Off-Road Motorcycle Tire Buying Guide

Having the right off-road motorcycle tires can make or break your riding experience. Worn out tires or tires that are a poor fit for the terrain won’t provide you with the traction you need to get anywhere. That’s why Pensacola Motorsports have created this convenient off-road motorcycle tire buying guide.

Off-Road Motorcycle Tire Terms

Finding the right off-road motorcycle tires for you will be easier if you understand a few key terms. The first is knob size. A tire’s knob size tells you how much of the tire’s surface area makes contact with the ground. A bigger knob size usually means more traction.

Tread depth is another important term. Tread depth is how deep an off-road motorcycle’s tires sink into the ground. A higher tread depth means more material is displaced, which is important when riding on loose terrain like sand.

Finally, there’s pattern shape. Pattern shape is the tire tread’s overall design. A tire’s grooves and channels are what determine how well it will handle wet vs. dry conditions.

Types of Terrain

Buying off-road motorcycle tires is much easier if you have an idea of what kind of terrain you’ll be riding on. For instance, hard terrain tires with small knobs spaced closely together is a good choice for trails that have a lot of hard-packed dirt or rocks.

Soft terrain tires have a higher tread depth and often use specialized knobs that are paddle-like on the rear and spike-like on the front. This makes them ideal for riding on gravel, mud, or sand.

If you’re planning on riding a route that contains many different terrain types or simply falls somewhere between soft and hard, put intermediate terrain tires on your off-road motorcycle. These tires are designed with medium-length treads and knobs that are tall, long, and close together.

When to Replace Off-Road Motorcycle Tires

How can you tell if your off-road motorcycle’s tires are ready to be replaced? Check the knobs. If they are worn down, shortened, or missing, then it’s time for a replacement. Tires that have become discolored or cracked should also be replaced. If the off-road motorcycle tires don’t appear to be worn out but they are older than the manufacturing date by five years or more, then it’s time for a replacement.

Shop off-road motorcycles at Pensacola Motorsports in Pensacola, Florida. We’re proud to serve communities like Baldwin County, Alabama, and Santa Rosa County, Florida. We also offer service, parts, and accessories. We hope to see you soon!