Best Tires For Triumph Street Triple

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‍What Kind of Motorcycle is the Triumph Street Triple?

The Triumph Street Triple is a naked streetfighter bike designed as a bare-bones motorbike that happens to be sleek and cool. A streetfighter is just the essential components of a motorcycle; an engine, a frame, brakes and gears, and an instrument read. Just as its name implies, the naked bike is a bike without the frills that add weight and distractions. The emphasis is to heighten the thrill of riding a motorcycle in its purest form.

The lean configuration of the bike makes the motorcycle much lighter, faster, and easier to maneuver on the road. The streetfighter is a forgiving bike. It is a light enough bike that most riders can’t get into too much trouble (as long as they obey the speed limits), and it is often considered a great beginner motorcycle. Many riders choose the streetfighter as their first serious bike because it fulfills their dreams of riding on the open road without having to spend a fortune. The bike's price is very practical because less equipment and options mean a lower initial cost. (Just a rider and a bike. A very cool-looking bike, by the way). _

The 2022 Triumph Triple has a 765cc 3-cylinder inline engine that produces 121 horsepower and 58 lb/ft of torque which is plenty of power for the average rider. Sometimes, a bike rider wants to go fast (I know that you aren’t doing anything dangerous at all, wink - wink), and this middleweight naked will deliver when asked to perform. The bike comes with a six-speed transmission with Triumph Shift Assist (which means you don’t have to engage the clutch; the bike can shift for you as you accelerate).

How Long Has Triumph Been Making the Triple?

Triumph has been producing the Street Triple since 2007 as a replacement for the 600 Four. While the bike has undergone four generations of development and refinements, the motorcycle is considered an excellent representation of what a middleweight naked streetfighter should be. Several reviews listed the Triumph Street Triple as second only to the Ducati.

What are the Best Tires for a Triumph Street Triple?

The tire size for a Triumph is different from the front as compared to the rear. Make sure you know the difference before you order a set, and the best place to find that information is in the owner's manual or on the side of the tire. The sizes are listed below, followed by a review of the best tires for the Triumph.

Front Tire - 120/70 ZR17
Rear Tire - 180/55 ZR17

Pirelli Diablo Russo III

These are the tires that the Triumph comes with when it rolls off the factory line. This sporty tire works well on dry or wet pavement, with excellent grip and strong sidewalls. Lean over as you speed through a turn, and let the tire grip without slippage. The tire's large center provides good wear and traction when traveling long distances. They are durable and long-lasting, based on years of experience that Pirelli has in the racing circuit. The tire has a 4.7 rating on Amazon and is the #6 most popular in the street motorcycle sport tire category.

Pirelli is an Italian tire manufacturer that has been making tires since 1871. They are based out of Milan, Italy, and have had extensive experience producing every kind of tire imaginable. They have a strong presence in racing circuits, including being the sole supplier of tires for Formula One.

If you have had good luck with your present factory OEM and you see no need to experiment with another tire, stick with the Pirellis. (A set will make your wallet about $300 lighter), but the quality of the workmanship and the longevity make the tire worth it.

Pros

Good dual-sport tire
Excellent traction on wet surfaces
Excellent Reputation from a top manufacturer
OEM tire - same as off the assembly line

Cons

Made overseas
On the expensive side

Price

For more information, check out the manufacturer’s website
Click here for Today’s Price.

Michelin Power 5

The Power 5 was built for street riding, with a dual compound needed for heavier loads and better traction. The tire performs very well in wet conditions, with ample stopping power, and is designed to operate in temperatures from 23 degrees to 113 degrees. Enhanced tread patterns allow for better sticking during turns and lean. The tire has a 4.9 rating out of 5 on several tire sites and a rating of 4.9 for the rear and 4.0 for the front on Amazon.

Michelin is the second-largest maker of tires in the world and has a long history of tire development. Based out of France, the company has grown into a global juggernaut, with 123 production centers in 26 countries and employing over 124,000 workers worldwide. They make every kind of tire you might imagine, from the space shuttle to the tiniest motorbike. Throughout the years, the brand has garnered a reputation for quality (at least, my grandfather thought so because the only tire he would buy for his family were Michelins).

