Ever watch a Supermoto rider carve through a tight corner, switching from pavement to dirt in a blink? It looks effortless, right? But behind that smooth action is a crucial piece of gear: the tire. Choosing the perfect Supermoto tire is a real challenge. Do you need something sticky for the asphalt? Or maybe something knobby for the dirt sections? Picking the wrong tire means losing grip, slowing down, and feeling out of control when you need precision most.
That frustration ends today. This guide cuts through the confusion. We will break down exactly what makes a great Supermoto tire. You will learn about compounds, tread patterns, and how to match the right rubber to your riding style and local tracks. By the end of this post, you will confidently select tires that give you maximum traction and boost your lap times. Let’s dive into the rubber that makes Supermoto magic happen.
Top Supermoto Tires Recommendations
- Specifically designed for scooters and smaller displacement motorcycles, the MICHELIN® Pilot® Street 2 tire has deep tread grooves and its special compounds maximize mileage in all conditions.
- Highly responsive handling and maneuverability through traffic in wet or dry conditions result in a secure and confident ride.
- The Michelin® Pilot® Street 2 tire has small central grooves and progressive side grooves designed for enhanced water evacuation.
- Excellent performance on both wet and dry roads for everyday use.
- Optimized stability and agility.
- Sport Touring Compound: The high silica content compound is specifically engineered for sport touring, providing excellent grip on dry surfaces and ensuring maximum safety on wet surfaces and in low temperatures.
- Innovative Tread Design: The unique tread pattern combines high mileage capability with a modern and attractive look, offering both functionality and aesthetic appeal.
- Versatile Performance: Designed with a new front and rear profile, this tire guarantees neutral and uniform performance across various road conditions, making it suitable for different riding styles. Stable and Controlled Ride: Whether you're cruising down the highway or tackling winding roads, the ANGEL ST delivers the stability and control needed for a smooth and enjoyable ride.
- Long-lasting Durability: Engineered for excellent mileage, this tire maintains constant and reliable performance throughout its entire lifespan, ensuring longevity and value. Clear Lifespan Indication: The functional design includes indicators that clearly state the residual lifespan of the tire, allowing riders to stay informed about their tire's condition.
- Enhanced Safety Features: The advanced compound and tread design work together to provide maximum safety in various weather conditions, giving riders confidence in their tire's performance. Optimized for Modern Bikes: Specifically tailored for the latest generation of sport touring bikes, the ANGEL ST meets the demands of contemporary riders with its cutting-edge design and technology.
- Specifically designed for scooters and smaller displacement motorcycles, the MICHELIN® Pilot® Street 2 tire has deep tread grooves and its special compounds maximize mileage in all conditions.
- Highly responsive handling and maneuverability through traffic in wet or dry conditions result in a secure and confident ride.
- The Michelin® Pilot® Street 2 tire has small central grooves and progressive side grooves designed for enhanced water evacuation.
- Excellent performance on both wet and dry roads for everyday use.
- Optimized stability and agility.
- Transform your PROMOTO-MX Bike into a Supermoto Machine
- Semi-Slick Tread Design for Maximum Grip
- Best Suited for Asphalt Surfaces
- True-to-Scale Supermoto look
- Made in the USA
- Sport Touring Compound: The high silica content compound is specifically engineered for sport touring, providing excellent grip on dry surfaces and ensuring maximum safety on wet surfaces and in low temperatures.
- Innovative Tread Design: The unique tread pattern combines high mileage capability with a modern and attractive look, offering both functionality and aesthetic appeal.
- Versatile Performance: Designed with a new front and rear profile, this tire guarantees neutral and uniform performance across various road conditions, making it suitable for different riding styles. Stable and Controlled Ride: Whether you're cruising down the highway or tackling winding roads, the ANGEL ST delivers the stability and control needed for a smooth and enjoyable ride.
- Long-lasting Durability: Engineered for excellent mileage, this tire maintains constant and reliable performance throughout its entire lifespan, ensuring longevity and value. Clear Lifespan Indication: The functional design includes indicators that clearly state the residual lifespan of the tire, allowing riders to stay informed about their tire's condition.
- Enhanced Safety Features: The advanced compound and tread design work together to provide maximum safety in various weather conditions, giving riders confidence in their tire's performance. Optimized for Modern Bikes: Specifically tailored for the latest generation of sport touring bikes, the ANGEL ST meets the demands of contemporary riders with its cutting-edge design and technology.
- Specifically designed for scooters and smaller displacement motorcycles, the MICHELIN® Pilot® Street 2 tire has deep tread grooves and its special compounds maximize mileage in all conditions.
- Highly responsive handling and maneuverability through traffic in wet or dry conditions result in a secure and confident ride.
- The Michelin® Pilot® Street 2 tire has small central grooves and progressive side grooves designed for enhanced water evacuation.
- Excellent performance on both wet and dry roads for everyday use.
- Optimized stability and agility.
