Basic Tips For Buying A Scooter Tyre
Published On 27-Jul-2021
Scooters and bikes are two separate categories with a fundamental difference in tyres. Below is the layman’s guide to the right pair of scooter tyres.
Scooters and motorcycles may fall under the same category of two-wheelers, but they have some primary differences. One of those significant differences in terms of performance is that tyres for each category are engineered to serve a special purpose.
As tyres are the only point of contact with the road surface, it is crucial to know the right type of tyre that would determine the roadworthiness of the scooter. Keep reading as you will know everything on how to choose the right tyres for a scooter in the below pointers.
Type of tyre – Tubeless and Tube-type
Many people fail to pay attention while choosing the right tyre for their scooters. Generally, scooter tyres are categorised into tubed and tubeless types. Many tyre brands have gradually moved towards manufacturing tubeless tyres owing to their various benefits.
The most significant function of a tubeless tyre is to prevent rapid loss of air pressure in case of puncture so that you are not stuck in the middle of the road. However, tube-type tyres which contain a tube and a valve are still in vogue due to their cheap pricing and repair cost.
Also Read: Top 5 Scooter Tyres For Indian Roads
Tyre size and fitting - Read Your Tyre Accurately
If you own a scooter, then you must know about the stock tyres that come fitted with your vehicle. It is important to know this because all the information such as wheel size, tyre key features, handling, braking, stability, fuel efficiency, and acceleration are specified by the tyre manufacturer. So, half your job is already done, as you know how the tyre will return the overall performance.
The best way to check tyre specification is to read the tyre code carved on the sidewalls of your scooter tyre. You might get confused by the code, but it is easy to decipher. See the example below:
For instance, if it is written 90/90 - 12 - 54J, it means:
• 90 is the tyre width in millimetres across the sidewall
• 90 is the aspect ratio which means the total ratio of the cross-section to its width
• 12 is the total diameter of the wheel in inches
• 54 is the load index of the tyre i.e. the maximum load-carrying capacity of the tyre. In this case, the number 54 means the tyre can carry the maximum load of 212 kgs.
• J symbol denotes the tyre speed rating. In this case, J means the tyre can safely go up to the speed of 100kmph
Tyre technology – Bias-ply or Radial
Once you have figured out the type and size of the tyre, the next important factor that determines the performance is the technology used in the tyre. These are broadly classified into two; bias ply and radial. The tyre with bias-ply construction consists of fabric layers wrapped over each other in a criss-cross arrangement. This arrangement gives a generous amount of cushioning, which translates into comfortable ride quality with sufficient control and stability while carrying heavy loads.
However, there are some disadvantages of bias-ply tyres as they tend to lose control at high speeds and conserve a lot of heat. Another downside of bias-ply tyres is that they have increased rolling resistance which means lower fuel efficiency of the scooter.
On the flip side, radial tyres consist of cord plies arranged straightly across the tread with steel belts, polyester and other fibres crisscrossed on the top of the cord plies. This gives more stiffness to the tyre and returns improved speed, performance, durability, handling, while lower rolling resistance delivers better mileage.
Following the above tips can enhance your mobility and cut down the running cost of your scooter in the long run. So, choose your scooter tyre wisely.
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