The weight of motorcycle tires is important. In fact, it may be more important than most riders expect it to be. Because of that, some of you will wonder how much typical motorcycle tires weigh and what weight ranges you can expect to stumble upon.
How much does a motorcycle tire weigh? The weight of motorcycle tires varies between 3 to 35 pounds. Front motorcycle tires weigh between 3 to 17 pounds, and rear motorcycle tires weigh between 10 to 30 pounds. When assembled motorcycle tires can weigh between 19 to 95 pounds.
Table of Contents
If you are here, you are probably wondering how much motorcycle tires weigh.
You may be traveling and need those numbers in order to ensure you will not exceed the luggage weight limit of airliners, buses, or train companies. Or you may simply want to calculate how much it will cost you to have a motorcycle tire (or a set of tires) delivered.
Motorcycle tires weight
Front motorcycle tires weigh less than rear motorcycle tires because rear motorcycle tires are usually larger. Most rear motorcycle tires weigh about 30 to 35 pounds on average. In comparison, most front motorcycle tires can weigh 5 to 20 pounds.
The weight of motorcycle tires will vary depending on their make, size, and tire type.
Motorcycle tires on cruiser and dual-sport motorcycles can weigh between 13 to upwards of 40 pounds, while tires on smaller street motorcycles or dirt bikes can weigh between 8 to 25 pounds.
And for our friends who are using the metric system, here’s what you can expect to see when it comes to motorcycle tire weight.
Motorcycle tires weigh between 1.36 to 13.60 kg. Motorcycle front tires weigh between 1.36 to 7.7 kg, and rear motorcycle tires weigh between 7.25 to 13.60 kg. Rims and tubes can add an additional 7.25 to 24.5 kg to the motorcycle tires.
Motorcycle tire weight examples
Below I have provided a brief table going over how much different motorcycle tires weigh.
Motorcycle Tire Brand and Model | Type | Size | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
Dunlop Sportmax Q3+ | Rear Tire | 180/55-17 | 20 pounds |
Dunlop Sportmax Q3+ | Front Tire | 110/70ZR17 | 9.9 pounds |
Michelin Pilot Power 2CT | Rear Tire | 180/55ZR-17 | 12.8 pounds |
Michelin ROAD 5 | Rear Tire | 180/55-17 | 14.75 pounds |
Dunlop GPR-300 Sportmax | Front Tire | 110/70R17 | 2.8 pounds |
Dunlop Sportmax Q4 | Rear Tire | 180/55-17 | 13 pounds |
Tourance | Front Tire | 100/90-19 | 9.7 pounds |
ME880 Marathon | Front Tire | 120/90-18 | 15.20 pounds |
Diablo Value Supersport | Front Tire | 120/70-17 | 9 pounds |
Sport Demon | Front Tire | 120/80-16 | 11.50 pounds |
Sport Demon | Rear Tire | 150/80-16 | 17 pounds |
Pirelli Angel GT 2 | Front Tire | 120/70ZR-17 | 6 pounds |
Dunlop American Elite | Front Tire | 130/80B-17 | 15.97 pounds |
Dunlop American Elite | Rear Tire | 180/65-16B | 22.2 pounds |
Enduro 3 Sahara | Rear Tire | 4.00-18 | 13 pounds |
Tourance | Rear Tire | 130/80-17 | 15 pounds |
D402 Harley-Davidson | Front Tire | MH90-21 | 8.40 pounds |
Block-K Sidecar Tire | Sidecar Tire | 4.00-18 | 17 pounds |
Mitas E-07+ | Rear Tire | 150/70-17 | 17.39 pounds |
Bridgestone 604 | Rear Tire | 120/80/19 | 12.4 pounds |
michelin MS3 | Rear Tire | 110/90/19 | 13.3 pounds |
How much do motorcycle tires weigh compared to other types of tires?
Sometimes it can be hard to get a good idea of something by simply looking at some numbers. This is why it is a good idea to give something in comparison.
This is why some readers may find it more helpful if we also made a comparison between the weight of motorcycle tires and other types of tires.
- On average, passenger car tires weigh between 20 and 22 pounds.
- Light truck and SUV tires weigh between 35 and 48 pounds.
- Semi-truck tires weigh between 105 and 115 pounds.
- RV and motorhome tires weigh about 71 pounds.
- ATV tires weigh between 19 and 45 pounds.
- Lawnmower tires weigh about 5 to 7 pounds, on average.
- Golf cart tires weigh about 10 pounds.
- Rear farm tractor tires can weigh up to 600 pounds.
As you can see, depending on the type of vehicle and the purpose of the tires, the weight can vary greatly.
It can be said that compared to other vehicles, motorcycle tires’ weight is comparable to the weight of passenger car tires and ATV tires’ weight.
What affects the weight of motorcycle tires?
