With the growth in sales of big ‘Maxi’ scooters across Europe, a growing number of manufacturers are now offering radial scooter tyres for these types of machines.
Offering a number of handling and performance benefits when compared with their non-radial counterparts,they are ideal for use on these increasingly powerful yet nimble machines which are often found riding around inner city areas.
For riders in the UK, we’re going to run through what’s available from the various brands on the market right now!
The Tournee beat two big name brands in a leading independent test in 2016.
Anlas
Two-wheel specialists Anlas may be a relatively new name in the UK, but they’re already very popular on the continent and have a growing reputation here.
Their flagship Tournee scooter tyre went head to head with big brand names Michelin and Dunlop last year in a leading independent test, beating both of them by a clear margin after several evaluations in wet and dry conditions.
Anlas are also one of only two manufacturers in our list who produce a radial winter scooter tyre, the Winter Grip 2, although it currently only comes in 15″ radial sizes. The Winter Grip 2 is mud & snow rated for use in countries where approved winter tyres are a legal requirement during certain months of the year. Despite offering great all-weather grip the tyre compound is also durable, so it won’t suddenly wear out when the weather warms up either. Let’s face it, in the UK extra wet grip is a big bonus at any time of year.
Avon
British based Avon Tyres have produced a radial version of their popular Viper Stryke scooter tyre for a couple of years now to meet a growing demand for these types of tyres.
The AM63 is a solid performer and comes in the four most popular 14 & 15-inch radial scooter sizes.
Avon state that it has been specifically designed for use on modern day scooters, offering exceptional handling characteristics, high levels of comfort and a long service life.
Check out the size range here.
The Battlax SC Radial offers big bike tyre performance for your maxi scooter.
Bridgestone
Japanese tyre maker Bridgestone produce two aftermarket radial scooter tyres, along with some original equipment fitments.
For the environmentally conscious rider, the Battlax SC Ecopia promises excellent performance combined with reduced rolling resistance. The reduction is rolling resistance delivers improved fuel economy, so that’s an increased MPG on your morning commute and more money in your pocket.
Bridgestone’s other aftermarket option is the Battlax SC Radial, which has been chosen as the factory fitment for this year’s TMAX. It has directly benefited from technologies used in their big bike tyres. Although no longer associated with MotoGP, the Battlax SC Radial was both tested and approved by Bridgestone’s official tyre development advisor of the time, Valentino Rossi.
Dunlop’s RoadSmart III is now also available as a scooter tyre.
Dunlop
Dunlop’s ScootSmart has been a popular seller for many years, and the more recently introduced radial version is no exception with a total of five sizes in the range from 14″ up to 16″.
New for 2017, the tyre maker has also introduced a radial scooter version of their RoadSmart III sport touring tyre.
The RoadSmart III is well regarded amongst big bike riders for it’s wet grip and longevity, and there’s no reason to suggest that this miniature version doesn’t offer the same levels of performance.The tyre’s construction has been adapted to suit maxi scooters, but on the surface it looks just like it’s sport touring big brother.
Small sipes boost grip levels in cold, wet conditions on the winter version.
Metzeler
Alongside Anlas, German 2-wheel specialist Metzeler are the only other manufacturer on our list who produced a radial version of their winter tyre.
Metzeler’s well established FeelFree and FeelFree Wintec have both been available in a radial construction for several years.
The Wintec uses the same tread pattern as the standard FeelFree, but the addition of many small slits known as sipes all the way around the tyre help to boost grip in cold, wet conditions and also increase warm up times.
Just like the Anlas Winter Grip 2, the FeelFree Wintec is also mud & snow rated as required in specific European countries during some months of the year.
The highly acclaimed Pilot Road 4 miniaturised.
Michelin
Michelin’s City Grip is probably one of the biggest selling scooter tyres on the market, so you may be surprised to learn that the French tyre giant doesn’t produce a radial version too.
Instead they’ve gone down the road of miniaturising some of their highly regarded bike bike rubber to give riders one touring and one sporty option instead.
The highly acclaimed Pilot Road 4 is well known for setting a new benchmark in wet weather performance when it was launched back in 2014, whereas the Pilot Power 3 was Michelin’s top line hypersport tyre until this year.
They have both been adapted for maxi scooters in the form of the Pilot Road 4 SC and Pilot Power 3 SC.
Pirelli
Pirelli’s sportsbike inspired rubber is ideal for hard ridden maxi scooters.
Just like Michelin, they’ve gone down the route of giving maxi scooter riders a modified version of their popular big bike tyres.
For the sportier rider, the Diablo Rosso Scooter Radial is definitely the tyre of choice and sits in the same bracket as Michelin’s aforementioned Pilot Power 3 SC.
If you’re commuter looking for all-round performance in all weather conditions then you might well consider the Diablo Scooter Radial which comes in the widest range of aftermarket sizes of all the tyres mentioned in this article. A modified ‘S’ spec tyre is also used on the 650 Burgman.
As always, if in doubt about the right tyres for you and your bike, speak to your local dealer for some expert advice.
