10 Best Motorcycle Tires for Touring Bikes, Ranked by a Long-Distance Rider

I have burned through more touring tires than I care to admit. Between a BMW R1250RT, a Kawasaki Concours 14, and a string of borrowed baggers, I have logged well over 100,000 miles on everything from the Blue Ridge Parkway to the middle of Kansas in July.

That time in the saddle taught me one lesson: the right tire transforms a long day, and the wrong one ruins it. A tire that feels perfectly fine on a 30 minute commute can howl, cup, and lose its grip the moment you load it with luggage and hit rain at mile 400.

So this is the list I would hand to a friend. I have personally owned or ridden most of these, and for the ones I have not owned, I have leaned on long term reports and spec sheets I actually trust rather than marketing copy.

1. Michelin Road 6 GT — Best Overall for Heavy Sport Tourers

If you ride a big sport tourer and you want one tire that does everything well, this is the one I keep coming back to. I ran a set of Road 6 GTs on my R1250RT for a full season, including a 3,000 mile trip with panniers and a top box stuffed to the lid.

The Road 6 uses a silica rich compound and Michelin’s XST sipe technology, and the company claims around 15 percent more wet grip and 10 percent longer tread life than the Road 5 it replaced. In my experience that wet weather claim is not marketing fluff. I have ridden these through proper thunderstorms and never once felt the front go vague.

The GT designation matters. It gets a stiffer, reinforced carcass designed for bikes over roughly 250 kg, so it does not squirm or overheat when you are two up with luggage. Expect to pay somewhere around $230 for a front and $280 for a rear, which is not cheap.

My only real complaint is that the stiff carcass can feel a touch wooden on a lighter bike. If your tourer is under 200 kg, buy the standard Road 6 instead of the GT.

2. Dunlop Roadsmart IV — Best Handling Sport Touring Tire

When I want a touring tire that still makes me grin on a mountain pass, I fit Roadsmart IVs. Dunlop uses its Multi-Tread construction on the rear, which means a hard wearing center compound for straight line miles and softer shoulders for cornering grip.

The front is dual compound as well, and the profile is noticeably sportier than most touring rubber. Turn in is quick without being twitchy, and the tire holds a line beautifully when you are loaded down.

Wet performance is strong for a tire this sporty. I have done a full day of cold, drizzly Appalachian riding on these and never had a moment of doubt. Dunlop also claims meaningfully better mileage than the Roadsmart III, and my own rear lasted around 9,000 miles before the center was done.

If your priority is outright mileage above all else, the Roadsmart IV will not beat a dedicated touring cruiser tire. But as a do everything option for a sport tourer, it is very hard to argue with.

3. Michelin Commander III Touring — Best for Heavy V-Twin Baggers

This is the tire I recommend to almost every Harley or Indian owner who asks me what to buy. Michelin built the Commander III Touring specifically for heavy cruisers and dressers, and it shows in the details.

There is aramid fiber reinforcement in the casing for high speed stability, a silica compound for wet grip, and a tread pattern designed to resist the cupping that plagues big V twins. Michelin claims up to 25 percent longer life than the Commander II, and my riding buddies on baggers consistently get well past 12,000 miles on a rear.

It also comes in whitewall and wide whitewall versions, which matters if you are keeping a classic look. The Commander III Cruiser is a different, lighter duty tire, so make sure you buy the Touring version for a loaded bike.

Downside? It is not a sporty tire. Push hard through a corner and you will feel the weight. That is the trade you make for longevity on a 900 pound motorcycle.

4. Bridgestone Battlax T32 GT — Best Value All Rounder

If the Michelin Road 6 GT price makes you wince, the Battlax T32 GT is where I would send you. Bridgestone’s Pulse Groove tread design moves water efficiently, and the compound is loaded with silica for cold and wet conditions.

I ran a set of these on a Yamaha FJR1300 and was genuinely impressed. Grip in the rain was within a whisker of the premium Michelin, and dry handling was sharp enough that I forgot I was on a touring tire.

The GT spec version is the one you want for a heavy tourer, with a reinforced carcass and higher load rating. Standard T32s are fine for lighter bikes. Pricing typically lands 15 to 20 percent below the Michelin, which adds up fast when you are buying two tires at once.

Tread life is good but not class leading. I got around 8,000 miles out of the rear before it started squaring off.

5. Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE — Best Long Distance Comfort Tire

Metzeler’s Roadtec 01 has a reputation as one of the most comfortable, high mileage sport touring tires you can buy, and the SE version sharpens it up a bit with a more aggressive shoulder compound.

What I love about this tire is the plushness. On long highway slogs it soaks up expansion joints and coarse chip seal better than almost anything else in this list, which genuinely reduces fatigue over a 500 mile day.

The HWM compound is Metzeler’s high wet modulus rubber, and it works. Braking stability in the wet on these is excellent, and the front gives good feedback right up to the limit.

