When it comes to riding in cold conditions, it’s all about grip. Tyre wear and tyre profile can take a back seat; you want a tyre that can find grip when there is none.
In the car world, winter tyres are common; with most of the Northern European countries making it compulsory to fit winter tyres during the winter months (November to March), with some issuing a hefty fine if you’re caught without winter tyres. However in the UK, that’s not the case. Winter tyres aren’t a legal requirement and you’re unlikely to see many car drivers running around on winter tyres during the cold months.
You can get specific ‘winter motorcycle tyres’. These are better known as M+S rated tyres. M+S stands for Mud and Snow and tyres that are M&S rated usually have a snowflake symbol on the tyre wall or they will clearly mention M+S. In countries where winter tyres are a legal requirement, motorcycles are required to have them fitted.
These tyres are designed to offer optimum grip in sub-optimal conditions. They’re good when there’s snow on the ground as their tread pattern is designed to cut through the snow (or mud) and find grip where you’d think there was none. They also have a compound that works well in cold conditions. But if it’s just cold outside, you don’t need a winter-specific M+S motorcycle tyre; the best motorcycle tyres for winter isn’t necessarily a specialist snow-capable tyre. There are other good options.
Motorcycle Tyres For Cold Weather Conditions
If you’re riding through winter, commuting in cold conditions you don’t need a Mud & Snow rated tyre. You need a tyre that will warm up quickly offer good traction in the wet and deliver good mileage. Safety is a priority.
Below is our pick of the 5 best motorcycle tyres for winter riding:
The Roadtec 01 SE superseded the original Roadtec 01 in 2020. The main difference is it has more rubber in contact with the road at full lean creating a more stable feeling. The wet weather performance is still incredible. The only slight downside (in our opinion) is that it’s maybe not as quick steering as some of it’s competitor tyres. The original Roadtec 01 was MCN tyre of the year in 2016 and 2017. If you ride a heavy tourer (think BMW K1600, Kawasaki GTR1400 or Yamaha FJR1300) then go for the HWM version which has a re-inforced rear tyre, to handle the extra weight. Yes, there’s now a Roadtec 02 but we think the flatter profile of the Roadtec 01 makes it a better choice for sure-footed handling.
Dropping the word Pilot from the name but the Road 5 is the evolution of Michelin’s most popular road tyre. Its distinctive Sipes technology helps make this a brilliant tyre in the wet while its fast warm up and edge grip are what makes it a firm favourite. It’s one of the most popular motorcycle tyres out there and ever since the original Pilot Road, Michelin have managed to make them better each time. For heavy tourers, go for the Road 5 GT version.
Classic Bridgestone quality, superb turn in and excellent wet weather performance. The T32 is a great all-rounder and returns good mileage. Bridgestone have worked hard to improve the braking performance in wet weather. The rear is dual compound, with harder rubber in the centre for better wear, and softer at the edges for more cornering grip, plus the GT is reinforced to suit heavier bikes like these. This tyre feels very very sporty and will make big sports tourers feel nimble.
Pirelli’s latest touring tyre, takes over from where the popular Angel GT left off. A dual compound rear, with softer shoulders for more edge grip but a harder central compound for maximum mileage. Borrows from Pirelli’s track rain tyre tread pattern for better wet-weather grip and it warms up quickly too, making it a good choice for those who commute all year around. The ‘A’ fitment is for heavier bikes.
SPORTS OPTION
A sporty option but never the less a great tyre, even in cold weather. The replacement for the much-loved M7RR, the M9RR is a sports tyre that’s more than good enough for fast group trackday pace. The M9RR won’t quite return the mileage of the tyres above but it has a sporty profile and brilliant wet weather performance. If you ride a litre sportsbike and you’re not quite ready to fit a ‘touring’ tyre, the M9RR is for you.
Mud and Snow (M+S) Rated Motorcycle Tyres
If you’re going to be doing a significant percentage of your miles in temperatures close to freezing, or with snow on the ground, then an M&S tyre is a good choice.
Like all tyres, M+S rated tyres come with different tread patterns and are designed for a variety of conditions.
