Ribbed tyre pros and cons?

TDC · 2nd August 2009, 00:37

Hi guys. Was wondering what, is any, advantage does the ribbed pattern on the front tyre have. I need to change my front tyre and have an option of ribbed or a patterned tyre. Thanks in advance

Bluu · 2nd August 2009, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDC

Hi guys. Was wondering what, is any, advantage does the ribbed pattern on the front tyre have. I need to change my front tyre and have an option of ribbed or a patterned tyre. Thanks in advance

Pros - Good steering control in dry conditions.

Cons - More liable to lose traction in slippery (wet/sandy) conditions.

You should make your choice based on where you stay and the conditions of the roads that you will travel.

stampro · 2nd August 2009, 11:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDC

Hi guys. Was wondering what, is any, advantage does the ribbed pattern on the front tyre have. I need to change my front tyre and have an option of ribbed or a patterned tyre. Thanks in advance

If you go on mud roads frequently pattern tyres gives more road grip and bites the mud road firmly particularly on steep inclines.

If you are riding on tarmac road always go for ribbed tyre as it has less rolling resistance and hence more fuel efficiency.

TDC · 2nd August 2009, 12:18

I only ride on tarmac and i do more of the spirited type of riding (ie fast). I tend to drag my foot pegs a lot so need something with soft compound for higher cornering speeds and extra braking ability.

I ride a 500 enfield with an engine performance upgrade.

Does any one know or has experienced any such front tyre for the bullet? It should work in the wet as well

And i plan to stick to 19".

The guy at the tyre shop in Lamington Rd said the dunlop is the softest compound. But it had a square thread pattern on the tyre :( seemed more suited to on road/off road use.

Any suggestions would be most helpful.

mithun · 2nd August 2009, 22:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by stampro

If you are riding on tarmac road always go for ribbed tyre as it has less rolling resistance and hence more fuel efficiency.

I don't think that there would be a noticeable change in FE because of a ribbed tyre !

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDC

The guy at the tyre shop in Lamington Rd said the dunlop is the softest compound. But it had a square thread pattern on the tyre :

Which Dunlop is he talking about ? Quote the model.

Mpower · 3rd August 2009, 08:29

Ribbed tire is just out dated technology and its cheap. Go for a high performance tire if you drive fast.

TDC · 3rd August 2009, 10:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

Ribbed tire is just out dated technology and its cheap. Go for a high performance tire if you drive fast.

That is what i want to do. I need suggestions

Mpower · 3rd August 2009, 21:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDC

Does any one know or has experienced any such front tyre for the bullet? It should work in the wet as well

And i plan to stick to 19".

19 is not a popular size internationally. Only dirt bikes use 19 front.
Check to see what the export bullets are getting and that might be your best bet.

Raccoon · 4th August 2009, 01:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDC

The guy at the tyre shop in Lamington Rd said the dunlop is the softest compound. But it had a square thread pattern on the tyre :( seemed more suited to on road/off road use.

Any suggestions would be most helpful.

Even I went in for a Dunlop because choices were limited and it seemed to be the softest compound (amongst available Indian brands). You can read about the problems faced here - .

Don't know if this problem is common amongst this model of Dunlop or it involves their other ribbed designs (or even other tyres) also. If you don't have better info, I'd suggest you just avoid all ribbed Dunlops or all Dunlops for that matter.

Why don't you consider a ribbed MRF? The build quality and pattern both seem much better. Though MRF seems to use harder compounds, the rubber on their ribbed tyres seemed softer. Don't know how it performs though... at any rate it would be far better than a "wobbly" tyre.

Ceat could be another option if available in that size.

JayPrashanth · 4th August 2009, 10:47

Ribbed pattern tyres suck, especially in the wet/dusty conditions. I had a nasty crash in the wee hours of Sunday morning on my LB500. Reason: My front tyre skidded badly under braking. Avoid ribbed tyres.

Also, for those of you with the monstrous 320mm disc up front, I'd recommend the saferide abs kit. I got one installed on Monday, mainly due to the fact that the bullet's disc brake locks up at the slightest provocation: another reason for my crash. I braked pretty hard to test the effectiveness of the system. Pretty effective. Feel is like that of drums, a little spongy, but way better han the grabby stock disc.

Raccoon · 4th August 2009, 15:25

Hmmm... I don't find too much difference between the ribbed pattern or otherwise. But then I haven't tried interchanging the patters on the same bike... so its quite difficult to say. I'm inclined to think that the compound is more important than the pattern.

bblost · 4th August 2009, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayPrashanth

I'd recommend the saferide abs kit.

More information, pics, price details blah blah needed.

JayPrashanth · 5th August 2009, 12:36

bblost,

Saferide ABS

Technically it isn't abs, but a hydraulic system which I think reduces the bite of the front disc. Nevertheless, it works real good on our bullets. I paid 1400 INR to get it installed in Pune.

