2014 Motorrad Premium Touring Motorcycle Tire Test

Unlike the average car driver, motorbike riders have an intimate relationship with their tires, and fully understand the need to fit the right tire for your riding style and intended use. Sometimes lasting less than 2,000 miles, the right tire can literally mean the difference between a safe ride home in the wet, or a nasty highside resulting in a damaged bike, and potentially worse, a damaged body.

Sadly, as the motorcycle tire market is smaller than the car market, less money is spent on group testing by the magazines, and a good tire test is harder to come by. This makes the 2014 Motorrad tire test very interesting, as being German they've gone into great depth to discover which tire works best on a Honda CB 1000 R wearing 120/70 ZR 17 and 180/55 ZR 17 tires.

Sadly, this one has been a little hard to translate, and certain motorbike tire tests don't fully fit in with the way our tire database works so we recommend finding a copy of the full article. As usual we've summarised the best we can below.

All dry tests were performed on the road, and the wet tests were on track.

The Results

1^st

Michelin Pilot Road 4

180/55 ZR 17

In bad weather Michelin riders have always have good cards. The new Road 4 shows, as expected, no weaknesses

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	131
Wet	94

Total: 225

2^nd

Continental Road Attack 2 Evo

180/55 ZR 17

The development step has been good for the RoadAttack EVO. The tire excels on winding country roads, makes heavy bikes handy, and has closed in on the leaders in the wet

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	136
Wet	84

Total: 220

3^rd

Pirelli Angel GT

180/55 ZR 17

A touring tire with a sporty character strong in both the dry and wet

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	131
Wet	89

Total: 220

4^th

Bridgestone BATTLAX SPORT TOURING T30

180/55 ZR 17

The T30 is particularly impressive as an all round balanced and very neutral tire

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	130
Wet	84

Total: 214

5^th

Dunlop RoadSmart II

180/55 ZR 17

As Roadsmart 2 swings the pendulum towards sportiness - what does that mean? A lot of stability, less maneuverability. And it needs to be brought up to temperature.

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	128
Wet	86

Total: 214

6^th

Metzeler Roadtec Z8 Interact

180/55 ZR 17

Unlike the previous versions of the Z8, the new version is lighter, and works in the wet. The benefits are good, but the competition is also strong

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	128
Wet	84

Total: 212

7^th

Avon Storm 3D XM

180/55 ZR 17

Under ideal road conditions the Storm 3D can hold its own, but once the goin gets tough, or wet, the Avon is best avoided

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	124
Wet	64

Total: 188