Dirt bike tire are an essential part of any dirt bike. The specific size and teh pattern of the dirt bike tire will determine how the dirt bike handles the different type of terrain it may encounter. Dirt bike tires is not a universal component that will fit any dirt bike model.
The rider must select a tire that match the dirt bike and the terrain requirement for that particular dirt bike. Should a rider select an incorrect tire for a dirt bike, the dirt bike will not steer correct and wont be able to provide the necessary traction required for dirt bike performance. The measurements for dirt bike tires is stamped on the sidewall of the dirt bike tire.
How to Choose the Right Dirt Bike Tire
The first number represent the width of the tire in millimeters. The second number represent the aspect ratio of the tire, which is given as a percentage of the width of the tire. Finally, the last number are the diameter of the rim in inches.
For dirt bikes, the front tires are usually narrow than the rear dirt bike tires. This allow the front tire to turn the dirt bikes head to steer faster. Dirt bikes with full size engines use a 21-inch diameter for the front tire and either an 18-inch or 19-inch diameter for the rear tire.
Smaller dirt bikes may use a smaller diameter for the wheels to increase the agility of the dirt bike. The engine size for the dirt bike will dictate the type of tire that the dirt bike must use. Dirt bikes with smaller engines, such as 50cc or 65cc engines, will use smaller tires for the dirt bike to keep the weight of the dirt bike low.
Dirt bikes with larger engines, such as 125cc or 250cc engines, will use 21-inch tires for the front tire and 19-inch tires for the rear tire. These size are used for motocross dirt biking. Enduro dirt bikes will use a tire that is wider for the rear end of the dirt bike to allow for more stability on the rocky and root infested dirt bike trails.
Using the incorrect type of tire for the engine size and dirt bike will create instability in the dirt bikes suspension system. Because front and rear dirt bike tires have different functions, you should not use the tires in the opposite of the component that the tire is design for. Front dirt bike tires are used to steer the dirt bike.
Front dirt bike tires have taller knobs on the tire than the rear dirt bike tires to allow the tire to dig into the ground when the dirt bike needs to be brake or turned. Dirt bike rear tires are used to propel the dirt bike forward. Therefore, the knobs on the rear dirt bike tires are wider and have a different pattern compared to the front dirt bike tires.
Rear dirt bike tires also have higher air pressure then the front dirt bike tires to allow the tire to remain stable when the dirt bike produce torque. The type of terrain that the dirt bike will encounter will dictate the pattern of dirt bike tire that is used. Dirt bike tires that encounter soft mud will have knobs that are tall and wide spaced apart.
This allows the mud tire to shed the mud build-up on the tire. Dirt bike tires that encounter hardpack terrain will have knobs on the tire that are short and densely pack. This will allow the tire to maintain contact with the ground.
Intermediate dirt bike tires are more versatile and can handle a variety of terrain. Dirt bikes that encounter sand will require a specific type of tire for the rear end of the dirt bike, called a paddle tire. The air pressure for the dirt bike tires will also change based off the terrain the dirt bike will encounter.
Dirt bikes will use low air pressure in their tire for soft terrain like mud so that the knobs will penetrate the mud. However, for desert terrain, the air pressure should be higher in the dirt bike tires so that the risk of developing “pinch flats” is prevent. The rims and spokes for the dirt bike are necessary to hold the dirt bike tire in place.
The diameter for the tire rims must match the dirt bike tire size. Additionally, the rider must tighten the spokes on the tire rims to the correct tension so that the vibration from the dirt bike will not damage the dirt bike. Dirt bikes may use inner tube for the tires, or the dirt bikes may use a tubeless setup for the tires on alloy rims.
Dirt bikes with inner tubes are more common because the inner tubes allow the tires to have a more lower air pressure. Dirt bikes with tubeless setups are lighter and will self-seal any puncture in the tire. Finally, the rider must select the tire for a dirt bike based on the type of dirt biking that the dirt bike will perform.
The height of the knobs on the dirt bike tires and the stiffness of the sidewalls will determine the response of the dirt bike to the terrain.
