From daily commutes to some rough weekend getaways, we’re putting the upgraded tourRads to test to see how versatile these new tyres really are
Tyres play a massive role in how a motorcycle behaves, often changing the overall riding experience more than expected. So when Reise Moto handed us a set of the new and updated tourRad tyres, we decided to put them through a proper long-term test. We’ve been using them on the Suzuki V-Strom SX for the last month, riding it in a variety of scenarios, and the initial impressions have definitely been positive.
About The Reise Moto tourRad Tyres
The tourRad is positioned as a dual-purpose touring tyre meant for riders who spend most of their time on the road but still want the confidence to tackle rough patches and mild trails occasionally. The large block-style tread design gives it a rugged ADV-like appearance, while still seeming road-focused enough for touring duties.
The tyre is available in a variety of sizes, for bikes like the KTM 390 Adventure, Suzuki V-Strom SX, Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, Royal Enfield Scram 440, Yezdi Adventure, Bajaj Dominar 400, and more.
Fitment & First Impressions
For the V-Strom SX, the front tyre size remains the same as stock at 100/90-19 priced at Rs 3,199. However, for the rear we opted for a slightly taller 140/80-17 profile tyre priced at Rs 4,399, instead of the stock 140/70-17 setup. Despite the size difference, fitment was surprisingly straightforward and we faced absolutely no issues during the installation.
Once installed, the first thing I noticed was how good the tyres looked on the bike. The V-Strom SX has slim adventure-tourer proportions, and the chunky tread blocks on the tourRads make it look more rugged and purposeful. The taller rear tyre however, slightly increased the seat height. At 835mm, the saddle height on the V-Strom SX is on the higher side, and now it takes a bit of extra effort while moving the bike around in tight spaces. Interestingly though, once the bike gets moving, it actually feels lighter and easier to manoeuvre than before. Direction changes felt more natural, and cornering effort has become lower than before.
As of now, it hasn’t been taken to the local twisties, but initial dry grip levels feel quite confidence inspiring so far. As for the wet grip, I’m still waiting for the monsoon season to properly arrive in Pune before testing how these tyres behave in heavy rain and slippery road conditions.
The Long-Term Plans
Over the next few months, I’ll continue testing the Reise Moto tourRad tyres across different riding conditions, including city commutes, highway touring, fast cornering sections, and mild off-road trails.
Hopefully, these should give a better understanding on its dry and wet grip, comfort, stability, braking confidence, and wear over longer distances.
For now though, the first impressions are quite positive. The installation was hassle-free, the tyres have noticeably changed the way the V-Strom SX feels to ride, and they seem to strike a nice balance between touring comfort and ADV-style capability. Whether that feeling stays consistent over time is something this long-term test will eventually reveal.
