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Motorcycle Summer Touring Tyres

All Motorcycle Summer Touring Tyres on Tyre Reviews, ranked. The 10 tyres in this category are scored using 48 owner reviews covering 222,514 miles of driving.

  • 10tyres in this category
  • 48owner reviews
  • 222,514 milescovered on them

The quick answer

The quick answer - Motorcycle Summer Touring Tyres
Pick Tyre The evidence
Best overall Nankang WF2 Sportiac 7.7 TR Score 7.7 / 10 limited data so far
Owners' favourite Nankang WF2 Sportiac 7.7 89% from 6 owner reviews

Best overall is the highest TR Score in the category; the owners' favourite is the highest rated by the drivers who run them. The full rankings and the evidence behind every pick are below.

The best Motorcycle Summer Touring Tyres, ranked

The highest scoring tyre in the category is the Nankang WF2 Sportiac, with a TR Score of 7.7 out of 10. 3 of the 10 tyres here have earned a score; the rest are listed further down.

Motorcycle Summer Touring Tyres ranked by TR Score
# Tyre TR Score Owner rating Reviews Distance reviewed
1 Nankang WF2 Sportiac 7.7 89% 6 11,814 miles
2 Avon Storm 2 Ultra Replaced by Avon Storm 3D XM 6.6 80% 26 169,700 miles
3 Maxxis Supermaxx ST 5.8 63% 13 39,700 miles

TR Score rates each tyre out of 10 using independent test results and the full body of owner reviews, weighted by how much evidence backs them. Tyres are only scored once enough data exists; discontinued tyres are not ranked but remain in the complete record below.

What is a Touring tyre?

Touring tyres are everyday tyres that put value, comfort and wear first. They give up some of the wet and dry performance of the premium options in exchange for a lower price.

Summer tyres use compounds that work best in warm conditions, giving the strongest wet and dry grip of any season category when temperatures are mild or hot. Their performance falls away in the cold, which is where winter and all season tyres take over.

The Motorcycle Summer Touring Tyres owners rate highest

Rated purely by the people who drive on them, the top tyre in the category is the Nankang WF2 Sportiac - 89% from 6 owner reviews. 3 tyres have enough reviews to qualify; this is the same ranking behind the category position shown on each tyre's own page.

Motorcycle Summer Touring Tyres ranked by owner rating
# Tyre Owner rating Reviews Distance reviewed TR Score
1 Nankang WF2 Sportiac 89% 6 11,814 miles 7.7
2 Avon Storm 2 Ultra Replaced by Avon Storm 3D XM 80% 26 169,700 miles 6.6
3 Maxxis Supermaxx ST 63% 13 39,700 miles 5.8

A tyre needs at least 3 owner reviews to appear here. Owner ratings reward different things to tests - comfort, wear and value show up over thousands of miles, not on a test track.

What drivers say about Motorcycle Summer Touring Tyres

The most recent owner reviews from this category, in their own words.

54%
Maxxis Supermaxx ST 180-55-17- 3,100 miles February 7, 2024
Dry Grip - really impressive for the price point. Never any drama and very consistent grip all the way to the edge of the tyre.

Wet Grip - again, incredible for the price. Great feel of grip levels and never sliding all over the place for as long as you're sensible with that right wrist.

Road Feedback - while the road feedback was great in the wet due to the low grip threshold, this completely changed in the dry. Whilst I had a rough idea what was going on, it was never a feeling of complete security especially when pushing the tyre. While grip levels to the edge of the tyre was never an issue, feel was. It almost felt like you would hit a barrier where the tyre would just stop communicating what the front end is doing, leaving to a constant feeling mid corner of "oh sh*t am I about to lose the front?" For proper spirited riding on the road, this can be almost scary at times.

Handling - while the handling wasn't bad, it also wasn't great. Tip in was incredibly sluggish, and this is what makes it lose points big time. Once it is tipped in, mid corner adjustments are easy and actually quick pleasant, but quickly flicking back and forth on these tyres feels like more of a workout rather than fun. I find that a real shame.

Wear - the worst point of this tyre, and downright embarrassing for how Maxxis advertise it. A sport-touring tyre, that gets mileage as if it were a hypersport tyre, terrible. While sure it has a lot of grip for what is a sport-touring tyre, I'm 3100 miles in and at the rear it's at the wear bars and it is incredibly squared off. When much nicer (but also far more expensive) hypersport tyres get similar mileage whilst also being far far more enjoyable to ride, I seriously expect better. Not only that but at this point of wear levels, the poor road feedback only gets worse. The front is still doing alright though, it seems like the typical 2x rear for every 1x front.

Comfort - actually quite a strong point of this tyre, it feels wonderfully comfortable over harsh bumps given its decent mid corner support.

