Motorcycle Tire Sizes Chart: Understanding Tire Sizes and Codes

To most people, the numbers and letters on the side of their tires are cryptic and indecipherable. These motorcycle tire size comparison charts below will help you understand the codes on the side of your tires to be sure you know which tires you are currently using, and which others will fit your motorcycle.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF MOTORCYCLE TIRES?

Motorcycle tires come in various types, each designed for specific riding conditions and styles. Hence, for simplicity, motorcycle tires types mainly are:

• Sport Tires: Optimized for high performance and grip on paved roads, making them ideal for sport bikes and aggressive street riding.
• Touring Tires: Built for durability and comfort on long-distance rides, these tires are perfect for touring bikes and long road trips.
• Cruiser Tires: Designed for heavy bikes with a focus on comfort and longevity, best suited for cruisers and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
• Vintage Tires: Styled to match classic motorcycles, often featuring a retro tread pattern, these tires are best for vintage and classic motorcycle restorations.

The motorcycle tire size will also indicate what size rim strip and motorcycle inner tube is needed. Rim strips are rubber strips that go around the rim, covering the inside edges of the spokes, before the tire is mounted. They help protect the inner tube from a potential puncture from continual wear against the spokes. Inner tubes are common, though tires are also run without tubes on many modern motorcycles with mag wheels.

HOW TO READ MOTORCYCLE TIRE SIZES?

Effortlessly learn how to read motorcycle tire sizes. Our guide will help you decode size markings and ensure your bike is equipped with the right tires for a safe and smooth ride.

Typical Tire Markings

B- Aspect Ratio. The smaller the number the lower profile of the tire. In metric this is a ratio between height and width. ex. A 170/80 means the width is 170mm, and the height would be 80% of that. )
C- Rim diameter
D- Load capacity
E- Tire speed rating (ex. S=112mph, H=130mph, V=149mph, W=168mph)
F- Tubeless (TL) or Tube Type (TT) tire.

Decoding Motorcycle Tire Designation Formats

Understanding tire sizes becomes easier when you know the different designation formats. Size may be indicated in inches, metric, or by letters (alpha). It is helpful to know how these compare with each other so you can compare different brands of tires and see which might be the best fit for your bike. This chart shows the approximate comparison of the different size indicators.

METRIC DESIGNATIONS

These are commonly seen on tire sides, such as "130/90 - 16 67 H". Each part of the code provides specific information about the tire's dimensions and capabilities.

• 130: refers to the tire width (millimeters)
• 90: Aspect ratio (percentage)
• 16: Rim diameter (16 inch tall)
• 67: Load bearing capacity
• H: Speed rating

ALPHABETICAL DESIGNATION

This format, like "MT 90 - 16 Load Range B", uses letters and numbers to indicate the tire's specifications, including its load rating and motorcycle code.

• M: Motorcycle Code
• T: Tire Width Code
• 90: Aspect Ratio (percentage)
• 16: Rim Diameter (inches)
• Load range B: Load rating

INCH DESIGNATION

An example like "5.00 H 16 4PR" shows the tire's section width, speed rating, rim diameter, and casing strength in inches.

• 5.00: Section Width
• H: Speed Rating
• 16: Rim Diameter (Inches)
• 4PR: Casing Strength (ply rating)

Explaining Motorcycle Tire Sizes

Motorcycle Tire & Rim Fitment Chart

Not sure what size tire you need? This handy Motorcycle Tire and Rim Fitment PDF Chart shows what size tires fit different rim sizes. 

Motorcycle Street Tire Sizes Conversion Chart

Access our motorcycle street tire sizes conversion chart for quick and accurate tire size conversions. Ensure the best fit for your street motorcycle tires.

Motorcycle Tire Sizes Rim Width Chart

British motorcycle rims (Triumph, BSA, Norton etc.) are marked with a letter and number designation. This is helpful to know what tires you can mount on your rim based on the manufacturer's specs.

Brand-specific Motorcycle Tire Size

The following chart shows some common tire sizes, including their width and the diameter. Very handy when choosing which tire will fit your bike, or which motorcycle rear fender to buy to fit the tire you want to run on your new build!

This is just a small selection of the wide array of cool motorcycle tires we stock and ship daily.