Best Motorcycle Tires in 2026
A new pair of tires can elevate your riding, making your motorcycle steadier, more responsive, and predictable. But pick the wrong set, and they might just as well turn the ride uncomfortable and unsafe
Tires are possibly the most difficult thing to buy for your motorcycle. There’s an entire checklist of things to consider: the motorcycle itself, the type of riding you like, the roads you intend to travel, the weather of your usual riding grounds, the luggage load…
It sounds like a real conundrum, but it doesn’t have to be. In this article, we’ve listed 18 tires and explained their ideal use case to help you find the right motorcycle tires for dual sport, long-distance, and sport-touring rides.
Dual Sport Tires
Motoz Tractionator Rallz
Just a glance at the Motoz Tractionator Rallz tells you immediately what the name of the game is. This tire is tailor-made for rough trail riding on medium- to large-displacement ADV bikes (think Yamaha Ténéré 700 or BMW R 1300 GS).
Its deep, blocky pattern grips sand, mud, and gravel alike, while the extra-stiff carcass maintains stability under heavy loads. For a tire this aggressive, it has a long service life that can beat Continental’s first-gen TKC80 rubber. Expect less performance on the road in terms of grip.
Motoz Tractionator Adventure
Are you planning a lengthy dual sport trip on rocky trails with some sections on asphalt, such as a BDR tour? The Motoz Tractionator Adventure offers excellent traction and durability for long-distance rides with significant off-road sections.
The hard compound and stiff carcass, much like that of the Rallz variant, keep going for mile after mile, while deep blocky tread bites into gravel and hardpacked sand. Yet, the Tractionator Adventure also handles asphalt sections with distinction, offering good manners and stability on pavement (especially compared to the Rallz).
Continental TKC80²
The TKC80² is a next-generation upgraded version of Continental’s popular TKC80 tire. It’s the new go-to tire for dual sport riders looking for classic 50/50 rubber that takes big ADV bikes off the pavement with ease.
This newest iteration of the TKC80 features an updated tread pattern that offers better traction and stability. The tire transitions from gravel to pavement and back seamlessly, and you might even forget you have 50/50 tires while you carve through paved curves. The durability has also been improved, leading to more bang for your buck. While it won’t last as long as some of these other tires, you’ll never have to worry about grip.
Michelin Anakee Adventure 2
Michelin’s Anakee Adventure 2 tires are designed primarily for on-road tourers who do short stints on well-packed dirt. Their on-road performance is stable, and Michelin’s high-silica compound results in both long tread life and good wet weather performance.
Venturing off-road, the Anakee Adventure 2 does a fine job of handling hardpack and gravel. If rain is in the forecast for your mostly-road dual sport tour, these tires will make for a solid ride.
Mitas Enduro Trail-SP
The Mitas Enduro Trail-SP tires make a budget-friendly, heavily road-biased proposition. This set of rubber provides top-class dry and wet grip on asphalt, particularly in comparison to more aggressive off-road tires. They produce little road noise and stay stable under braking and cornering, even with a fully laden, heavy dual sport beast.
As a 90/10 tire, we’d describe the Enduro Trail-SP more as “gravel capable” than an “off-road” tire. But if the pavement changes to graded dirt, the Trail-SP will carry you across it with aplomb.
Bridgestone Battlax AdventureCross AX41
The Bridgestone Battlax AdventureCross AX41 (say that 10 times fast) is a 40/60, off-road-biased tire that’s ideal for desert trails. Its strong tread chews into soft surfaces with ease and flings loose debris to the side, giving you predictable traction on undulating trails.
These tires also feel planted during highway stints. They’re not the greatest when it comes to wet grip, so slip these tires onto your wheels and point your front to the Joshua Tree National Park or somewhere equally arid.
Touring Tires
Michelin Road W GT (Honda Gold Wing)
Stopping an enormously heavy brute like a Honda Gold Wing can be daunting—unless the bike is equipped with tires like Michelin Road W GT. These model-specific tires make the Gold Wing’s 800 pounds of heavy metal easy to handle both on straights and cornering.
In particular, the Road W GT tire shines when the pavement shines with it. Their wet weather characteristics are outstanding, stopping the motorcycle in moderate rain without any signs of locking up or ABS intervention.
Read the full RoadRUNNER review of the Michelin Road W GT tire.
Bridgestone Exedra (Honda Gold Wing)
Another excellent option for replacing the Gold Wing’s OEM tires is the Bridgestone Exedra rubber. These tires’ silica-enhanced compound and overall construction make the huge Gold Wing stable at highway speeds while also keeping road noise down.
