Stand one dirt bike tire next to another and you’d be hard-pressed to see any difference on the surface: black and round with super-chunky treads consisting of large knobs of rubber. Surprisingly, however, there are differences between them all, not only in the compounds of rubber used but also in their suitability for different surfaces.
Of course, it’s not always possible to know what surface you are going to be riding on if you are riding away from your regular location, and even were you to know in advance, the likelihood of being able to tailor your tire choice to the terrain is slim, unless you’re a pro racer. You ride with what is fitted and that’s it.
So, how do you choose in the first place? A lot will depend on where you live and the type of riding you are going to be doing: MX on a track or Enduro out in the wilds: sandy or muddy: hard-packed surface or loose. Price will also play a large part in your choice, as well as availability.
Not many of us weekend warriors will be able to tell the difference between one tire or another but, psychologically, knowing you have the right tire for the job is a huge boost to confidence.
The Different Types of Tyre
The first thing to consider is the terrain you will be riding on and choose your tire accordingly. There are five basic types:
Soft Terrain: They're good for mud and soft sand. Treads are designed to bite into the soft surface. The tread blocks will be more widely spaced to prevent them from clogging up.
Intermediate: Tread blocks are closer together to give added grip on mixed terrain, while the rubber compound will be harder to resist wear on the harder surfaces
Hard Terrain: Surprisingly, the compound is soft so the tread will mold around the surface. The knobs are closely spaced for better traction.
Trail: Jack of All trades Tire. It is designed to be a compromise giving acceptable grip on a wide range of surfaces.
Paddle: This is for sand only. The tread comprises tall ‘paddles’ that sit across the width of the tire’s crown, designed to scoop at the sand to give maximum traction. Only really good in a straight line as they have little lateral grip.
Where it gets confusing is in the compounds used to make the tire: hard compounds are for soft terrain and the whole tire is stiffer. Soft compounds are for hard terrain: the rubber is more flexible but it also has to be more durable to prevent it from being worn away too quickly. Confused? Me too! But we'll try and make this as clear as possible.
Motocross (MX) Tires
Intermediate Surface (mixed/variable surface)
Michelin Starcross 5
Logic dictates that you can’t go far wrong with any of the major tire manufacturers, and, in Michelin, you are buying into one of the best brands. The bigger companies will have so much more money for R&D and this shows n their products.
The Starcross 5 tire has been around for a while now and has a great reputation. Michelin has worked hard to reduce the weight of the tire which will have benefits in acceleration, braking, and cornering. Despite this weight loss, the carcass still displays good strength, flexibility, and durability.
Somehow, Michelin has managed to improve rigidity without adding weight, which will help to prevent the tire from squashing flat on rocky sections and pinching the inner tube, causing it to tear and deflate.
It is available in different compounds and each has a different tread pattern.
Maxxis Maxxcross MX-ST
If you follow any form of motorcycle sport, you can’t have failed to notice the Maxxis name getting ever more prominent and this is reflected in the range and quality of their tires.
They are designed to have a pliable carcass to improve rider comfort and give better feedback. Despite the flexibility, it is stable enough to give predictable cornering, alongside improved traction and braking performance. The MX-ST is the official tire of MXGP so you know it must be good and is a great compromise tire for those who can only afford one type of tire.
Hard Surface
Michelin Starcross 5 Hard
For hard terrain, you need a durable compound that still offers grip and flexibility. Choose the Michelin Starcross 5 if you are intending to compete as opposed to simply messing around with your friends.
Differing from the Starcross Intermediate listed above in tread pattern and sidewall design, the Starcross Hard has a set of tighter-packed knobs on the tread, while the knobs on the rear tire has an alternating pattern to prevent the tread from getting clogged up with dirt or mud.
The stiffer casing allows you to run lower tire pressures, giving you the optimum pressure for a given terrain while reducing the likelihood of a puncture.
2Pirelli Scorpion MX Hard2}
Choose this tire if you are riding rough and rocky terrain, which will be hard on tires: the oversize knobs will maximize surface grip and Pirelli has altered the tire bead design to prevent the tire from rotating on the rim under hard acceleration.
Soft Terrain
2Dunlop Geomax MX 332}
MX tracks often have soft/intermediate surfaces and the MX 33 has been designed for just such conditions.