Mileage is very strong. I have heard of riders seeing 12,000 miles from a rear on a big tourer, and my own experience was in the 10,000 range. It is a brilliant choice for the rider who covers huge distances and values comfort.

6. Pirelli Angel GT II — Best for Aggressive Sport Touring

Pirelli’s Angel GT II is the tire I would choose if I still wanted to chase sportbikes on a Sunday morning ride while touring the rest of the year. It uses a bi compound rear with Pirelli’s Cap and Base construction, which puts a softer, grippier layer over a harder base.

Warm up is quick, which is exactly what you want on a cold morning start. Grip is excellent, and the front end feel on these is some of the best I have experienced on a touring tire.

Wet performance is very good but not quite at Michelin Road 6 levels in my opinion, particularly in standing water. Mileage is decent, though aggressive riders will burn through a rear in 6,000 to 7,000 miles.

If you ride a Multistrada, Super Duke GT, or similar, the Angel GT II is a fantastic match.

7. Continental RoadAttack 4 — Best Modern All Rounder

Continental’s RoadAttack 4 is one of the more interesting tires on this list because of its Traction Skin treatment. That means the tire comes out of the mold without the release agent that normally requires a careful break in period.

In practice, that meant I could ride normally from the first mile rather than tiptoeing around for 100 miles. The BlackChili compound provides excellent grip, and Continental’s Grip Limit Feedback technology genuinely does give you a heads up before the front lets go.

It also comes in a GT variant for heavier bikes, so check which version suits your machine. Mileage is good, and dry handling is among the sharpest here.

The main knock is availability. In some sizes and regions, it can be harder to source than a Michelin or Bridgestone.

8. Dunlop Elite 4 — Best Mileage for American Touring Bikes

For Gold Wings and big American tourers, the Dunlop Elite 4 is a workhorse. It replaced the long running Elite 3 and Dunlop claims around 20 percent better mileage, which is a serious number in this category.

The rear uses Dunlop’s MT Multi-Tread construction with a durable center and grippier edges, and the tire is built to handle the weight of a fully loaded touring bike without excessive heat build up.

I have ridden a Gold Wing on these and the stability at highway speed with a full load is superb. It is a confidence inspiring tire rather than an exciting one, which is exactly the point.

Whitewall versions are available, and for many riders restoring or maintaining a classic tourer, that is the deciding factor.

9. Metzeler ME 888 Marathon Ultra — Best for Loaded Two-Up Cruising

The ME 888 Marathon Ultra has been around a long time, and there is a reason riders keep buying it. It is built for heavy cruisers carrying a passenger and a full set of luggage, with a strong carcass and a compound focused on longevity.

Load capacity is excellent, and the tire resists the squaring and cupping that heavy touring bikes inflict on softer rubber. If you regularly ride two up across state lines, this is a sensible, dependable choice.

Grip is adequate rather than inspiring, particularly in the wet. It is not the tire I would pick for a rainy mountain pass at speed, but for highway touring in fair conditions it does the job reliably.

Whitewall options are plentiful, which keeps the cruiser crowd happy.

10. Shinko 777 — Best Budget Option

I will be honest with you: the Shinko 777 is not going to out perform anything above it on this list. But if money is tight and you need a fresh set of rubber for a cruiser or older touring bike, it is a legitimate option that many riders happily run.

It is a bias ply tire with a classic tread look, decent dry grip, and a price that is often half of what a premium touring tire costs. For a bike that sees occasional weekend trips rather than cross country duty, that math can make sense.

Where it falls down is wet grip and longevity. Expect noticeably shorter tread life than a Michelin Commander III, and be more cautious in heavy rain.

My advice: if you are doing serious mileage, save up for one of the premium options. If you are doing 2,000 easy miles a year, the Shinko 777 will serve you fine.

What I Look For Before Buying Any Touring Tire

After all these sets, I have a short checklist I run through before I hand over my card. It saves me from buying the wrong tire for the way I actually ride.

Load Rating and GT Specs

Check your bike’s gross vehicle weight rating, not just the dry weight. If you regularly ride two up with luggage, you want a tire with a reinforced carcass and a higher load index, which is exactly what GT and Touring spec tires provide.

Running a standard tire on a heavy, loaded tourer is the fastest way I know to shorten its life and compromise stability.

Wet Grip Versus Mileage

This is the fundamental trade off in touring rubber. Softer, silica rich compounds grip better in the rain but wear faster. Harder, longer wearing compounds last for ages but can feel wooden in the wet.

I decide based on where I ride. If I tour in the Pacific Northwest, I take the wet grip. If I am crossing the Southwest in summer, I take the mileage.

Matching Front and Rear

I always buy matched pairs from the same model line. Mixing a sporty front with a hard touring rear can create unpredictable handling, and manufacturers design the profiles to work as a set.

I also replace both at the same time when touring, even if the front has life left. It is cheap insurance for a long trip.

Frequently Asked Questions