This is super cool!
A high-grip tire is a tire that provides an overwhelming grip for sporty driving! It's also a cool tire with a racy design. However, power comes at a price, and if you choose the wrong tire, you may end up with a slippery ride before you can get the high grip you need.
In this article, I will introduce you to the 2020 popularity ranking of high-grip sports tires that can be used on the street at any time, even in winter!
The keywords of interest are temperature dependency and wet grip.
Basic knowledge of high grip
You can't have a high grip all the time.
A high-grip tire is never high-grip all the time. The most grip-generating tire on the planet is the racing slick tire, but this is of no use on the street. Because the grip is temperature-dependent, these tires are only at their strongest when they are heated to the correct temperature using a tire warmer. In other words, it is powerless on public roads.
In this way, High Grip is a special kind of tire that shines in a particular environment. But not for the streets!
The point is easy to warm up and rain grip
In terms of grip, the latest tires have reached a point where you can almost always be satisfied. So there are two essential requirements to focus on. They are warm and wet grip.
The grip is dependent on temperature, so the sooner the tires warm-up, the more grip you get.
Next is the wet grip. Tires with this feature have a different ground contact feeling on sudden wet roads. Tires that combine these two points often use silica compounds. For rain suitability, you should check the manufacturer's description and impressions, and also the amount and shape of the misalignment per installation area.
If you want to have both durabilities
Tires with high grip are softer and therefore more prone to wear. Racing rain tires are too soft and wear out quickly. But if you use it on the street, you will go touring and ride on the street. It is not good if it is ruined soon because it rides even at high speed.
To achieve both durability and cornering grip, we developed a tire that uses multiple compounds. Motorcycle tires contact the road surface differently depending on the inclination, so the compound is switched accordingly to provide both durability and grip!
Specifically, the center of the motorcycle, which wears fast in a straight line, is more durable. On the sides, where you want the most grip, the emphasis is on the grip.
You can choose high grip for street use with these points in mind!
Top 10 most popular high-grip tires for 2020
No.10 BRIDGESTONE｜BATTLAX RACING STREET RS10
Coming in at number 10 was the Bridgestone RS10. It's one of those high grip tires, right up there with Dunlop's Alpha 14! The design is slick like with very few misalignments for a high grip feeling, but these misalignments are 3D to improve tread rigidity. It's also the tire of choice for domestic Supersports and other high-end motorcycles! Recommended if you enjoy winding dry roads and circuits.
By the way, the H range specification 110/70R17+150/60R17 is the perfect size for a modern 250CC class sportbike! Of course, this size can be worn by Kawasaki ZX-25R.
No.9 METZELER｜SPORTEC M9 RR
Coming in at No. 9 is Metzler's M9RR sports tire, the pride of Germany's elephant!
With Metzler's first 100% silica compound, the tire heats up quickly and provides a high grip even in cold conditions.
In addition, we have designed the Mizo with high drainage performance wet performance trend, you can ride with peace of mind even if you are hit by bad weather in the touring destination.
This M9RR was also designed to work with vehicles equipped with electronic controls, so this tire is recommended for the latest electronic Moly Supersport riders.
The Pirelli Rosso Corsa 2 is often compared to the Rosso Corsa 2, but my personal opinion is that the Rosso Corsa is more gentle in handling and quicker to heat up.
No.8 DUNLOP｜SPORTMAX Roadsport 2
When it comes to Dunlop sports tires, it's all about the Road Sport series! The second generation of the Road Sport 2 uses a two-layer tread construction in the rear, with two different compounds layered on top and bottom, for improved life and flip performance.
The important bead structure of the tire is also specially tuned based on the structure of the high grip tire "SPORTMAX α-14". The result is a tire that is both supple and rigid. The ride is like a road sport, with natural handling and a neutral feel that doesn't cut in or weigh you down. If you want outstanding grip and cornering performance, it's not enough, but it's the best match for touring, city driving, and occasional winding!
In addition, the feeling of reduced grip after the tire wears out, which many people may have noticed in road sports, can be suppressed, and stable grip can be obtained until the time of tire replacement!
No. 7 PIRELLI｜DIABLO ROSSO III
The Rosso 3 is the middle ground between the Rosso Corsa, the high grip street tire, and the Angel Series, the touring tire. The design features the familiar Inazuma pattern from Pirelli's Super Corsa racing tire, which is expected to be a sporty tire. The Mizo design looks like it was designed with completely dry roads in mind, but it's actually safe in the rain because it combines efficient drainage performance.
The compound is a highly stable and durable compound in the center 20% of the rear and a high-performance compound with 100% silica in 40% of one side.
No.6 MICHELIN｜PILOT POWER 2CT
It was first introduced in 2015, almost six years ago now, and yet it's still the most popular tire of all time, the Pilot Power 2CT!
The 2CT stands for dual-compound technology, meaning that the center section used for straight-line driving is a compound that emphasizes durability, while the side sections used for cornering are a compound that emphasizes grip.
This technology is now commonplace, but at the time it was so advanced that it had already been perfected by the time of the 2CT, a tire that boasted such high performance. For this reason, it is a very rare tire that still has many repeaters today.
The ride is simple by modern standards, with a character that is typical of a sports tire that is easy to bank and bites well after being banked! Although not equipped with "modern amazing technology", it is a tire that you can enjoy the taste of the material with the high specification of the tire itself. And of all the tires on this list, it's the price point that makes it so cosmetically appealing! These cheap and fun Michelin masterpiece tires can still compete today!
No.5 METZELER｜SPORTEC M5 INTERACT
I drove myself from home and went straight to the circuit for a full "knee rub" session. This is the catchphrase that Metzeler used for this tire. As the name implies, this tire offers stability, durability, and wet grip on the street, but can also provide a satisfying grip for weekend track days.
There's a lean indicator on the tread surface to check the bank angle, which is an interesting feature to see if you've erased that mark after your ride! It's a mystery now why Metzler wanted him to slide to his knees so badly.
No.4 PIRELLI｜DIABLO ROSSO CORSA II
The Rosso Corsa 2 is a high-grip tire that offers the same racing feel of the Super Corsa, but with a more street-friendly design. It's the Rosso Corsa 2! Pure racing tires are very temperature-dependent and shine for a moment, but when used on the street, especially in winter, most of them are dangerous tires with no grip at all.
The Rocco 2 is a 100% silica compound front and 70% silica compound rear that warms up very quickly to give you an instant winter grip.
The design of the Mizo also takes into account drainage in the wet, and the shoulder is a slick zone for riders who enjoy deep banking angles on the track.
It is also the strongest Pirelli tire in terms of stiffness, but not only in terms of stiffness but also in terms of gradual changes in stiffness from the center to the shoulders, thanks to the LFC developed in the world-famous WSBK race. Combined with a 3-part front and 5-part rear compound, this tire offers optimum tire characteristics and grip depending on the banking angle and driving surface!
I mean, you're into winding and track days, this one's for you!
