Which Motorcycle Tire Sizes Sell Best in Europe?

Europe’s motorcycle market is fundamentally different from Asia or Latin America. With a fleet dominated by sport bikes, adventure motorcycles, and scooters, the best-selling tire sizes in Europe reflect distinctly Western riding preferences and regulations.

The European Sport Bike Standard

Europe is the heartland of the global sport bike market, with major manufacturers like BMW, Aprilia, KTM, Ducati, and Triumph all headquartered here. The tire sizes that lead European sales are:

• 120/70R17 — the universal sport front size, by far the highest-volume front tire in Europe
• 180/55R17 — the standard middleweight rear (600cc-750cc), massive volume
• 190/50R17 and 190/55R17 — superbike rears for 1000cc+ machines
• 200/55R17 and 200/60R17 — hyper-naked rears, growing segment

The dominance of A2 license restrictions (maximum 35kW/47hp for riders under 24) means 500cc-700cc middleweight bikes are disproportionately popular, keeping demand strong for 120/70R17 and 180/55R17 as the entry-level sport combination.

The Adventure Boom

Europe is the global epicenter of the adventure bike trend. Germany, France, Italy, and the UK have some of the highest adventure motorcycle adoption rates in the world. Key sizes include:

• 90/90R21 — the standard adventure front, used on the BMW GS series, KTM Adventure, and Triumph Tiger
• 150/70R18 — the standard adventure rear on bikes like the Africa Twin and Triumph Tiger 900
• 120/70R19 — front size for the BMW R1250GS and Yamaha Tenere 700
• 170/60R17 — rear size for the BMW R1250GS (17-inch rear variant)

The GS series alone (BMW’s best-seller) generates enormous replacement tire demand for 120/70R19 and 170/60R17 sizes.

The Commuter Alternative: Scooter Sizes

European cities are scooter-dominated, with immense volumes in Italy, France, Spain, and the Netherlands:

• 120/70R12 — the standard 12-inch scooter front
• 130/70R12 — the standard 12-inch scooter rear
• 120/70R14 and 140/70R14 — maxi-scooter sizes (Honda SH350, Yamaha XMAX)
• 160/60R15 — large maxi-scooter rear (TMAX, etc.)

ECE Certification Requirement

All tires sold in Europe must carry ECE R75 certification. This is not optional — tires without ECE marking cannot be legally sold for road use. Kingtyre’s entire product range carries ECE R75 certification, ensuring compliance for European importers. View Kingtyre’s ECE-certified product line.

Importer Recommendations

For European market entry, focus on: 120/70R17, 180/55R17, 190/50R17, 90/90R21, 150/70R18, and scooter sizes 120/70R12 and 130/70R12. Ensure all products have ECE R75 certification before shipping.