Motorbike Tyres
Late last year Tyres & Accessories spoke to Peter Smith, joint managing director of one of the UK's leading motorcycle and scooter tyre wholesalers, for an overview of the ‘PWT’ (powered two wheeler) replacement tyre market in 2012 as experienced by Bike Tyrestore.
Continental has opened the first fully-automated tyre testing facility in the world at Contidrom, near Hanover. In addition to the ability to perform braking tests without drivers, helping to test consistently for longer hours, Conti has built a 300x30m air conditioned hall to house the Automated Indoor Braking Analyzer (AIBA), reducing the influence of atmospheric conditions on test results. The manufacturer will also be able to control the friction coefficient, as the hall enables the company to switch the 75m surfaces used as a braking area, in addition to using a low temperature hall for testing on ice. The main hall is also fitted with a sprinkler system for wet testing. Conti estimates that the AIBA will perform around 100,000 braking procedures, on passenger car, van, and 4×4 summer and winter tyres, when fully operational.
Mitas is recalling 1,752 tubeless E-07 motorcycle tyres. The tyres were mainly sold to customers in Europe. The sizes subject to recall are: 110/80-19 M/C 59T E-07 TL MI, 100/90-19 M/C 57T E-07 TL MI and 110/80-19 M/C 59T E-07 DAKAR TL MI. According to the company, the problem that has sparked the recall is that under extreme conditions the affected tyres can “suddenly loose air pressure.”
In the motorcycle segment, Italian firm Pirelli offers something its competitors don’t; not one, but two unique brands – and one of these is Metzeler, the industry’s only two-wheel tyre specialist. Jim Worland, who is the product and marketing manager for Pirelli Tyres Ltd’s Moto business unit, recently spoke to Tyres & Accessories about the latest products and developments from both brands.
Bike Tyrestore plans to introduce a new Sava range to UK customers at the Motorcycle Trade Expo show in Birmingham in the second half of January. This new product, the Sportforce radial, is aimed at riders of sports, naked and Supermoto motorcycles as well as for riders of sports touring machines who enjoy dynamic rides.
Early next year Michelin will launch several new motorcycle products. Available from the start of 2013 is the replacement for Michelin’s Power One Track, the Power SuperSport. The new tyre is said to slot between the Street and Power One Power Cup in Michelin’s motorcycle line-up, and be intended for 50-50 road/track use. One front wheel size – 120/70-17 (58W) – and four for the rear wheel – 180/55-17 (73W), 190/50-17 (73W), 190/55-17 (73W) and 200/55-17 (78W) – have been announced.
On 1 March Bridgestone will launch its latest sport touring range in Europe. The Battlax Sport Touring T30 radial will be marketed in ten front and 13 rear sizes. The Japanese manufacturer says the Battlax Sport Touring T30 is a “premium brand steeped in technology refined through the company's development of MotoGP race tyres” and is intended for use on medium to large motorcycles.
The market for motorcycles in November shows a decline of 3.2 per cent in a year where the market has experienced a mere 0.1 per cent growth for the year to date.
Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA)/Motorcycle Retailers Association (MRA) commented "Of particular concern is the slowdown in the 51-125cc commuter bike market that has performed throughout the year with an increase in the year to date of 9.3 per cent. However, in November the 51-125cc market experienced a downward fall of 6.8 per cent. This is a strong indication that economic pressures are affecting basic purchases of lower priced motorcycles that many consumers consider an essential form of commuter transport."
The successor to Metzeler’s Karoo and Karoo T will be available in spring 2013, the tyre maker reports. The motorcycling world gained a sneak preview of the new Karoo 3 at November’s EICMA motorcycle show in Italy, and when it hits the road next year the tyre will be available in three front wheel and six rear sizes. Metzeler describes the new knobbly tyre as a product “designed for bikers who love adventure and off-road travel.”
Continental has introduced the ContiClassicAttack; a new radial tyre that has been designed to revitalise the handling, stability, grip and safety performance of classic motorcycles. It is the only radial tyre in this category, says Continental and enables riders to eliminate many of the performance compromises of older bias-ply (aka cross-ply or diagonal) tyre designs.
KTM, Triumph and Harley Davidson rate as top motorcycle franchises according to the Motorcycle Retailers' Association (MRA) Motorcycle Dealer Attitude Survey Autumn 2012 results.
Metzeler has announced that its new sport touring Tourance Next tyres will debut on the BMW R 1200 GS at international motorcycle, scooter and bicycle show, Intermot, which runs from 3 to 7 October in Cologne, Germany. Metzeler has been a BMW development partner for its GS line since 1980 with street enduro products and since 1999 with its Tourance-branded tyres. The Tourance Next is the third generation of the range and was specifically designed for the latest generation of street enduro and adventure touring bikes. The tyre is original equipment on the BMW R 1200 GS in sizes 120/70 R19 M/C and the 170/60 R17 M/C, having been developed in cooperation with the Bavarian manufacturer.
It is 25 years since Michelin launched the first radial motorcycle road tyres, and the French manufacturer has announced that it will mark the occasion at London’s Ace Café. Michelin will attend the venue’s regular monthly ‘Streetfighter Night’ on Friday 7 September, with ex-250 and 500cc world champion, Freddie Spencer. Spencer will arrive at the café at around 18:00-18.30 on a Michelin Pilot Road 3 liveried Virgin Limobike, which has been painted to mark to company’s switch to the ground-breaking Michelin sport touring tyres, which are now fitted to its entire fleet of Yamaha FJR1300s.
A motorcycle repair centre opened by Altrincham-based insurance specialist Carole Nash is celebrating its tenth birthday. The Carole Nash Repair Centre opened in August 2002 following a £250,000 investment. Since then it has rescued and repaired thousands of bikes nationwide which were damaged in accidents or through attempted thefts.
In response to marketplace concerns, Pirelli Tire North America has reassured its customers that the tyre maker doesn’t intend to cease production of 16.5-inch slick and rain motorcycle tyres. In a statement, the company’s Moto Road Racing manager Jeff Johnston said “Pirelli is committed to servicing the North America market now and in the future with 16.5-inch racing tyres. Our road racing distributors stock these slick and rain tyres in the latest constructions and compounds…as a worldwide leader in motorcycle road racing tyres sales and service, we maintain one of the broadest selections of performance products for both amateur and professional racing enthusiasts.”
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