Manufacturers either have an official tyre supplier or an unofficial one that they tend to work closely with or they are non-partisan.
For example Pirelli are the official tyre suppliers to Ducati. Bridgestone are a very common fitment to Honda motorcycles but there’s no formal partnership and some Hondas do come on other brands of tyres. Then there are manufacturers like KTM and Triumph who have launched bikes with OE tyres supplied by various manufacturers.
Development
During the development process, manufacturers don’t have the budget to test their bikes on every tyre available. Can you imagine how long that would take?
Usually the manufacturer will go to their preferred tyre supplier with a basic brief and that’ll narrow down the options to two or three different tyre models. The manufacturers then test those tyres and pick the one that best suits the bike and the conditions its most likely to be ridden in.
OEM vs non OEM
There’s a common feeling among bikers that the first thing you should do when you get a new bike is to ditch the tyres. The reason being that while the make and model of the tyre supplied with the bike is one you can buy off-the-shelf the OEM tyre is a cheap version of it. In terms of the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, these tyres are often referred to as a Japanese-spec tyre but it’s not just the Japanese bikes that are fitted with look-a-like tyres from new.
It’s a strange way of doing things but sometimes the OE tyre is a different compound or contruction to the genuine tyre you can buy from a motorcycle tyre supplier like us. It’s down to budget and the motorcycle manufacturer obviously has a restritive budget in some circumstances. Couple that with politics, for example the tyre supplier wants the new bike to come on the latest tyre but then it comes down to price and often the genuine tyre smashes the budget, so a different compound or construction is used. For example on the new Yamaha R1, the OEM tyre is an RS10G whereas the tyre you buy off the shelf is an RS10. The RS10G is a single compound tyre, the RS10 is a dual compound, so that OEM tyre might not offer as much grip or as good a mileage as the off-the-shelf tyre.
Shooting yourself in the foot
Here at Two Tyres, we don’t quite understand the logic. If you are a manufacturer developing a bike and you launch it on a sub-standard tyre, the chances are the bike, not the tyres, will get the ill will of the road testers. Similarly if you’re a tyre manufacturer and you’re fitting a new bike with an inferior verion of a tyre, is that really the best advert for that tyre or for your brand?
It doesn’t make sense to us. Alas, it has been like this for decades and will no doubt be like it for years to come.
However, the manufacturers who launch their bikes on tyres from a variety of manufacturers get our respect. To us this means they understand the importance of the right tyre and they’re able to make an unrestrained choice.
Run whatever tyre you like
The OEM tyre is rarely the best tyre for you, even if the manufacturer has picked a quality tyre, they’re still thinking about the wide range of demands on that tyre, so they’re picking a good compromise. That compromise might not work for you.
The most important thing to consider when choosing a tyre is to ensure you stick to the right size and load and speed ratings – and you run the tyres at the correct pressures. Some manufacturers will offer a range of alternative fitments, so check your owner’s manual. However, the world of tyres moves on at a rapid rate, so we think (and obviously we would say this) you should give your local motorcycle tyre shop a call to discuss your needs. They know that if they get you on the right tyre, you’ll be a customer for life. We’re on 0207 205 2205 by the way!
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