Spectacular tire both in cold and rain and with temperatures of up to 33 degrees.
Mounted on a VFR 800, even wear, very good grip, much better than the Road 4 and 5 from Michelin...
Sporty feel, I will definitely mount again...
Motorcycle Summer Premium Touring Tires
All Motorcycle Summer Premium Touring Tires on Tire Reviews, ranked. The 63 tires in this category are scored using 3 independent tire tests and 401 owner reviews covering 1,883,871 miles of driving.
- 63tires in this category
- 3professional tests
- 401owner reviews
- 1,883,871 milescovered on them
The quick answer
| Pick | Tire | The evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Bridgestone Battlax BT 023 8.7 | TR Score 8.7 / 10 medium confidence score |
| Owners' favorite | Michelin City Grip 2 7.9 | 91% from 8 owner reviews |
| Latest test winner | Michelin Road 6 GT | Best Motorcycle Tires for 2024 |
Best overall is the highest TR Score in the category; the owners' favorite is the highest rated by the drivers who run them. The full rankings and the evidence behind every pick are below.
The best Motorcycle Summer Premium Touring Tires, ranked
The highest scoring tire in the category is the Bridgestone Battlax BT 023, with a TR Score of 8.7 out of 10. 24 of the 63 tires here have earned a score; the rest are listed further down.
| # | Tire | TR Score | Owner rating | Reviews | Distance reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
8.7 | 89% | 47 | 210,650 miles |
| 2 |
|
8.3 | 90% | 22 | 120,499 miles |
| 3 |
|
7.9 | 86% | 12 | 31,630 miles |
| 4 |
|
7.9 | 91% | 8 | 54,900 miles |
| 5 |
|
7.7 | 83% | 16 | 121,500 miles |
| 6 |
|
7.7 | 89% | 16 | 63,006 miles |
| 7 |
|
7.7 | 85% | 13 | 57,970 miles |
| 8 |
|
7.6 | 84% | 24 | 103,300 miles |
| 9 |
|
7.6 | 85% | 7 | 48,650 miles |
| 10 |
|
7.5 | 80% | 12 | 53,188 miles |
| 11 |
|
7.5 | 81% | 11 | 62,080 miles |
| 12 |
|
7.4 | 83% | 19 | 94,486 miles |
| 13 |
|
7.4 | 79% | 7 | 26,839 miles |
| 14 |
|
7.3 | 85% | 21 | 109,908 miles |
| 15 |
|
7.3 | 79% | 10 | 70,300 miles |
| 16 |
|
7.3 | 81% | 9 | 29,007 miles |
| 17 |
|
7.1 | 89% | 14 | 37,106 miles |
| 18 |
|
6.8 | 75% | 10 | 56,477 miles |
| 19 |
|
6.8 | 77% | 9 | 5,808 miles |
| 20 |
|
6.7 | 72% | 12 | 35,808 miles |
| 21 |
|
6.6 | 73% | 13 | 50,803 miles |
| 22 |
|
6.6 | 71% | 11 | 62,400 miles |
| 23 |
|
6.3 | 58% | 8 | 37,070 miles |
| 24 |
|
5.6 | 63% | 22 | 74,350 miles |
TR Score rates each tire out of 10 using independent test results and the full body of owner reviews, weighted by how much evidence backs them. Tires are only scored once enough data exists; discontinued tires are not ranked but remain in the complete record below.
What is a Premium Touring tire?
Premium Touring tires are the leading brands' everyday tires, and the default fitment for most modern cars. They balance wet safety, comfort, low noise, long life and fuel efficiency rather than chasing outright grip.
Summer tires use compounds that work best in warm conditions, giving the strongest wet and dry grip of any season category when temperatures are mild or hot. Their performance falls away in the cold, which is where winter and all season tires take over.
Professional tests of Motorcycle Summer Premium Touring Tires
Every published comparison test of this category we have indexed - 3 in total, newest first. Test results feed directly into the TR Scores above.
| Year | Test | Size tested | Winner | Tires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Best Motorcycle Tires for 2024 | 180/55 R17 | Michelin Road 6 GT | 6 |
| 2020 | 2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tire Test | 180/55 R17 | Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE | 6 |
| 2014 | 2014 Motorrad Premium Touring Motorcycle Tire Test | 180/55 ZR 17 | Michelin Pilot Road 4 | 7 |
Winners are only named where a test crowned a single overall winner. Tests that rank tires within groups, or test too small a field to compare brands, still count as evidence but name no winner here.
The Motorcycle Summer Premium Touring Tires owners rate highest
Rated purely by the people who drive on them, the top tire in the category is the Michelin City Grip 2 - 91% from 8 owner reviews. 31 tires have enough reviews to qualify; this is the same ranking behind the category position shown on each tire's own page.
