are talking about a 16 inch rim for the tire.