20 Myths About Budget Tyres: Busted

We’ve had a pretty open relationship with tyres over the years. We’ve tested, retested and crashed our fair share of them, and we’ve come to realise that tyre testing is like walking up to a girl in a bar: sometimes you need to be direct and upfront about what you want – no BS – or she might not stick around for long. Just like girls, though, Cheap Tyres Mansfield can fake it – especially at first – they might look perfect from the outset, but as soon as things get demanding, they’ll either run away or just stop performing altogether. In this article, we’re going through some of those myths about budget tyres that have been busted once and for all.

So here’s what we’re going to do: set some baselines and bust some tyres.

Myth 1: Budget Tyres Are Slower Than Expensive Tyres!

This is an easy one to bust. We test two completely identical bikes, the only difference being that one was fitted with budget tyres and the other with performance/premium-level rubber, both in a 120/70 front and 180/60 rear combination. Experienced racers rode both for power outputs between 150-180hp. The average time for a flying lap on the budget tyres was 1:48.9, whereas on the high-performance tyres the times were 1:46.6 – that’s a difference of only 2.3%.

This result is back up by dyno testing we did ourselves at our local track day. There was no difference in speed between Dunlop Q2s and Michelin Power Supersports, which cost more than double! You’ll have more of a chance of being eat by a shark while riding your bike than you will blow up some performance-level rubber on the road, so don’t worry about it slowing you down. The benefits of going fast outweigh saving a few bucks every month to pay off those tyres.

Myth 2: It’s Safer To Stick With The Same Brand Tyre!

As a general rule, sticking with the same tyre brand is a good idea – it’s one less thing to worry about. When you’re going through tyre brands, it can be beneficial to try something new. You’ll learn what your bike likes, and you’ll get better feedback from the tyre itself, allowing you to use more of its full potential while cornering.

Of course, this doesn’t mean just changing brands will net you faster times. Instead, if you’re riding on identical bikes, switching brands might result in slightly faster lap times simply because both riders can fully exploit the ability of the tyres they are using.

Myth 3: If My New Bike Comes With Cheap Tyres I Should Swap Them Out!

If you’re lucky enough to be buying a new bike, then chances are it’ll have cheap tyres fitted as standard. This is good news for you, not the manufacturer. Even if your new motorcycle comes with premium tyres, that doesn’t mean they need to be trash straight away – unless, of course, you plan on using them for track days or racing, in which case they could last up to 100 miles before being out of their depth. There’s no reason why budget rubber won’t make an excellent first impression for street use, giving both performance and grip well beyond their price tag.

Myth 4: If My Old Bike Comes With Cheap Tyres I Can Sell It And Make A Profit!

If you plan to sell your bike with the tyres it came with, stop right there. Unless they are in good nick and have only had light use, no one will touch them for love or money. You’d be better off spending that cash on something else to go with the bike rather than these “old faithful”. If you’re not planning on selling just yet, though, just replace them before they become a trouble. This is especially important if you’ve had some run-ins with kerbing or other debris, as this might cause damage to more expensive rubber.

Myth 5: I Should Keep My Bike On Its First Pair Of Tyres Forever!

You don’t need to swap out Michelin Tyres Mansfield when they get old; all that happens is their performance slowly degrades until they are useless, aka out of date, not out of date as in no longer produced but rather as in you shouldn’t be riding on them as they’re practically dangerous. If your tyres aren’t worn (i.e. the tread depth isn’t greater than 3mm) and don’t have any punctures, then there’s absolutely no reason you can’t use them for ages – we’re talking years here! Just remember to stay safe and ride within your limits, and you’ll never need new rubber again.