Wide Vs Thin Motorcycle Tires: Does Tyre Width Matter?

There have been many misperceptions that have been created by riders concerning the tires. There are two types of tires: narrow and wide. Each type of tire has its own specific purpose as well as advantages and disadvantages to their own. Here, we'll provide you with a comprehensive overview of both the thick as well as wide-rimmed motorcycle tires.

Wide Vs Thin Motorcycle Tires

So, what's the major difference between wide and thin motorcycle tires? Wide tires are more stable over the road and are able to carry greater power. They last longer than narrow tires due to the added material. The narrower tires are also more compact and therefore more efficient. However, they aren't as stable at high speeds.

The most important thing to remember is that thin or wide tires were designed specifically for certain motorcycles. It's not feasible to put large tires on a low-cc bike that isn't capable of handling the load.

One thing to know is that bigger tires are commonly used on stronger CC motorcycles to control and provide greater stability while traveling at higher speeds. These bikes with higher cc ratings are made to be equipped with larger tires. In the majority of cases, they are found to be larger, whereas they are similar in dimensions.

Motorcycles that have lower cc are built to run on tires that are light. They're light and also have many other advantages. This is why it is crucial to understand that all tires serve some purpose. They are both designed for use in specific types and kinds of CC motorcycles.

What is the way that the size of a tire functions

In order to begin the discussion, it is essential to understand the procedure of the determination of tire size, and what the information on the sidewalls of the tire refers to specifically. The image below is an example of how it is widely used. In this article, we'll be focusing on the explanation of size (items 7-10) If you're interested in knowing more details about the rest (and we'd like to think you are) This is the explanation page of the tire manufacturer.

7 - Denotes the size of the tire. In this instance, 190mm.

8. Determines how high the sidewall is by calculating the aspect ratio. In this case, 55 percent of the total width of the tire means 55% of 190mm equivalent to 104,5mm.

9 - Indicates the type of structure/construction of the tire. In this case, the tire was built by using Radial construction.

10. It indicates the size of the rim of the tire that it is designated for. In this instance, it's a 17" rim.

The main difference between narrow and broad motorcycle tires lies in below are the most significant distinctions:

In this article, I've spoken about the major differences between wide and thin motorcycle tires. This will help you understand your knowledge.

Traction control/Road Grip

Large tires possess a bigger surface area, which provides more control over traction as well as more ability to grip the pavement. Its grip on the road of a wider tire to the road is superior to the other tires. This is the reason why bikes remain stable even at high speeds. This means that even at high speeds, you will experience stability because of the wider tires. Furthermore, wide tires give you more control over traction when driving on normal roadways (road). They also improve the stability and grip on wet or slippery surfaces too.

Because thinner tires possess a lesser surface area results in less grip on the road. This means that most of the time the grip of the tires that are thin is less effective than that of tires with larger areas.

Handling & Cornering

In general, the handling will be better across all types of tires regardless of whether they're narrow or wide. If you pick one that is thin, you'll benefit. Since thinner tires are lighter, they make moving through traffic less difficult while when you're using an extra-large tire you'll have to work hard. Larger tires are typically utilized in larger motorcycles which makes steering and maneuvering a little more difficult.

The reason behind these differences is typically due to the various weights of the tires. Due to their greater surface area, big tires require more room to turn. However, with smaller tires, it is possible to turn effortlessly.

Tires' resistance

Due to the fact that wide tires have larger dimensions, the friction on the road with tires is more intense which results in a rise in resistance. Resistance to roll of the wide tires is much greater than the resistance of the smaller tires.

A bike equipped with big tires will require more power than tires of a smaller diameter. Due to the greater force required to drive the bike, energy consumption also increases. This means that the distance traveled by the vehicle reduces.

In general, the effectiveness of your vehicle is lower with wider tires than the ones with thinner.

Thin tires mean that the contact of these tires to the road is lower than when you have large tires. Therefore, when tires are thin, the road resistance is less and this results in greater distance and less energy usage for motorbikes.

Engine capacity

What Is Best Motorcycle Engine Size To Start

You've probably noticed that some bikes have a thinner tire, while other models come with larger tires. The question is how do manufacturers decide which tire is best for the particular bike?

In general, the capacity of the engine of the motorcycle determines the kind of tire it will be equipped with. The power and torque that can be produced by a vehicle determine the type of tire it's fitted with.