The Exedra tires have a high-ish price tag, but they make up for it by lasting a long time. With their exceptional durability, both the front and rear tires regularly rack up 10,000 or more miles before requiring replacement.
Michelin Commander III Touring
Speaking of tire durability, let us introduce you to the Michelin Commander III Touring tires. While it depends on your riding habits and bike, the set typically will last you around 13,000 miles. The tires’ strong traction characteristics remain consistent throughout their lifecycle, so you won’t have to worry about significantly degrading performance.
These tires are designed specifically to improve the stability of big V-twin cruiser motorcycles, like Harley-Davidsons or Indians. If roaring down the road on American iron is your thing, this is your rubber.
Dunlop American Elite
As the name implies, the American Elite tires are Dunlop’s big V-twin-oriented alternative to the Michelin rubber above. The durable center compound and grippy shoulders provide a reliable and stable riding experience on large cruisers.
The longevity of the American Elite may even trump its French competitor, with the tires lasting up to 20,000 miles with non-aggressive riding. And if you want to buy U.S.-made, these tires are designed, tested, and manufactured in America.
Dunlop RoadSmart 4
Like sporty rides? The Dunlop RoadSmart 4 tires offer stellar all-around performance alongside strong traction on wet roads.
The tires have reliable and stable sportbike-like handling characteristics, readily responding to inputs from the handlebar and rider body position. With a strong, slow-wearing center compound, the RoadSmart 4 will keep you riding for a long time.
Pirelli Angel GT
Pirelli’s Angel GT tires are another great option for sport-touring enthusiasts. Their handling and traction characteristics are comparable to the Dunlop RoadSmart 4—in other words, they’re very grippy (particularly on dry roads) and confidence-inspiring tires for long, sporty tours.
What’s more, the Angel GT is remarkably consistent throughout the tire’s life, rivaling the Michelin Commander II Touring in this regard. If energetic riding through twisty roads is calling, the Pirelli Angel GT is ready to answer.
Metzeler ME888 Marathon Ultra
What would you expect from a tire with “marathon” in its name? The Metzeler ME888 Marathon Ultra is purpose-built for high-mileage touring on huge road barges.
Completely redesigned from their previous iteration, the new Marathon Ultra tires increase the road footprint, which reduces stress and increases stability and mileage with heavy bikes. The Marathon tire is also very quiet, allowing you to enjoy noises other than the rumble of rubber on pavement.
Sport Touring
Continental ContiSportAttack 5
The ContiSportAttack 5 is an 80/20 road-track tire that’s a prime choice for aggressive street riders who may also do light track days. Continental’s structure and compound choices allow the tires to warm up quickly for strong performance, while the smooth, progressive transition between materials eliminates a potentially risky compound step.
Dry grip is strong, and for this kind of hypersport tire, the ContiRoadAttack 5 also has relatively good wet performance. The quick steering characteristics make these tires highly suitable for naked and supersport bikes.
Continental ContiAttack SM2
The Continental ContiAttack SM2 tire provides razor-sharp response and handling for supermoto riding on technical roads. Their cornering feel and characteristics result in high agility in tight, progressive curves.
In wet weather, the tires’ performance inspires confidence, remaining stable during turning and hard braking. These are the tires to put on your bike when heading to the Tail of the Dragon.
Bridgestone Battlax T33
Bridgestone improved the performance of its T32 tire significantly with the introduction of the Battlax T33. With their neutral and stable steering characteristics and ability to absorb road irregularities, they’re among the best available long-distance sport-touring tires.
The Battlax T33 deals well with varying riding conditions, from cold roads to rain and scorching sun. They make for great, casual riding on open highways and twisties alike.
For more details, read our Bridgestone Battlax T33 review.
Michelin Road 6 GT
If you know there’s rain coming, the Michelin Road 6 GT is the tire you need. These tires are designed to keep heavy sport-touring machines on the road in wet weather.
With their silica compounds and specifically designed pattern, the Road 6 GT offers supreme wet grip and stability under considerable luggage load. As a side effect of their stiffness and construction, the tires have one of the longest lifespans in the sport-touring category.
Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S23
Real street fighters, take note of the Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S23. These are the sportiest tires on our list, with a 70/30 street-track ratio. They offer superb dry-weather grip and precise cornering during high-speed canyon carving and the occasional track day.
Although these tires are primarily for dry roads, the S23 does have notably improved wet grip compared to its immediate predecessor. It’s also more durable than most of its hypersport competitors, although “longevity” is a relative term in this category.
Read our review of Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S23 tires.