Sport-touring tyres

The do-everything road tyre: superb in the wet, long-lived, still sporty.

The right tyre for most road riders. A hard-wearing centre stripe for highway kilometres and softer shoulders for corners, with heavy siping that clears water. Modern sport-touring tyres out-grip the sportsbike tyres of a decade ago, and they warm up fast. GT versions add a stiffer carcass for heavy bikes, pillions and luggage.

Suits: Any 17-inch road bike over 130 kW/t
Rear life: 10,000–20,000 km
Speed ratings: V, W (ZR)
Road legal: Yes

Good for

Commuting and touring
Riding in the wet
Two-up and luggage (GT versions)

Think twice if

You do regular track days

Are sport-touring tyres grippy enough for spirited riding?

For almost all road riding, yes. The current generation of sport-touring tyres out-grips the sportsbike tyres of ten years ago, warms up faster and is far better in the rain. Their dual compound puts a hard-wearing strip in the centre for highway kilometres and softer rubber on the shoulders for corners.

Character

Dry grip: 4 out of 5
Wet grip: 5 out of 5
Cold & warm-up: 4 out of 5
Tread life: 5 out of 5
Gravel & dirt: 1 out of 5
Comfort & stability: 4 out of 5

Leading sport-touring tyres

Michelin Road 6
The wet-grip benchmark, with very long life.
PremiumTyroola
Michelin Road 6 GTGT
Stiffer Road 6 for heavy tourers, pillions and luggage.
PremiumTyroola
Bridgestone Battlax Sport Touring T33
T32 successor: much more mileage, same wet grip.
Premium
Pirelli Angel GT IIGT
Mileage-focused, stable on loaded tourers.
Premium
Continental ContiRoadAttack 4
Near-sport dry grip with good wet performance.
Premium
Metzeler Roadtec 02
Tread pattern adapts to load; strong in the wet.
Premium
Dunlop RoadSmart IV
High mileage and strong wet grip for less.
Mid-rangeTyroola

Bikes ratio puts on sport-touring tyres

For at least one of each bike’s usual kinds of riding, in a mild climate.