Overall, an M&S tyre has a tread pattern that is designed to aid traction in cold conditions. Snow sticks to itself better than it does to rubber and so some winter-specific tyres like the Anlas Winter Grip Plus are designed with deep grooves to help channel the snow away but also smaller grooves designed to collect a minute layer of snow, which in turn aids traction.
Below is our pick of 10 of M+S rated motorcycle tyres:
Anlas Winter Grip Plus
The Anlas Winter Grip + is quite posibly the best all round motorcycle winter tyre available. A very stable and predictable M+S rated tyre it’s also made in sizes suitable for both street and adventure bikes. This one is a great choice if you need a pair in the Autumn ready for the Winter season.
Avon Trekrider AV84 / AV85
The Trekrider is Avon’s 50/50 road/off-road tyre, like a Range Rover equally as good in the mud as on the tarmac. These are M+S rated if you ever find yourself in Germany and it’s starting to snow.
Bridgestone AX41S
With these tyres, an R80 custom scrambler, brown Redwings, beige leather jacket, 501’s and an openface helmet you’re guaranteed to get that girlfriend or boyfriend you’ve lusted after for so long. They have a cool rugged-looking tread pattern but it’s not just about looks. These are M+S rated and a great choice for winter conditions.
Continental TKC70
If you need a tyre capable of a bit of mud bashing and tarmac mile munching the TKC70 could be the one for you. The 70% street and 30% off road bias this could be the perfect choice for your adventure bike, especially in winter conditions. The 70 is M+S rated and it’s a great performer when the mercury drops.
Continental TKC80
The TKC80 is the poster-boy for knobbly adventure tyres. It’s not as good a road tyre as the TKC70 but it can handle the muddy stuff with ease and if it’s snowing outside, we’d happily take the TKC80s big block tread and sacrifice a bit of road comfort when compared to the TKC70.
Dunlop Mutant Hybrid
A strange tyre but a good one for non-Adventure-bike riders who want a bit of the ‘Adventure bike knobbly’ to help find grip during the winter months. Dunlop’s Mutant tyres are M+S rated and provide you with the kind of handling and stability you expect from hypersport tyres. Dunlop claims they offer the very best grip in wet conditions this side of racing wets, as well as the kind of durability that you would find among touring fitments.
Kenda K784 Big Block
These mud munchers from Kenda are getting a real following amongst the adventure riders out there. Using ‘big blocks’ these tyres offer excellent mileage and great handling at speed. The K784 is a M+S rated tyre, it’s also at a fantastic price so what’s not to like?
Metzeler Karoo Street
A solid M+S rated tyre from Metzeler and perfect for Adventure-bike riders who ride all year around, especially in winter conditions. A good choice if you do a little bit of dry green-laning too. The Karoo Street is so much better on road than the more blocky deeper treaded alternatives whilst also looking the part.
Michelin Anakee Adventure
The Anakee Adventure was released in 2019 to replace the Anakee 3. A more off-road looking tyre then the Anakee 3 but still retaining superb tarmac grip due to it’s high silica content and 2CT dual compounds on the rear tyre. It’s M+S rated too, meaning it’ll be a good option for those rainy days and cold winter conditions. This one will make your Adventure bike look and also feel the part.
Michelin Anakee Wild
The knobbliest Michelins you’ll get this side of a Dakar bike, the Anakee Wild is the next step up from the Anakee Adventure and has deep tread blocks. It’s an M+S-rated tyre with a huge off-road bias and not a recommended fit for road riding but if you want something to deal with winter slush and snow, it’ll take it on. Available in tubed and tubeless sizes. You can run these are road pressures off-road, which saves faffing around.
Scooter Winter Tyres
If you’re riding a scooter through winter, it’s a sensible idea to fit a set of winter-specific scooter tyres. They’ll warm up quickly and offer the maximum amount of traction on cold road surfaces and help you deal with the tricky conditions.
New from 2020 the Michelin City Grip 2 utilises all the good points from the original Michelin City Grip and adds a few more! Having a high silica content these hoops are the benchmark in wet weather performance around town.