- Complete Supermoto Conversion: Premium wheel kit designed specifically for Sur-Ron Ultra Bee, transforming your ride for superior street performance, commuting, and track use with aggressive supermoto styling
- Optimized Wheel Sizing: Front rim measures 17 × 2.50 inches with 100/80-17 tire, rear rim measures 17 × 3.50 inches with 130/70-17 tire for enhanced pavement grip and stability
- Enhanced Street Performance: Engineered for confident handling on paved surfaces with improved traction, cornering stability, and responsive control for urban riding and track applications
- Durable Construction: Built with high-quality materials to withstand demanding street and track conditions while maintaining reliable performance and long-lasting durability
- Installation Note: Sprockets and brake rotors are NOT included with this wheel kit and must be swapped from original wheel set
- Brand new concept radial for the entry level market
- Safe and reliable feedback on both dry and wet roads
- Value for money mileage due to new formulated polymers in the compound
- 0° Steel-belt construction on the rear for excellent stability and ride comfort
Choosing the Right Supermoto Tires: Your Essential Buying Guide
Supermoto riding mixes dirt bike agility with street bike speed. Your tires are the most important link between you and the road. Choosing the right set makes a huge difference in handling, safety, and fun. This guide helps you pick the perfect rubber for your machine.
Key Features to Look For
Tread Pattern and Profile
Supermoto tires look like street bike tires, not knobby dirt tires. You need a slick or semi-slick tread. A mostly smooth surface gives you maximum contact patch on dry pavement. This means better grip when leaning hard into corners. Some tires have shallow grooves for water displacement. These are good if you ride in the rain often.
Tire Compound
The compound is the “softness” of the rubber. This is crucial. Softer compounds grip incredibly well, letting you lean further. However, they wear out very fast. Harder compounds last much longer but offer less outright grip, especially when cold. Think about how you ride. Are you racing every weekend, or just cruising the streets?
Tire Size and Construction
Always match the tire size exactly to what your motorcycle manufacturer recommends. Supermoto wheels are usually 17 inches. Pay attention to the tire’s construction (radial vs. bias-ply). Radials often offer better stability at high speeds.
Important Materials and Construction
Supermoto tires use advanced rubber compounds. These mixtures include natural and synthetic rubbers along with carbon black and silica. Silica helps the tire grip better in wet conditions.
- High Silica Content: Better wet weather performance.
- Carbon Black: Adds durability and structure to the rubber.
- Aramid Belts (in some radials): These strong fibers keep the tire shape stable when cornering hard. They prevent the tire from ballooning out under stress.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Heat is Your Friend
High-quality supermoto tires need to reach their optimal operating temperature. A soft compound tire that stays cold will slide around like an ice cube. Aggressive riding—fast acceleration and hard braking—generates the heat needed for maximum grip. If you only ride slowly, a very soft race compound might never work well.
Stiffness and Sidewall Integrity
A good tire has stiff sidewalls. Stiff sidewalls resist folding over when you lean the bike over far. This predictability is vital for confidence. Cheaply made tires often have weaker sidewalls, which can feel “squishy” when pushed hard, reducing control.
Age and Storage
Tires degrade over time, even when sitting on the shelf. Check the DOT date code. Buying very old tires, even if unused, reduces quality because the rubber hardens. Always store new tires away from direct sunlight and extreme heat.
User Experience and Use Cases
Track Days and Racing
For track use, you want the stickiest, softest compound available. Durability is secondary to lap times. Riders often use full-slick tires here. Expect these tires to last only a few track days.
Street Commuting and Canyons
Most street riders need a dual-purpose tire. Look for a “50/50” or “sport touring” rated supermoto tire. These balance decent lifespan (thousands of miles) with enough grip for spirited canyon carving. They handle rain better than pure race slicks.
Cold Weather Riding
If you ride when temperatures drop below 45°F (7°C), avoid ultra-soft race compounds. They will not generate enough heat and will offer poor traction. Choose a sport tire designed with more silica for better cold-weather performance.
Supermoto Tire Buying Guide FAQ
Q: What is the main difference between a street tire and a race tire?
A: The main difference is the rubber compound. Race tires are very soft for maximum grip but wear out fast. Street tires use a harder compound for longer life, even though they grip slightly less.
Q: How long should a good set of street supermoto tires last?
A: This varies a lot based on power and style. Generally, if you ride normally, expect between 3,000 to 6,000 miles from a quality street-focused set.
Q: Do I need a specific tire for wet weather?
A: Yes. Tires with more grooves (sipes) and higher silica content move water away better. Never ride aggressive race slicks in heavy rain; they offer almost no water channeling.
Q: What does “contact patch” mean?
A: The contact patch is the small area of rubber actually touching the road when you ride. You want this patch to be as big as possible when leaning, which is why smooth tires work best on dry pavement.
Q: Should I buy radial or bias-ply tires?
A: Most modern, high-performance supermoto bikes use radial tires. Radials handle high speeds and heat build-up better due to their stronger construction.
Q: How do I check the age of a tire?
A: Look for the four-digit DOT code on the sidewall. The first two numbers show the week, and the last two show the year it was made (e.g., 1522 means the 15th week of 2022).
Q: Can I use regular dirt bike tires on my supermoto rim?
A: No. Supermoto bikes use specialized 17-inch street tires designed for high speeds and pavement use. Dirt tires are too soft and have the wrong profile for street riding.
Q: What is “tire warming” and why is it important?
A: Tire warming means getting the rubber hot enough to grip properly. On the track, people use special blankets. On the street, aggressive riding warms them up quickly.
Q: Will a cheaper tire save me money?
A: Not always. A cheap, hard tire might last longer, but if it compromises your safety or handling in a corner, the cost of an accident is much higher than the tire savings.
Q: How often should I check my tire pressure?
A: Check your pressure before every ride. Supermoto tires are sensitive to pressure changes. Correct pressure keeps the tire profile shaped right for maximum grip.