Allroad Motorcycle TYRE Tread Patterns

There are roughly 4 different allroad motorcycle tyre tread pattern categories for allroad touring enduros. All of them are a kind of compromises providing strongest features for one of the 4 routing characters and surfaces in question. Around each tyre category there is some playroom for a slightly different kind of compromise and routing preferences. The allroad motorcycle rider should determine the best tyre tread pattern according to preferred routing in order to maximise the tyre performance, riding comfort and wearing durability. Mixing tyre tread patterns and even tyre carcass types would be a problem especially on the road with a touring load at high speed when the differences in tyre behaviour become most extreme.

URBAN Tyre Tread Pattern

The first tyre tread category is the URBAN -pattern which is designed entirely for tarmac roads and high speed riding on good surfaces. It is not good for dirt roads, but can be used for well maintained, hard packed and dry gravel roads like any other onroad touring tyre. The urban tread pattern has basically no tread lugs or knobs and the tread pattern is grooved for optimal wet pavement performance. The urban tread patterns provide the longest durability and the best handling features on tarmac. The urban motorcycle tyres have mostly a radial carcass structure for the widest end of tyre sizing which means mainly bigger allroad touring enduros. The narrowest tyre sizes usually have a bias tyre carcass and a lower load & speed rating which leads naturally to medium size and light touring enduros. The urban pattern can be found from DUNLOP SportMax RoadSmart 2, METZELER Tourance EXP, MICHELIN Anakee 3, CONTINENTAL ContiTrailAttack 2 tyres which are also original equipment tyres for BMW R1200GS 2013 and from PIRELLI ScorpionTrail tyres.

60/40 ALLROAD Tyre Tread Pattern

The second tyre tread category is the 60/40 ALLROAD -pattern which follows the idea of 60 percent tarmac and 40 percent easy gravel & dirt road riding. The 60/40 allroad pattern is one of the most common pattern types which is also used as original equipment tyres. It is perhaps the best compromise for allroad touring on versatile surfaces, but avoiding truly challenging routing scenarios. The 60/40 allroad pattern can be found from DUNLOP TrailMax TR91 which was OE -delivered with KTM 990 Adventure 2012, METZELER Tourance, HEIDENAU K76, MICHELIN Anakee 2 tyres which is OE -delivered with BMW R1200GS Adventure 2013 or from PIRELLI Scorpion MT90. I have been riding a lot with MICHELIN Anakee 2 and very happy with the overall performance and durability. I have been riding trails and mud roads too, although not as preferred routing choice, but I was never in trouble with the Anakee 2.

40/60 ALLROAD Tyre Tread Pattern

The third tyre tread category is the 40/60 ALLROAD -pattern which follows the idea of 40 percent pavement and 60 percent gravel & dirt road riding. The 40/60 allroad pattern may be the most common original equipment tyre choice for medium size adventure touring enduros with serious offroad features such as BMW F800GS Adventure 2013. It is probably the best choice for more adventurous routing with reasonable riding challenges every now and then again. Allroad touring riders heading to remote destinations and unknown route conditions would benefit the most of the 40/60 allroad pattern, unless the route is mainly trails and tracks. The 40/60 allroad pattern can be found from DUNLOP TrailMax, METZELER Karoo 3, CONTINENTAL ContiEscape, MICHELIN Sirac and PIRELLI MT60 tyres for example.

OFFROAD Tyre Tread Pattern

The fourth tyre tread category is the road legal OFFROAD -pattern which offers the highest number of tall tread lugs (knobby) and widest voids between the lugs offering the best traction and handling features in the dirt and most challenging terrain conditions. The offroad pattern is the best choice for adventure riders heading to remote destinations through challenging routes and especially trails and tracks. The offroad pattern is a common original equipment tyre choice for light adventure touring enduros such as KTM 690 Enduro R 2013 and medium size touring enduros with serious offroad features such as BMW F800GS Adventure 2013. The offroad pattern can be found from DUNLOP D603, CONTINENTAL TKC80, METZELER MCE Karoo, MICHELIN T63 tyres which were an original equipment option for BMW R1200GS Adventure 2013 and from PIRELLI ScorpionRally.