Walk into any motorcycle tire shop and you will find hundreds of options, which makes the question "what tires should I buy?" harder than it sounds. The honest answer is that the best motorcycle tire is the one that matches how you ride. A tire that is perfect for track days is a poor choice for a daily commuter, and the reverse is true too. Here is how we help riders sort through it.
Start with how you actually ride
Before you look at brands or prices, answer a few plain questions:
- Do you ride mostly on the street, on dirt, or a mix of both?
- Do you want maximum grip, maximum mileage, or a balance?
- Do you ride in the rain, in cold weather, or only on dry days?
- Do you carry a passenger or luggage?
- Do you ride track days or race?
Your answers point you to one of the categories below.
Types of motorcycle tires and who they are for
Street bike tires fall into a few main groups, and off-road tires into a few more. Here is each one.
Sportbike tires
If you ride a sportbike (whether that is a Hayabusa, a ZX-10R, an S1000RR or a smaller 600), sportbike tires are built for grip and cornering. They use softer compounds that warm up quickly and stick well at lean angles. The tradeoff is wear: more grip usually means fewer miles. Which one is right comes down to how much of your riding happens on the track and how much on the street.
Mostly track days, with the occasional street ride. Look for a street-legal motorcycle track tire or racing tire. These give you race-derived grip while staying DOT-approved, so you can ride to the track and home again. Here are the ones we like:
- Bridgestone Battlax Racing Street RS12 – our personal favorite here at Westfield Moto. It is a street-legal sport tire built for riders who spend their time at track days and still ride on the road. The compound uses technology developed through Bridgestone's racing tires, and the tread pattern was reworked for rigidity and contact area. It launched for 2026 as an update to the RS11.
- Dunlop Sportmax Q5S – a street-legal sport radial that handles track days and the occasional street ride. It uses a Racing Type Fine Carbon Technology compound front and rear, with a dual-compound rear that has grippier shoulders and a higher-wear center, and a tread pattern aimed at faster warm-up and longer life.
- Continental ContiRaceAttack 2 Street (front and rear) – a D.O.T.-approved hypersport radial designed for use as a race or road tire. It features Continental's BlackChili compound and a minimal-groove tread with no grooves on the shoulder for grip on track or street.
Mostly street riding, with the occasional track day. If most of your miles are on public roads and the track is a once-in-a-while thing, a street-biased sport radial is usually the better fit. Two to look at:
- Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S23 – a street-legal sport radial for spirited road riding and track days. It adds a new edge compound intended to improve traction at lean angle, plus a Pulse Groove on the rear to help move water. It is the successor to the Hypersport S22.
- Dunlop Sportmax Q5 – a DOT-legal sport radial with a lower-groove-density tread pattern for more rubber on the road and a Racing Type Fine Carbon Technology compound. It is built on the lineage of Dunlop's Sportmax Q4 and MotoAmerica race tires.
If you ride mostly on the street and want more mileage and wet-weather grip, a sport-touring tire, covered next, may suit you better. Whatever you choose, check that the tire is DOT-approved if you ride on public roads.
Sport-touring tires
Want strong grip but also long mileage and good wet-weather behavior? Sport-touring tires split the difference. They are a smart choice for commuting, long weekend rides and riders who cover real miles. Many are dual compound, which means they are harder in the middle and softer on the edges, to give you maximum milage while also offering good cornering grip. Good examples are the Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart IV and the Bridgestone Battlax Sport Touring T33.
Cruiser and touring tires
V-twin cruisers, including Harley-style bikes, usually run cruiser tires. These are made to carry weight, last a long time and give a comfortable, stable ride. Many are bias-ply or bias-belted, and some are radial. For example, the Dunlop Elite 4 is aimed at long-distance touring and cruising on heavy cruiser and touring bikes.
Adventure and dual-sport tires
Riding both pavement and dirt roads? Look at adventure and dual-sport tires, sometimes called dual purpose tires. They are usually described by an on-road to off-road split. A tire that is about 80% road and 20% dirt, like the Bridgestone Battlax Adventure Trail AT41, is aimed at mostly pavement riding with some light off-road use. A tire built for more dirt, like the Continental TKC 80 Twinduro, bites harder off-road but gives up some highway grip and wears faster on the street. There are also supermoto tires, which put a street-style tire on a dirt-style bike.
