Motorcycle Tyre Recommendations

Our 1000PS editors ride with many different tyres on different bikes. We want to pass on this experience with motorcycle tyres. Our permanent editorial crew, along with the racers who support us and instructors from the motorcycle scene, work together to create this tyre guide.

Why? At our events, but also in our forum, we often experience that despite the high technical standard that tyres offer, riders are out and about on the wrong tyres. In other words, the application and the tyre don't match. Anyone who is a complete beginner and sticks to our recommendations will in any case have a very good and correct tyre fitted to their bike. It's clear that for individual bike types or very specific applications/tracks, or personal preferences, there may be a different tyre rating than ours. But in any case, our table is a good aid for making a good choice with little research effort. We have put together 5 current and well-functioning tyres as a recommendation for you in each category. It's very important to first choose the correct tyre category for yourself. After that, you can choose your personal favourite in the corresponding row.

This list is revised once a year, or reviewed when important new tyre releases appear, and makes no claim to completeness.

Slicks for racers and particularly committed hobby racers. Complex to handle, full concentration on lap time.

• Bridgestone V-03
• Dunlop GP Racer Slick D212
• Pirelli Diablo Superbike
• Metzeler Racetec RR Slick
• Michelin Power Slick 2

For hobby riders who ride exclusively on the race track, but for whom safety, ease of handling and fun are more important than lap time. Cost also plays a role.

• Metzeler Racetec RR CompK Slick
• Pirelli Diablo Superbike SC3
• Dunlop Sportmax GP Racer D212 Slick
• Michelin Power Slick 2

For hobby riders who ride exclusively on the race track. These tyres do have tread - but only for homologation reasons. Not suitable for road use.

• Pirelli Supercorsa SC
• Dunlop GP Racer D212
• Metzeler Racetec RR
• Continental ContiRaceAttack 2
• Bridgestone R11
• Michelin Power Performance Cup

Sporty tyres for the road that still perform well at a trackday. Compromises in the rain on the road or in heat on the track.

• Pirelli Supercorsa SP
• Continental ContiRaceAttack 2 Street
• Bridgestone Battlax RS-12
• Dunlop Sportsmart TT
• Michelin Power Cup 2

All-round tyres for sporty riders. Supersports bikes, naked bikes, sport tourers. Also occasional outings to the race track. Mileage still plays a role, as does short warm-up time and performance in bad weather.

• Bridgestone S23
• Continental ContiSportAttack 4
• Metzeler Sportec M9RR
• Dunlop Sportsmart MK4
• Michelin Power GP
• Michelin Power 6
• Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV

For naked bikes, sport tourers but also sports bikes. High mileage is very important, as is wet grip. The focus is on touring suitability rather than sportiness.

• Continental ContiRoadAttack 4
• Pirelli Angel GT II
• Metzeler Roadtec 02
• Dunlop Roadsmart 4
• Bridgestone T33
• Michelin Road 6
• Mitas Touring Force

For the daily commute to work and short weekend rides. Sporty tyres from the second tier - good price/performance ratio.

• Bridgestone S22
• Pirelli Diablo Rosso III
• Dunlop Sportsmart 2 Max
• Michelin Pilot Power 3
• Metzeler Sportec M7 RR
• Continental ContiRoad
• Mitas Touring Force

For the daily commute to work and short weekend rides. Partly also sporty tyres from the second tier - good price/performance ratio. Particularly suitable and available for bikes in the displacement classes up to 350 cc.

• Bridgestone S22
• Metzeler Sportec M7 RR
• Pirelli Angel City
• Michelin Pilot Power 3
• Continental ContiRoad
• Dunlop Sportmax GPR300
• Mitas MC-25 Bogart

Tyres for adventure bikes. But with a clear focus on the road. No off-road excursions planned.

• Continental ContiTrailAttack 3
• Pirelli Scorpion Trail 2
• Dunlop Trailmax Meridian
• Bridgestone A41
• Metzeler Tourance Next 2
• Mitas Touring Force
• Michelin Road 6

Genuine adventure bike tyres which are also fun on occasional excursions onto gravel passes.

• Continental TKC 70
• Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR
• Dunlop Trailmax Mixtour
• Bridgestone AT41
• Metzeler Karoo Street
• Mitas E08 Enduro
• Michelin Anakee Adventure 2

For adventure! Those riders who really ride off-road often and gladly with their adventure bikes, but who have to complete the journey there on tarmac.

• Mitas E-07 +
• Continental TKC 80
• Pirelli Scorpion Rally
• Bridgestone AX41
• Heidenau K60 Ranger
• Metzeler Karoo 4
• Michelin Anakee Wild
• Dunlop Trailmax Raid

For all those riders who want to tackle even tougher terrain, we recommend this article on 1000PS.

For hard enduros used in hobby races or in tough enduro training sessions. FIM approval is not a criterion for us.

• Michelin Enduro Medium
• Mitas Terra Force EX
• X-Grip The Escalator Sticky
• Metzeler 6 Days Extreme
• Bridgestone Battlecross E50 Extreme

Current prices for the most important motorcycle tyres can be found here.