One of the main factors affecting motorcycle tire weight is the built quality and type of tire. However, there are additional components that can also affect the total weight of a motorcycle tire. These are the rotors, rims, tubes, sprockets, and bearings.
Motorcycle rotor sprocket and bearings weight
The rotor, sprockets, and bearings are fairly lightweight, but you can expect them to add between 2 to 5 pounds to your total wheel weight.
Motorcycle rim weights
So how much does a motorcycle tire weigh with the rim?
Motorcycle rims will also add weight to the whole wheel. Typically motorcycle rims can weigh between 16 and 50 pounds.
Normally rear wheel rims are heavier, weighing between 16 and 50 pounds, with an average weight between 20 and 30 pounds.
Front-wheel rims are lighter and weigh between 15 and 35 pounds on average.
Considering those numbers, you can quickly see that motorcycle wheels can end up weighing a lot. Motorcycle tires with rims on can weigh between 25 to 80 pounds depending on the tire size, type, and rims. Front wheels can weigh between 15 to 50 pounds, and rear wheels can weigh between 20 to 80 pounds.
Motorcycle tube weight
Another thing worth keeping in mind is that motorcycle tubes can also add a few pounds to the total weight of your motorcycle wheels. So how much does a motorcycle tire weigh with the tube? Motorcycle tubes can weigh between 0.5 and 4 pounds.
Can the weight of a motorcycle tire change over time?
The weight of motorcycle tires can change over time as they wear down. The more a motorcycle tire is used, the more it wears down and the lighter it gets.
See article: Why do motorcycle tires wear out so fast?
However, the change in the weight is not really noticeable to affect your riding.
And if you are worried that your motorcycle tires can get too light. Don’t.
Motorcycle tires are usually not allowed to wear down and drop in weight so much, so they can affect the motorcycle’s handling.
See article: How much does it cost to change motorcycle tires?
Does the weight of the motorcycle tires matter?
The weight of the motorcycle tires does matter and can affect the motorcycle’s handling, feel, and performance. Because of that, you will see that some riders will also inquire about the tire’s weight and will even weigh their tires before buying.
Most riders consider lighter tires better for handling and performance, but they may not be a good choice for more powerful motorcycles. Between two motorcycle tires that weigh nearly the same, you may not notice any significant effect on the handling and performance. However, the bigger the gap, the more significant the effect on the motorcycle’s handling and filling will be.
There is a lot of polemic around this topic, with plenty of numbers and assumptions being constantly thrown around in the community. People will talk about rolling resistance and aerodynamics, and one of the problems is these factors being discussed are hard to reliably test and measure.
That being said, when it comes to the moment of inertia, we can see that a lighter tire can have a positive impact on acceleration. The further away something is from the center of rotation, the more important its weight is.
This makes not just the weight of the rims important but also the weight of the tire itself since it is the farthest from the center of rotation. Thus the heavier the motorcycle tire, the more effort it takes to get it to spin.
However, generally speaking, it is well known that a heavier motorcycle is harder to steer and handle. Its acceleration and maximum speed can also be negatively impacted as well as braking time.
Keep in mind that the lighter the tire, the less rubber it may have and the softer it will be. So lighter is not necessarily better. Motorcycle tires can be expensive, and it is not advisable to skimp on them or simply go by weight alone.
The overall quality of the tire is more important than being a pound or two lighter. In addition to that, once the wheel is fully assembled, the weight of most wheels will be fairly similar.
FAQ’s
- How much does a typical motorcycle tire weigh?
- This question provides information about the weight of motorcycle tires, including variations based on tire type, size, and location on the motorcycle. It explains that front motorcycle tires generally weigh between 3 to 17 pounds, while rear motorcycle tires weigh between 10 to 30 pounds. When assembled, motorcycle tires can weigh between 19 to 95 pounds.
- What factors affect the weight of motorcycle tires?
- This question explores the various factors that contribute to the weight of motorcycle tires, including the type of tire, the presence of additional components like rotors, rims, tubes, sprockets, and bearings, and how the weight of tires changes over time due to wear.
- Does the weight of motorcycle tires impact performance?
- This question addresses the impact of motorcycle tire weight on performance and handling. It discusses the potential effects of tire weight on acceleration, handling, braking, and overall motorcycle performance. It also emphasizes the importance of considering tire quality and other factors beyond just weight when choosing motorcycle tires.
Meet Simon, the 46-year-old aficionado behind YourMotoBro. With a lifelong passion ignited by motocross dreams and a Canadian Tire bicycle, Simon’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. From coaching underwater hockey to mastering muddy terrains, he’s an authority in thrill and adventure. Certified as an Off-Road Vehicle Excursion Guide and trained in Wilderness First Aid, Simon’s love for bikes is as diverse as his collection—from a robust BMW GSA R1200 to the memories of a Harley Davidson Night Train. By day a respected telephony consultant, by night a motorcycle maestro, Simon’s tales are a blend of expertise, resilience, and undying passion. ?️✨