Dirt bike and off-road tires
For dirt bike tires, the terrain decides everything:
- Soft terrain (mud, sand, loose dirt): a more open tread with taller knobs, such as the Bridgestone Battlecross X20.
- Intermediate terrain: the all-around choice for mixed tracks and trails.
- Hard-packed terrain: a shorter, more closely spaced tread.
A front dirt bike tire is built to steer and brake, while a dirt bike rear tire is built to drive and hook up, so the two are designed differently. Most off-road tires are not made for the road. Some enduro tires are DOT-approved for both, but a standard motocross tire is for off-road use only.
Scooter, small-wheel and vintage tires
Scooters, minis and classic bikes each have their own tires, from small-diameter commuter tires to vintage-style sizes. These are best matched by size, so check the size printed on your current tire or message us and we will help.
What to compare
| If you care most about... | Look for... |
|---|---|
| Maximum grip | Sport or track tires with softer compounds |
| Long mileage | Touring, sport-touring or cruiser tires |
| Wet-weather riding | Sport-touring tires with water-channeling tread |
| Carrying weight | Higher load index, touring or cruiser construction |
| Pavement and dirt | Dual-sport or adventure tires |
| Dirt only | Off-road tread matched to your terrain |
Radial or bias: which do I need?
Radial tires generally give lighter steering and better high-speed stability, which is why most sportbikes use them. Bias and bias-belted tires are common on cruisers and older bikes and are built for durability and weight. The right choice is whatever your motorcycle is set up for, so check your manual before switching.
Which brand of motorcycle tires should I buy?
The big names each have a clear lane:
- Bridgestone motorcycle tires: the Battlax line covers sport, sport-touring and adventure riding.
- Dunlop tires for motorcycles: the Sportmax line includes sportbike tires and sport-touring tires, plus cruiser and off-road options.
- Continental motorcycle tires: a strong choice for sport-touring and adventure riding.
- Kenda motorcycle tires: a wide range for dirt, off-road and utility riding.
Within any brand, matching the type of tire to your riding matters far more than the logo on the sidewall.
Front, rear or both?
Matching front and rear tires are made to work together. Many riders replace both at the same time, and it is a good idea to stay within the same type of tire so the bike handles predictably. For sport bike guys, the general rule of thumb is replacing 2 rear tires, for every 1 front tire you go through. The rear tire always wears faster since it's taking all the load of the drivetrain. If you only need one, tell us what is on the other end and we will help you pick something that matches.
New tires or used motorcycle tires?
We are asked about used tires fairly often, and we always recommend new tires for your motorcycle. A used tire has an unknown history, with unknown age, storage and damage, and it may already be near the end of its life. If you do buy a tire second-hand, check the date code first (look for the letters DOT on the sidewall; the last four digits are the week and year the tire was made).
Mounting and break-in
If you mount tires yourself, you will want proper tire mounting tools and rubber lubricant, and your wheels will need to be balanced. Once the new tires are on, ride gently for the first stretch of miles to scrub in the surface, and set your tire pressure to what your manual recommends. Check it often. Pressure is one of the biggest factors in how a tire feels and how long it lasts.
Common questions
How long do motorcycle tires last?
It depends on the tire and how you ride. Soft sport tires can wear out in a few thousand miles, while touring and cruiser tires are built to last much longer. Age matters too, so check the date code. Tire PSI is very often over looked as well. Under inflated tires will wear out much quicker, and make your motorcycle feel much more sluggish leaning over compared to the correct PSI for how you are riding. Check your owners manual or the tire manufacturer for correct pressures.
Can I use dirt bike tires on the street?
Generally, no. Most off-road tires are not made for pavement. Only tires marked DOT-approved are intended for the road.
Are more expensive tires worth it?
Often, yes, when the extra cost buys the right compound and construction for how you ride. A premium sport tire on a commuter that never leans over is wasted money, though. With tires, its the one thing to not cut corners on. Its the only thing keeping you on the road, after all.
Order motorcycle tires from Westfield Moto
Ready to buy? Browse our full selection of motorcycle tires, or start with the Tire Finder to search by size. We ship across the U.S., and orders over $150 ship free. Still not sure what to pick? Message us with your year, make and model, and tell us how you ride. We are a rider-owned, mechanic-operated shop, and we are happy to help you choose.