Pros

Good street tire
Excellent traction on wet surfaces
Built by a manufacturer that builds lots of tires
An excellent replacement for OEM

Cons

Made overseas
On the expensive side

Price

For more information, check out the manufacturer’s website
Click here for Today’s Price.

Dunlop Q3 Plus Sportmax Plus

This a great tire, particularly if you are the rider that pushes your bike to the limit. The compound has been redesigned from the old Q3, taking many racing and track test cues. The result is a tire that grips better at higher speeds, has incredible lean stability, and is built not to wear out after a couple of races. If you need a tire to perform either on the highway or the track, this Dunlop will undoubtedly do the trick.

Dunlop is a British multinational that specializes in making tires. Named for the inventor of the pneumatic tire, the company is part of the Goodyear family. They have manufacturing plants worldwide, but this particular tire was designed at the Buffalo site and is currently made there. Dunlop is the only manufacturer that designs, tests, and produces its tires inside the US. (I love supporting American workers).

Pros

Good tire for higher speeds
Excellent traction on wet surfaces
Built in the US

Cons

On the expensive side, but might be too much for daily drivers

Price

For more information, check out the manufacturer’s website
Click here for Today’s Price.

Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S21 Tires

Bridgestone has been hard redesigning the hyper-sport tire, trying to squeeze every last drop of performance out of their tire. This Battleax HyperSport has improved mileage by 36% over the S20, and with an all-new design, the grip and traction have drastically moved upward.

The tire has a three-layer compound that aids the way the tread sticks to the road. While this tire has a 4.8 rating on Amazon, a couple of reviewers had difficulty mounting the wheel and took it to a technician. Do yourself a favor and let someone mount and balance the tires for you. You will save yourself a lot of headaches.

Bridgestone began as a maker of golf balls in Japan and quickly developed into other areas like hoses and tires. Eventually, in the late 1980s, they merged with Firestone and became one of the largest producers of tires globally. They were intimately involved with Formula One until 2009 when the FIA decided to go in a different direction. Currently, Bridgestone supports the worldwide Paralympics and several other charities, which I love to support a company that is socially responsible.

Pros

Good street tire
Excellent traction on wet surfaces
Built by a manufacturer that builds lots of tires
An excellent replacement for OEM

Cons

Made overseas
On the expensive side

Price

For more information, check out the manufacturer’s website
Click here for Today’s Price.

Avon AV 3D Ultra

This balanced tire offers good road reliability and excellent sports ride. The compound offers a good grip on wet surfaces as the groove channels away water. The tires do wear a bit faster than other companies’ tires. The 3D siping opens up extra cuts in the tread, which help channel water and heat up, allowing for a smoother ride. (Siping is the process of cutting other groves in a tire's tread to allow for better grip and handling).

Avon has been making tires since 1904. Owned by Cooper Tires, the company employs about 9,000 workers in a dozen different countries. They work with Tire Rack as their primary US distributor, and the tire is manufactured in England. Even though Avon makes their car tires elsewhere (China), their motorcycle tires are excellent. The Brits know how to make a good tire.

Pros

Good balance road and track tire
Extra siping provides more comfort
Built by an English plant that focuses on motorcycle tires

Cons

Made overseas
Tend to wear down more quickly than other tires

Price

For more information, check out the manufacturer’s website
Click here for Today’s Price.

Metzeler Racetec RR K3

This tire is built to provide a racing grip all the time, both on the road or the track. The compound demonstrates a solid grip and excellent braking force. The tires wear longer than others and are perfect for a rider that needs a tire that will work on different surfaces, whether it is the pavement of a street, the dirt trail of a mountain ride, or even the precise cornering needed at the track. The tire is balanced for all three locations and is an excellent overall tire. Their tires are often near the top of reviewers' best-loved tires.

Metzeler is a German company that has been making tires since 1892. The factory was destroyed during bombing raids in WWII but rebuilt after the war and has been cranking out tires ever since. In the 1980s, Pirelli bought Metzeler and has been their parent company ever since. These tires have a solid presence in Europe, and while they are less well-known inside the states, the company makes a precise tire with German engineering all over them.

