Eurogrip at EICMA 2026: Protorq Max, Bee Sport and Altai

The blue stand E45 in Hall 6 is hard to miss, and the star of the show is the Protorq Max. It gives the stand its name and is the most important new product Eurogrip has brought to its sixth consecutive EICMA appearance.

Eurogrip positions the Protorq Max as a supersports tyre developed primarily for the road, but one that should also have reserves on the race track. According to the manufacturer, it is aimed at twisty roads and Alpine passes, in other words the terrain where Swiss riders spend most of their time leaned over.

Technically, the tyre relies on a radial construction with a zero-degree steel belt. This is said to ensure consistent behaviour under acceleration, under braking and in corners. A variable-radius profile promises nimbler handling, smooth transitions on turn-in and an optimised contact patch. For grip, Eurogrip combines a multi-zone compound with a high silica content, which should also help in the wet.

At launch, sizes 110/70 ZR17 and 120/70 ZR17 are announced for the front, and for the rear 180/55 ZR17 and 190/55 ZR17, among others. That means the range extends from middleweight sports bikes to full-blown superbikes. The Protorq Max is due to hit the shops in early 2027, with prices expected to be around EUR 250.

When it comes to scooters, Eurogrip has its roots in Europe. The brand launched here in 2021 with the Bee Connect, the first tyre from its Italian development centre in Milan. Since then, the Bee family has grown to include the Bee Connect UHP, the Bee Classy and the adventure scooter tyre Bee Wild.

The Bee Sport builds on the versatile Bee Connect and steps things up in terms of handling and grip. The bias-ply construction with synthetic fibre fabric is designed to provide directional stability and cornering stability while soaking up vibrations. The compound and tread pattern are derived from the Protorq, i.e. from the brand's sports tyre world. According to Eurogrip, a sportier profile ensures a larger contact patch and more control when leaned over.

The name isn't entirely new: the Bee Sport was already on the stand at EICMA 2025 and was announced for the second half of 2026. The first sizes are already popping up at online retailers. The official launch now takes place at EICMA 2026, with broad availability planned from early 2027.

The most exciting news for adventure bike riders sits on a plinth covered in sand and stones. With the Altai, Eurogrip is showing a rally-oriented 50/50 tyre for mid-size and large adventure bikes for the first time. This closes a gap in the brand's own range, which previously extended from the road-biased Trailhound STR with its 90/10 design to the knobblier Trailhound Wild.

The aggressive knobbly tread with large blocks and a high void ratio leaves no doubt about what the Altai is intended for: gravel, forest tracks and dirt roads where a trail tyre reaches its limits. The rear tyre on display is sized 150/70 R18, a size fitted to numerous middleweight adventure bikes.

It is still a prototype, and Eurogrip is keeping technical details under wraps. Market launch is planned for early 2028.

Eurogrip is backed by the Indian manufacturer TVS Srichakra; production takes place in India, while development has been carried out at the centre in Milan since 2019. The list of original equipment fitments shows just how seriously the brand is taken in Europe.

The breakthrough came with Aprilia: since the presentation of the RS 457 in September 2023, the Protorq Extreme has been fitted ex works to the A2 sports bike worldwide. Eurogrip developed the tyre together with Aprilia on Italian race tracks and roads. With the Tuono 457 (model year 2025), unveiled at EICMA 2024, a second Aprilia model on Protorq Extreme joined the line-up.

At EICMA 2026, the list grows considerably. According to Eurogrip, the newly unveiled Norton Urban 450, BMW F 450 R, BMW F 450 RR and Moto Guzzi Trip 500 roll out of the factory on the Protorq Extreme. The Norton Atlas adventure bike gets the Explo-R Plus, an adventure touring tyre for road and light off-road use. Eurogrip tyres could also be seen on the stands of Aprilia, BMW, Norton, Piaggio, Hero and TVS.

The European range now comprises over 200 sizes for road, scooter and off-road.