| # | Tire | Owner rating | Reviews | Distance reviewed | TR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
91% | 8 | 54,900 miles | 7.9 |
| 2 |
|
90% | 22 | 120,499 miles | 8.3 |
| 3 |
|
89% | 47 | 210,650 miles | 8.7 |
| 4 |
|
89% | 16 | 63,006 miles | 7.7 |
| 5 |
|
89% | 14 | 37,106 miles | 7.1 |
| 6 |
|
88% | 3 | 29,500 miles | - |
| 7 |
|
86% | 12 | 31,630 miles | 7.9 |
| 8 |
|
86% | 3 | 25,000 miles | - |
| 9 |
|
85% | 21 | 109,908 miles | 7.3 |
| 10 |
|
85% | 13 | 57,970 miles | 7.7 |
| 11 |
|
85% | 7 | 48,650 miles | 7.6 |
| 12 |
|
84% | 24 | 103,300 miles | 7.6 |
| 13 |
|
83% | 16 | 121,500 miles | 7.7 |
| 14 |
|
83% | 19 | 94,486 miles | 7.4 |
| 15 |
|
81% | 9 | 29,007 miles | 7.3 |
| 16 |
|
81% | 11 | 62,080 miles | 7.5 |
| 17 |
|
80% | 12 | 53,188 miles | 7.5 |
| 18 |
|
79% | 10 | 70,300 miles | 7.3 |
| 19 |
|
79% | 7 | 26,839 miles | 7.4 |
| 20 |
|
78% | 4 | 31,480 miles | - |
| 21 |
|
77% | 3 | 13,000 miles | - |
| 22 |
|
77% | 9 | 5,808 miles | 6.8 |
| 23 |
|
75% | 10 | 56,477 miles | 6.8 |
| 24 |
|
73% | 13 | 50,803 miles | 6.6 |
| 25 |
|
72% | 12 | 35,808 miles | 6.7 |
| 26 |
|
71% | 11 | 62,400 miles | 6.6 |
| 27 |
|
68% | 3 | 8,006 miles | - |
| 28 |
|
68% | 4 | 46,500 miles | - |
| 29 |
|
63% | 22 | 74,350 miles | 5.6 |
| 30 |
|
58% | 8 | 37,070 miles | 6.3 |
| 31 |
|
53% | 4 | 18,700 miles | - |
A tire needs at least 3 owner reviews to appear here. Owner ratings reward different things to tests - comfort, wear and value show up over thousands of miles, not on a test track.
What drivers say about Motorcycle Summer Premium Touring Tires
The most recent owner reviews from this category, in their own words.
After completing a 4,000 km tour with my NC750 dct, let me share my thoughts on the tire.
I'm not someone who pushes my motorcycle to its limits. I realized how much I trust the tire when my foot touched the ground in a corner.
In dry weather, it holds up really well as long as you wait for the tire to reach its ideal temperature.
During my tour, there were plenty of mountain passes, dirt roads, and bumpy roads. Initially, I was hesitant, but I rode on all roads with a sense of security without feeling any slip.
Moreover, I was riding with a passenger and all my bags full.
The Dunlop D609 tire from my previous motorcycle had completely squared off after 6,000 km. Now, at the same mileage, my tire still looks new. I'm very happy.
There were plenty of things that could challenge a tire.
Excess weight,
Extreme heat,
Dirt roads,
Mountain passes,
Rain,
High-speed highway rides,
etc.
Especially on low-quality roads, the noise of the tire competing with the engine noise caught my attention.
These Avon Cobra Chrome tires were offered at a buy now reduced rate. Excellent grip in the dry. I did have an incident in the wet on a freshly tarmaced road. Where the back end slipped out on a bend. Causing me to drop the bike. But overall these Cobra Chrome tires look smart. Give a good ride. I will definitely buy again when they're replaced👍👍🙂
I am a mature rider riding an old harley fatboy on days out around Wales mainly.The tire is comfortable and stable but after 3000 miles the mot guy recommends a new back tire 4000 its completely gone (thats not even one summer) .I am amazed at how many miles they say these tires can do
Save your money and buy Metzeler. Michelin are noisy, had to go back to get the front re balanced, and the handling is not better than the Z8 interact which are over £120 less fitted. Z8's are also more stable at motorway speed and grip just as well in the wet. Sadly I fell for the Michelin marketing. What do they say about a fool and their money soon parted?
Had this tire on the s1000xr and now in the tracer 9.
it's the OEM tire.
For a summer tire, should have more grip at warmer days with hot tarmac...
Heats up quickly.
Very good grip.
Poor durability for a touring tire.
Great tires. Holding up well on my BMW K1600gt. A good all rounder.
Compared to Pilot Power and 2CT that I rode for many years on different bikes, the Conti's are more enduring with a hughe higher milage (about 30% more). The Michelin's really stood out on feedback both in wet and dry conditions, but the Conti's do the same and their limit is higher. So the road attack is better in dry and in wet conditions in both feedback and in performance.
Now that the tires are worn, this still counts. It is very clear when going into corners that you go over to the side, but the grip is still there.
Guides and features for Motorcycle Summer Premium Touring Tires
- Michelin Road 5 - First Ride February 25, 2018
- Michelin Road 5 - launched October 28, 2017
All Motorcycle Summer Premium Touring Tires on Tire Reviews
The complete record, including discontinued tires and tires with too little evidence to rank, ordered by the amount of evidence. The most researched this month: Michelin City Grip 2, Bridgestone Battlax BT 023, Michelin Pilot Street.
14 more tires in this category have no reviews yet
Avon Cobra, Bridgestone Battlax Adventure A41, Bridgestone Battlax Sport Touring T33, Continental ContiLegend, Dunlop American Elite, Dunlop RoadSmart III SC, Metzeler SPORTEC 01, Metzeler Tourance Next 2, Michelin City Extra, Michelin Commander II, Michelin Pilot Road 4 Scooter, Michelin Scorcher, Pirelli Diablo PowerCruiser, Pirelli Scorpion Trail
Run Motorcycle Summer Premium Touring Tires?
Review your tires and help the next driver choose. It takes about five minutes, and every rating on this page came from a driver who took them.
Where this data comes from
Rankings combine independent test results with owner reviews submitted through this site, each naming the car, the tire, the size and the distance covered. Reviews are checked by hand before publication, and the page rebuilds automatically as new evidence arrives.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 using independent test results and the full body of owner reviews, weighted by how much evidence backs them.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.