Pros

Good tire balance for various road surfaces
Excellent traction on wet surfaces
Built in Germany - the tire is exact and precise.
Very popular tire in Europe

Cons

Made overseas

Price

For more information, check out the manufacturer’s website
Click here for Today’s Price

How Do I Know What My Tire Size is?

Most riders do not know their bike's tire size until it is time to replace the tires. Whether the tread has worn down from thousands of miles of riding or a puncture happens (it is possible to puncture a motorcycle tire, they react to nails and screws just as severely as a car tire).

To understand the code on the side of the tire, or when shopping online, remember that every number on a tire has a corresponding meaning. For example, the rear tire on the Triumph is 180/55R17 broken down below.

180 indicates the millimeter width of the tire
55 indicates the aspect ratio
R is the type of tire (R = radial)
17 is the rim size (in inches)

Are There Speed Restrictions on a Motorcycle Tire?

The answer to that question is yes; there are speed restrictions on various motorcycle tires. In some cases, you will find the rating on the sidewall of the tire, (it is referred to as a letter, either behind the first series of numbers). A rider should always consult with the owner’s manual for their bike, or look up the information on the internet. Here is a listing of some other letters and their speed ratings.

Letter	Speed Rating
R	106 mph
S	112 mph
T	118 mph
U	124 mph
H	130 mph
V	149 mph
W	168 mph
Y	186 mph
z	Above 149 mph

Are There Different Types of Tires for Motorcycle Applications?

There are differences in tires depending on the surface of the road or the application of what the motorcycle is used for.

Sport

Sport tires are designed for high-performance motorcycles made from softer compounds. Generally, they are more rounded (although this is not always the case) because the rounded surface maintains the grip while you are leaning through a corner. The sport tire will be able to provide traction for straightaways and has reasonable gripping force when braking. The only downside is that they tend to wear more quickly than other types.

Cruiser

Cruiser bikes and cruiser tires (unlike sports bikes) are built for long hauls on straight roads without leaning into curves. (This is not the tire you want to take to the track). Generally, they will handle greater loads and provide more stability on different kinds of road surfaces (wet and dry). The sidewalls are stiffer to handle the additional weight (because sometimes riding with your beloved’s arms around your waist is just the right way to travel). The tread is more pronounced and thicker because these bikes tend to be driven for more miles for more extended periods than other types of bikes.

Touring

Touring tires are more balanced tire than a sport tires. They tend to have a flatter surface which keeps the tire centered on the road. Because they are made from a more potent, stiffer compound, the emphasis is on tread wear and range. Due to the increase in the contact surface, these tires work very well on wet roads.

Dual Sport

Dual sport tires are made for motorcycles that perform just as their name suggests, both on the street and off-road. The combination tire must have enough tread to perform well on pavement but with a tread deep enough to grip in loose dirt, sand or gravel. Most dual-sport tires have some designation (70% street/30% off-road, for example) that will help the purchaser know what side of the fence the manufacturer was leaning toward. Choose a more knobby tire if you plan to ride on country roads more often than on the highway.

Off-Road

Off-road or motocross tires are built for the motorcycle that is raced solely and never touches the hard surface of a roadway. The tread pattern extends to the sidewall because the bike will be driven in the dirt and leaning around muddy curves where traction is needed most. Because of the dirt they have to dig down into, the compound for these tires is rigid and stiff. The tire must be strong enough to handle jumps and a lot of bumping and abuse.

How Long Do Motorcycle Tires Usually Last?

Generally, a typical motorcycle tire will last for five years - ten years, depending on how often it is ridden and under what conditions the motorcycle is subjected to. (If your bike is a daily rider, you will want to shorten this time frame and have them checked after three years or so).

While your tires may look good, if you don’t ride your motorbike very often, you need to examine the tires for any evidence of dry rot. The rubber compound on tires that have been set for a while can deteriorate. If there are signs of cracking,(they often look like little roots or arteries flowing over the tire's surface. If there is brittleness, or discoloration on the sidewall or tread surface (usually a graying of the tire), have them checked by a local technician who can advise you if they are safe to ride on. Many riders have dusted off their bike after having been stored in the garage for a year, only to ride it and blow a tire half a mile down the road. (Blowing a tire on a motorcycle is much more dangerous than blowing a tire in a car).