Pluses: Simple and pretty efective.The Eata group(manufacturers of the saferide) guys get back real quick to any query.

Minuses: Not really an ABS, more of a delay system for lock up.

PS: KRP also sells some Chinese kits for cheap(650 bucks) and as always with Chinese kits, the quality is dubious.

Cheers,

Jay

lohithrao · 5th August 2009, 13:46

My Machismo came with "MRF" ribbed tyre, did use it for a while but never felt confident with it. later went for Dunlop.

My 500 had a Ceat ribbed and it was pathetic can say it was very hard. behaved very badly on wet surface and on uneven/muddy surface. again went for Dunlop.

AM very satisfied with Dunlop button trye..

Raccoon · 5th August 2009, 15:44

^^^ Button tyre? You mean for the rear? Studded tyres don not perform well on smooth roads and even the ride quality suffers. For offroading or bad roads, they are of course great...

Surprised to hear that your Ceat was a hard compound. The new ones I checked last time in a shop were as "soft" as Dunlop... if not more so! No idea how they perform in real though... have personally never used a Ceat tyre.

2nd August 2009, 00:37	#1
TDC BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 31 Thanked: 3 Times	Ribbed tyre pros and cons? Hi guys. Was wondering what, is any, advantage does the ribbed pattern on the front tyre have. I need to change my front tyre and have an option of ribbed or a patterned tyre. Thanks in advance
	() Thanks

2nd August 2009, 12:18	#4
TDC BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 31 Thanked: 3 Times	I only ride on tarmac and i do more of the spirited type of riding (ie fast). I tend to drag my foot pegs a lot so need something with soft compound for higher cornering speeds and extra braking ability. I ride a 500 enfield with an engine performance upgrade. Does any one know or has experienced any such front tyre for the bullet? It should work in the wet as well And i plan to stick to 19". The guy at the tyre shop in Lamington Rd said the dunlop is the softest compound. But it had a square thread pattern on the tyre :( seemed more suited to on road/off road use. Any suggestions would be most helpful.
	() Thanks

3rd August 2009, 08:29	#6
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	Ribbed tire is just out dated technology and its cheap. Go for a high performance tire if you drive fast.
	() Thanks

4th August 2009, 10:47	#10
JayPrashanth Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bangalore/Goa Posts: 1,302 Thanked: 2,074 Times	Ribbed pattern tyres suck, especially in the wet/dusty conditions. I had a nasty crash in the wee hours of Sunday morning on my LB500. Reason: My front tyre skidded badly under braking. Avoid ribbed tyres. Also, for those of you with the monstrous 320mm disc up front, I'd recommend the saferide abs kit. I got one installed on Monday, mainly due to the fact that the bullet's disc brake locks up at the slightest provocation: another reason for my crash. I braked pretty hard to test the effectiveness of the system. Pretty effective. Feel is like that of drums, a little spongy, but way better han the grabby stock disc.
	() Thanks

4th August 2009, 15:25	#11
Raccoon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Poona Posts: 1,851 Thanked: 116 Times	Hmmm... I don't find too much difference between the ribbed pattern or otherwise. But then I haven't tried interchanging the patters on the same bike... so its quite difficult to say. I'm inclined to think that the compound is more important than the pattern.
	() Thanks

5th August 2009, 12:36	#13
JayPrashanth Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bangalore/Goa Posts: 1,302 Thanked: 2,074 Times	bblost, Saferide ABS Technically it isn't abs, but a hydraulic system which I think reduces the bite of the front disc. Nevertheless, it works real good on our bullets. I paid 1400 INR to get it installed in Pune. Pluses: Simple and pretty efective.The Eata group(manufacturers of the saferide) guys get back real quick to any query. Minuses: Not really an ABS, more of a delay system for lock up. PS: KRP also sells some Chinese kits for cheap(650 bucks) and as always with Chinese kits, the quality is dubious. Cheers, Jay
	() Thanks

5th August 2009, 13:46	#14
lohithrao Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kudla/Mangaluru Posts: 3,204 Thanked: 225 Times View My Garage	My Machismo came with "MRF" ribbed tyre, did use it for a while but never felt confident with it. later went for Dunlop. My 500 had a Ceat ribbed and it was pathetic can say it was very hard. behaved very badly on wet surface and on uneven/muddy surface. again went for Dunlop. AM very satisfied with Dunlop button trye..
	() Thanks

5th August 2009, 15:44	#15
Raccoon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Poona Posts: 1,851 Thanked: 116 Times	^^^ Button tyre? You mean for the rear? Studded tyres don not perform well on smooth roads and even the ride quality suffers. For offroading or bad roads, they are of course great... Surprised to hear that your Ceat was a hard compound. The new ones I checked last time in a shop were as "soft" as Dunlop... if not more so! No idea how they perform in real though... have personally never used a Ceat tyre.
	() Thanks