So you need replacement tires. Which one should you choose? Are all scooter tires the same? Are those grooves on the tire just random designs? Would it matter if you chose one brand over the other because of the price? Does finding the right tire for your scooter really make any difference?
Well let me tell you, not all scooter tires are the same; and it WOULD matter if you used the right scooter tire. No ideas how to choose a scooter tire yet? We have developed this tire guide to help you decide on which tire works on your situation, what to do to help you get the most from your scooter, and to have basic information on the kind of tires you might want to invest on.
First things first: Know Your Tires
In getting brand-new tires for your scooter, you should know first what kind of tires are presently on it. Scooter tires vary from 10 to 16 inches in elevation, and are available in differing sizes, build, height, width, weight and material. With all those options and differences for replacement tires, finding out what type of tires you have exactly on your scooter has to be your initial step.
Check also whether your scooter has varying tire sizes for its front and rear tires. Although most scooter tires have the same size for the front and rear, some scooters need different front and rear tires, and placing a rear tire on the front can make your scooter unsafe and unstable.
Knowing the size of your wheels can lead you to knowing your tire manufacturer. Manufacturers seldom make a scooter tire in every size available, so this narrows your options. If you have a preferred manufacturer, you can check if they make it in the size you need first. Who knows, maybe they have the size you need.
Which is Which: Radial or Bias-ply
After the initial step of knowing what tire you have, we move on to the characteristic of the tire you need. There are two options: Radial or Bias-ply.
Radials are a contemporary sort of tires, with a carcass made from rigid cords that go right throughout the tread, with belts of steel, polyester, or aramid fibers weaving atop them. Radials have the tendency to be more solid, enabling better efficiency, longer tread life, and more accurate handling. The negative side of this is that it offers a stiffer ride.
Bias-ply tires are more classic, constructed with a style that’s been around for over a century. The numerous layers flex and produce a padding result, which makes bias-ply tires more comfortable to ride as compared to Radial ply and are excellent at managing heavy cargoes. The down-side of Bias-ply tires is that they are harder to control at faster speeds and absorbs a great deal of heat.
But here’s the important thing: there are thousands of discussions about radial vs. bias-ply tires around the world, but one thing is true: most of the scooter tires are made with bias-ply.
Bias-ply tires are more preferred for scooters because of their more comfortable performance, and a much better capability to take on humps and bumps that affect scooters a lot more due to their smaller wheels.
Despite the fact that radials stand out at high-speed-performance and at sharp turns, that’s not actually the type of riding a scooter was built for. You’ll find that scooter riders actually choose bias-ply tires and that there are more bias-ply scooter tires that are manufactured.
10 Tires You Should Know:
So now that you know what size you need and what build you want, here are ten scooter tires that we have listed down including some of the characteristics they have.
- Michelin City Grip Scooter Tire
Like its name, the Michelin City Grip tire is made to grip. The City Grip is a bias-ply tire made in dimensions that vary from 11 to 16 inches, with deep shoulder sides and a smooth center; it is created for different kinds of scooters that can accommodate the dry and wet weather of city life.
- Kenda K329 Scooter Tire
Only coming in 10-inch sizes, the K329 has a superb rating amongst bikers. The Kenda K329 is for the thrifty rider who wants to strike a good balance between savings, mileage, and wet-weather performance. The K329 is a bias-ply scooter tire that has a terrific tread pattern that grasps the concrete and asphalt of the city driving.
- Pirelli SL26 Scooter Tire
The Pirelli SL26 is an excellent tire for smaller sized 50-125cc scooters, and can be found in dimensions from 10 to 13 inches. They have a modern-day, sport-oriented tread pattern with the appearance of a high-performance motorcycle tire, and also are created to provide efficient handling, a high degree of grasp, as well as exceptional wet-weather efficiency.
- Metzeler Feelfree OEM Replacement Scooter Tire
This is a simple option for someone who is satisfied with their stock tires but is looking for a substitute. Metzeler’s Feelfree OEM Replacement scooter tires have a tread pattern from that of the effective Z6 motorbike sport/adventure tire. They provide excellent quality tire for today’s scooters, giving a solid performance and an even wear. The Feelfrees can be found in a number of dimensions from 13 to 16 inches, in both bias-ply as well as radial variations.
- Michelin Power Pure SC Scooter Tire
The Michelin Power Pure SC, like its motorcycle equivalent, is constructed with pure efficiency in mind. It is a little costlier compared to the budget-minded Kendas, yet worth it if top-notch and exceptional damp and dry efficiency are what you want. The Power Pure SC can be found in a number of dimensions for 12 to 15-inch wheels in both radial and bias-ply selections, and an outstanding ranking among bikers.
- Kenda K413 Scooter Tire
The Kenda K413 Scooter tire is a budget-savvy tire that looks nice and leaves your wallet happy.
This 4-ply beauty is another budget-friendly tire from Kenda, but this one has a race-inspired tread pattern that looks like it means business. It comes in 10 to 13 inch sizes unlike the K329 that only comes in 10 inches.
- Michelin S1 Scooter Tire
The S1 scooter tire is a high quality and high-performance tire that has almost perfect reviews from scooter owners. It has a reinforced crown that makes it reliable and durable, with a casing material over two carcass plies to discourage premature wear. Built with a 10-inch size, it was made for smaller scooters but its superb handling and durability makes it a crowd favorite.
- Pirelli Diablo Scooter Tire
This tire ranges from 12 to 16 inches in size and looks very sporty. It performs well in dry surfaces with quieter road noise. Its performance focused design results in durability and more mileage as it is a version of Pirelli’s sport touring tires.
- Avon AM63 Viper Stryke Scooter Tire
The AM63 is a bias-ply tire that gives a wonderful performance and easy grip which comes in various sizes. It is engineered in 12-16 inches for bigger scooters that can run up to 100 mph however smaller scooters can use it too. The durability of Avon AM63 Viper Stryke allows it to run through long distances without any major wear.
- Shinko SR007 Scooter Tire
And now we come to the Shinkos. It would not be right to leave the Shinkos out of this tire guide. The Shinkos have taken the motorcycle market at a loss for words the last few years with unexpectedly great performance at a super low price. And now Shinko ventures into the Scooter tires, bearing the same philosophy. The Shinko SR007 is a highly-rated tire that comes in 10-12 inches at prices that are below $40.
Looking for tires? Look no further. Motorbike Tire Shop has you covered!