Buy Again - absolutely not, while the £175 price for a pair of 120/70/17 180/55/17 tyres is great, you can also get Maxxis' Supermaxx Sport MA-SP tyres for the same price, which are a far more sporty offering whilst having a duel compound tread, likely leading to even better performance at the same sort of mileage. However, for just £100 more or even less if you can get a good deal, you can find the likes of Metzeler M9-RR's or Pirelli Diablo Rosso 3's. Far better tyres which will also should get you more miles both front and rear. I've personally (now that I have worn out the rear) picked up a cracking deal on a pair of Avon 3D Ultra Evo's for just £175, I'm not even going to bother saving some money and buying another rear to make the most out of the front tyre, I really feel these Maxxis tyres are spoiling my bikes handling.
72%
Dunlop Arrowmax Streetsmart 130-80-17- Honda CB500S November 12, 2022
I use my bike mostly for commuting, but I have done a bit of touring too. These tyres have never let me down, but do seem to wear out fairly quickly in the centre-band, I had to change my first rear tyre after 6000 miles. I am now starting to look at a set of new tyres after the current rear has done 4500 miles. I probably would buy these again, I don't have any specific problems with them as such, but I do not push my bike to its limits often at all.
89%
Nankang WF2 Sportiac 180-55-17- Honda CBR650R 3,106 miles May 17, 2022
it's a very good price/performance tire to choose , well grip at summer time, would like to buy again
79%
Maxxis Supermaxx ST 225-45-17- 2,000 miles April 12, 2022
i had these fitted two years ago due to the appeal of the cost. although i don't typically do much mileage on my Gsxr these have been used for commuting, weekend rides and occasional track use first impressions was the more sporty nature of the profile for a sports touring tyre, they seem to hold up well even on a wet novice trackday at Outlon park. i believe these were the original choice of tyre for the Chris Walker track school and its easy to see why as these seem to offer good consistent grip in all conditions. the only downside is they seem to take time to generate heat. in terms of wear im roughly 2,000 miles into these and wear seems consistent (however as mentioned i do a lot of novice track days on these)
43%
Avon StreetRunner AV83 130-70-17- Kawasaki Z250SL 1,000 miles June 10, 2021
Dealer fitted this tire on second hand Z250. Dissapointing tyre, performance is okeyish but definitelly not inspiring. Have this tyre on the rear, it keeps sliding in the corners (even after 1000miles).
0%
Maxxis Supermaxx ST 190-55-17- BMW R1200RT 3,000 miles May 17, 2021
Like most riders, if I was loaded I would have replaced the excellent Michelins on my GTR1400, not loaded, I found a YouTube video with (I think) Chris Walker and his mates testing the ST tyres on a circuit on several bikes, including an equally heavy / powerful ZZR1400. Well these guys tried their best to get the bikes moving, and regardless of what they did, the tyres held up. The following day journalists who were at the track to the bikes on the roads with the used tyres, they loved them too. I invested £130 in a pair, scrubbed them in, and on Scottish Highland roads (where I now live) pushed them more and more to see if I done the right thing or sell them off and go back to the dealer tyres. Shouldn't have doubted myself, great in the dry and equally confidence 'making progress' in the wet. All I can say is blòody great tyres and will put a pair on my new bike R1200RT for my NC500 in under 24hrs in June 2021. Definitely money well spent.
36%
Maxxis Supermaxx ST 180-55-17-W Suzuki TL1000R 3,000 miles November 17, 2020
Good in the dry, wears very quickly in the centre for a sports touring tyre. As soon as it squares off its horrible picking up any imperfections on the road. In the wet absolutely no feel & if it's cold as well the front slips, rear slides & if neither of these are happening the you've no idea what they're doing. They're cheap but cheap doesn't make up for how they feel in the wet
76%
Maxxis Supermaxx ST 180-55-17-W Triumph Sprint RS 5,000 miles November 4, 2020
This was my second st of Maxxis St. After the last set I was going to buy something more premium, but I was skint; and these only cost £130 a set.. If anything my opinion of these tyres is even better than the first set, Grip and handling at this price, or anywhere under £200 is unbeatable. These were fitted to the review bikes at the launch of the KTM 790, and non of those hacks had anything bad to say about these tyres, despite some initial reservations. They are honestly the best tyres I have ever used in the wet that are not just purely wet focused. They were developed with the assistance of BSB legend Chris Walker, and he did a great job. However, they are only a single compound tyre, and they wear like buggery. My bike has just got an MOT advisory for the rear after less than 5000. You can tell they are a soft compound by the tearing on the edges after any enthusiastic cornering ;-) I would highly recommend these tyre if you don't do a high mileage, and ride anything under 130HP I am going to try Avon ST, next.
54%
Avon Storm 2 Ultra 225-45-17- Kawasaki Zx7r July 18, 2020
Good tyre overall very neutral felt heavy and took some time to heat up. More bottom end touring.

All Motorcycle Summer Touring Tyres on Tyre Reviews

The complete record, including discontinued tyres and tyres with too little evidence to rank, ordered by the amount of evidence. The most researched this month: Maxxis Supermaxx ST, Dunlop Arrowmax Streetsmart, Continental ContiGo.

All Motorcycle Summer Touring Tyres
Tyre TR Score Owner rating Reviews Distance reviewed
Avon Storm 2 Ultra Replaced by Avon Storm 3D XM 6.6 80% 26 169,700 miles
Maxxis Supermaxx ST 5.8 63% 13 39,700 miles
Nankang WF2 Sportiac 7.7 89% 6 11,814 miles
Avon StreetRunner AV83 - 60% 2 1,300 miles
Dunlop Arrowmax Streetsmart - 62% 1 -
5 more tyres in this category have no reviews yet

Continental ContiGo, Maxxis M6002 V1, Maxxis M6011 Touring, Michelin Power Pure SC, Nankang WF1 Sportiac

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Where this data comes from

Rankings combine independent test results with owner reviews submitted through this site, each naming the car, the tyre, the size and the distance covered. Reviews are checked by hand before publication, and the page rebuilds automatically as new evidence arrives.

About the TR Score

The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 using independent test results and the full body of owner reviews, weighted by how much evidence backs them.

Who does the testing

Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.

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