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Tyres > Help > Tyres Help > What is the difference between motorcycle tyres and bicycle?
Both motorcycle and bicycle tyres serve very different roles and are built for each bike type accordingly:
Motorbike tyres are engineered to handle the power, speed, and weight of an engine-powered vehicle.
They are constructed with multiple reinforced layers, often including steel or aramid belts, and use thicker, softer rubber compounds to provide grip during high-speed cornering and acceleration.
This makes them significantly heavier and more durable than bicycle tyres, but they also wear out more quickly due to the demands placed on them.
In contrast, bicycle
tyres are lightweight and efficiency-focused, optimised to reduce rolling resistance for human-powered travel.
They operate at much higher pressures and are made with simpler materials like rubber-coated fabric.
While road bike tyres are narrow to reduce drag, mountain bike versions use wider treads for grip on rough terrain.
Bicycle tyres typically last longer in terms of wear but offer far less traction and structural support than motorcycle tyres, making them unsuitable for motorised use.