Anlas Winter Grip 2 (M+S Rated)
The only M+S rated scooter tyre available on the market to date (Oct 2020). The Anlas Winter Grip 2 Sc500 comes in a huge choice of sizes offering winter weather beating performance, great mileage and excellent value for money. They are also available in maxi scooter radial fitments, perfect for hooning around town on your T-Max in December!
Superb wet weather performance unbelievable prices. Having a rather pointed profile they resist aquaplaning extremely well. The Anlas Tournee Scooter has one of the largest range of sizes of any two wheeled tyre on the market it also comes in a radial fitment for larger maxi scooters.
Like all of Continentals ‘road two wheeled range’ the ContiScoot has exceptional cold and wet weather performance. The tread pattern is based on Continentals test winning ContiRoadAttack 3 and is designed to shift water in bucket loads. A very very capable winter tyre that also works in the warmer months.
Bridgestone SC2 Rain (Maxi Scooters)
A great choice for the larger Maxi Scooters out there. The Bridgestone SC2 Rain has a multi compound rear with increased silica content in the middle section. The front is a single compound but also with a very high silica content. A very very capable winter tyre.
Winter Motorcycling FAQ
Can you ride a motorcycle during winter?
Yes you can ride a motorcycle in any conditions. Although if it’s snowing, you do need to have a proper winter-ready tyre on your bike to give yourself the best chance of staying safe. A M+S (Mud&Snow) rated motorcycle tyre is designed for the worst conditions, including riding in the snow. However even if it is snowing outside you don’t have to have an M+S rated tyre but a good quality touring tyre, like the ones we’ve chosen above, is a good option.
How should you ride a motorcycle in winter?
You need to make sure that your bike and your kit are in good condition. If you’re cold or wet you’ll lose concentration and that’s where mistakes are made. Ensure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressures and take your time to ensure they warm up; a cold tyre won’t offer hardly any grip. Use gentle throttle and brake inputs and try not to lean the bike over too much. Avoid manhole covers, give yourself extra distance to other vehicles and ensure your visor is clear and fog-free to give you maximum visibility.
How should I dress for winter riding?
Ensure you wear plenty of layers to keep the warmth in and keep the cold wind and rain out.
Do winter tyres wear quicker?
They will wear quickly if you are riding in totally dry conditions. Most winter-orientated tyres are designed so that the tread moves to warm the tyre up as quickly as possible and maintain heat in the tyre once it is up to temperature. This, more flexible tread pattern and more forgiving compound will wear faster when road conditions are warm and dry.
How cold is too cold for motorcycle tyres?
If you are riding in conditions of 7-degrees and below it’s best to look for an M+S rated tyre as these will still be able to reach their operating temperature. However if your tyre is designed for fast road riding or track days, then it won’t be safe to ride on them in very cold conditions as the tyre carcass won’t generate enough heat to stay warm and give you the grip you need.
How long does it take for motorcycle tyres to warm up?
When conditions are warm and dry, most sports-touring or touring motorcycle tyres will be up to temperature after a few miles. However as the outside and road temperatures drop, this distance will increase. It’s important to check you are running your manufacturer’s correct tyre pressures to ensure your tyres reach the correct temperature and pressures. If conditions are near freezing, allow at least 10 miles of steady riding to build some heat into your tyres.
Do warm tyres grip better?
Yes, the rubber compound moves around more when it is warmer and this increased flexibility helps the tyre mould to the surface it is being pressed in to, increasing your grip levels. A sports tyre will stay cold and harder during cold weather and therefore won’t be able to offer optimum grip.
Should I reduce my tyre pressures to improve wet weather grip?
No. This is an old myth with a theory that the reduced pressure helps the tyre move around and therefore warm up quickly. However modern motorcycle tyres have a lot of silica in them which allows them to warm up quickly and work very well in the wet. If you run them as reduced pressured, all you do is close up the grooves in the treat pattern, which means that the tyre isn’t as good at dispersing water. So instead of improving a tyre’s performance in cold or wet conditions, reducing pressures will worsen its performance.
What are the best motorcycle tyres for wet weather?
Riding in the winter and riding your motorcycle in the rain are similar scenarios but there are some great wet weather motorcycle tyres on the market that are also great for fast road riding when the sun’s out and the roads are dry. Just click the link to see our guide.
