Motorcycle tyre test: MO recommends 3 brands

German motorcycling magazine Motorrad MO has recommended a trio of brands in its test of a half-dozen roadgoing sports tyres. MO fitted the candidates to a Triumph Street Triple RS and evaluated their performance in a range of parameters, publishing the results in its September 2020 edition.

Recommended: Bridgestone Battlax S22

MO notes that “much work” has gone into this evolution of the Battlax S21, particularly in regards to its profile and the molecular composition of the rubber compound. The result, it says, is a tyre that “offers fantastic feeling at steep lean angles and thereby perfect confidence.” MO concludes that the “pleasingly unobtrusive Bridgestone tyre “honestly earned” its recommendation.

Recommended: Continental ContiSportAttack 4

Although not quite as precise as the Battlax S22, MO described the Continental as the “the handiest tyre” of the half-dozen products, a tyre with “amazing responsiveness when cornering.” The testers said the “ContiSportAttack 4 “really sucks itself into the most extreme lean angles” and they lauded the seamless transition between the tyre’s harder, mileage-optimised middle compound and the grippier, softer shoulder compound. All up, MO says this is “one of the best” tyres of 2020.

Recommended: Michelin Power 5

The entire Michelin Power range has been refreshed this year, with the Power 5 replacing the Power RS. MO thought the new-generation tyre a “real knockout” on dry asphalt thanks to its featherlight handling and confidence-inducing lean behaviour.

Avon 3D Ultra Evo

Also refreshed in 2020, the 3D Ultra Evo was developed for sporty road use. The combination of a zero-degree aramid belt casing and dual compound provides straight line stability along with targeted deformation when ridden at an angle. MO says the Avon tyre is a solid performer, albeit with “small weaknesses”, such as handling that is somewhat sluggish. Mileage potential is amongst the best tested.

Metzeler Sportec M9 RR

The sole full-silica tyre in MO’s test was developed for use in all conditions, but Metzeler pays a price for this versatility when it comes to sporting characteristics. MO comments that these aren’t up to the standard delivered by the Bridgestone, Continental and Michelin tyres in good weather. The publication shies away from calling the Sportec M9 an excellent tyre, but nonetheless considers it a “good choice for anyone who drives in any weather.”

Dunlop SportSmart MK3

MO considers the 2019-introduced SportSmart MK3 “by no means bad,” but observed that it “lags behind” strong competitors. Grip wasn’t as quite as good as that delivered by the other tyres.