It offers great feel and traction at higher speeds, and the tread blocks have a sharper biting edge which gives great grip when the going is soft. But, it will also work well on intermediate surfaces making this a good all-round tire for privateer MX riders who might not have the budget of full factory riders or even for casual riders who want to do a bit of track, a bit of enduro, and a bit of weekend mud-plugging. Precise handling and smoother braking is promised.
Bridgestone X20
This one is for the pros. Featuring curved side knobs for traction at high lean angles and overall self-cleaning knobs to prevent clogging. The knobs are also very rigid to aid traction when the going gets wet or muddy.
A very versatile soft compound/hard surface tire which will cope with anything the terrain can throw at it.
Enduro Tyres
The important difference between MX and Enduro tires is that the latter will have a wider operating window in terms of the terrain on which it will work. They will be harder-wearing and many of them will be road legal, and, more importantly, actually safe to ride on the road, offering decent levels of grip on the blacktop.
An enduro tire has to cope with the full range of surfaces - loose, soft, hard, abrasive - and the different riding styles needed for each one.
Dunlop AT81
According to Dunlop, this is the next generation of off-road tires, offering more all-round performance alongside greater resistance to chunking and tearing of the tread.
Initial wear might be slightly alarming but the tire will actually grip a lot longer than you would expect, retaining consistent performance throughout its life.
There is a trade-off in ultimate traction grip but it’s not so much that the average rider will notice. What he or she will notice is the lessening of the need to replace them often.
IRC Tires Battle Rally BR99
One of the brands you might not be familiar with but they have been around since the late 1920s! With that in mind, their products do have a reputation as old-school tires that might not seem to be keeping up with modern tire technology but which offer great grip on any surface you might be riding on.
The BR99 is ideal for intermediate surfaces and, in a world where tires are getting more and more specialized, is a great all-around tire.
Dirt Bike Sand Tyres
These are tires solely for riding on sand, whether on the beach or in the desert. The main criteria here is getting the power down on a surface that can often have the traction qualities of water. You need the tire to dig in and retain its shape for the best performance.
Dunlop Geomax MX12
Riding in the sand is a technique all on its own and you need a tire that makes it as easy as possible. Most manufacturers make a sand tire, but we think that Dunlop Geomax MX12 stands right up there with any of the others, while costing less, which is always important.
The V-Block tread pattern increases traction and helps with preventing the tread from clogging up. The knobs themselves are designed with Dunlop’s Progressive Cornering Block technology which has a block within a block to give more predictable cornering traction.
Michelin Starcross 5 Sand
Looking completely different from the Dunlop, but designed to do the same job, the Michelin Starcross 5 features a very aggressive rear tire tread pattern for ultimate sand traction. It uses the same reduced-weight construction as the MX tires which will aid less rolling mass and therefore better acceleration and braking.
Sand tires are run at much higher pressures than MX or Enduro tires, to prevent the tire from deforming and thus harming traction. The carcass, however, is still flexible to aid rider comfort.
At the end of the day, what is important is which tire you feel comfortable on: different tires will affect your bike differently and change the way it handles and feels under your bum. Unless you are chasing lap times or engaging in serious point-to-point competition, choose the tire that feels best for you, irrespective of what it was designed for. Most of us will ride on what the bike came with and leave it at that and that’s fine. As long as there are plenty of treads to help the tire perform the way it should, then you’re OK.
F.A.Q.s
FAQ
Q: What is the best tire for dirt bike?
The best tire depends on the terrain on which you are riding: each type of terrain - MX track, enduro outride, sand - needs a different tire if you are going to enjoy your ride. There are other factors such as budget but buy the best tire you can afford. If you are just a casual rider, then you don't need the very best tire out there, just one that is right for the type of riding you intend to do.
Q: What is a good enduro TYRE?
The Dunlop AT81 has had very good reviews.
Q: Which motorcycle tire brand is best?
There's not much to choose from between the top manufacturers, such as Pirelli, Maxxis, Michelin, Dunlop, etc. Choose a tire that is readily available where you live.
Q: How many miles does a dirt bike tire last?
That all depends on who is riding and on what surface he or she is riding. There is no way of answering such a question as there are too many variables and off-road tires are not built for extreme endurance like road tires.
Q: What tires do enduro racers use?
The ones their tire sponsor provides them with!