Therefore, motorbikes that have more Ccs are usually equipped with larger tires. As we all know, a cc engine with higher horsepower has more power and torque than the lesser Cc engines. So, a higher CC engine will be more efficient, and regarding speed and stability, it is vital. This is the reason why high-end motorcycles typically have larger tires.

Motorcycles that have smaller CCs engines tend to have more slim (thin) tires. Thus, thin tires are used on these bikes to increase efficiency and fuel efficiency.

How Fast Can A Top Speed 600cc Of Motorcycles Go？

Cost of the tire

When we look at the cost of tires, wide tires cost more than thinner ones. This is the reason why entry-level budget motorcycles don't have tiny tires.

In most cases, wide tires are paired with higher CCs, which resemble cruisers, super sports with a motorcycle style or bobbers, for example. To cope with the speed and weight of motorcycles they are fitted with wide tires in these.

If I'm talking about bikes with a lower cc of 300cc or less These are light and come with narrow tires. This could help reduce expenses, however generally (thin) tire sizes are suitable for these types of bikes.

Stability in various road conditions

Wide tires provide greater stability on roads than thin(narrower) tires because it has a wider distance of contact on the roadway.

Due to the larger surface of the larger tires, they are in greater contact with the road. This allows them to endure all conditions.

If the road surface is slippery, dry, or sandy, it is vital to ensure stability. If you travel at high speeds, you must have large tires that are safe with no loosening of grip.

The road conditions are an important role when riding a motorcycle. Fat tires can be used for use in any road condition due to their greater surface area and larger contact area. They offer safety even in the event of bumps or damage on the road.

If your tires are thin, the size that the tires cover is less than when you have tires that are wide. So, if you ride your motorbike at high speed its grip on the road is less. This means that stability will be lower with thinner tires. In comparison to larger tires, thin tires don't work as effectively in damp or slippery weather. Thin tires don't offer the same level of stability in the event of bumps or when road conditions are hazardous.

Pros and Pros as well as motorbike tires

As I've said before, both types of tires, wide and thin, have advantages and drawbacks. Both kinds of tires serve particular functions. They are designed to provide increased stability, traction needed and more control on the road in high-speed driving. We'll then discuss the benefits and drawbacks associated with "Wide" tires "Wide" motorcycle tires first.

There are pros and cons of Wide motorbike tires

Pros and cons of thin (narrow) tires designed for motorcycles.

For the time being, we've looked at the advantages and drawbacks of both narrow as well as wide-leap tires, in different ways. Now you can decide which one to buy.

Conclusion

We've covered all the crucial aspects to be considered when selecting the thin or wide tire. I hope you've found the solution and the most suitable option for your motorcycle. The two types of tires were specifically designed for specific applications and are used on certain motorcycles. For more horsepower, larger tires are most well-known when it comes to smaller cc motorcycles, smaller tires are used. If you have any other questions about the subject, I can be reached by email to ask me the question.

FAQs

Are tires for motorcycles with wide widths more efficient?

Larger motorcycle tires are better than smaller tires for motorcycles in some aspects. Both are made to be used with different kinds of motorcycles. Thus, bigger tires perform best on a bike with high performance, and thinner tires are suitable for the smaller CC commuter motorbike.

So, larger tires work best when they are used on the right bike and tires. In other words, it's a cost and waste of time to fit a larger tire on a vehicle that isn't compatible.

Do you have the ability to fit an extra-wide tire to your bicycle?

In the event that the tire fits on your bicycle, without harming the rim or the physical structure, then you're allowed to put this tire onto your bike. If you decide to install a tire that's not made specifically for the bike you're riding, then it might impact the handling of the bike and cause the bike to become more difficult to drive because of the greater contact surface.

It is also important to fit large tires on the bike that wasn't made specifically for the purpose. You'll require an additional rim to fit your tire. This can cost you more...

Richard R

With over 10 years of experience working on cars and trucks Item Training Supervisor Richard Reina is known around the office as one of our technical experts & real an "automobile person".

His rate of interest began, in his very own words, "at the age of two when his father educated him the distinction in between a Chevy and a Ford. Since then it's been cars regularly."

As a serious lover of practically all things with a motor Richard can address nearly any kind of inquiry related to car upkeep, fixing, or restoration & is a fact professional in electric motor background.