TVS Eurogrip Roadhound Review - Superbike Tyres Built To Take The On The Likes Of Pirelli & Michelin

Making superbike tyres is a challenging task, I have no doubt. Tyres are the only point of contact between a motorcycle and the often unpredictable road, laden with dust and debris, that keeps the rider upright and straight, allowing them to exploit the full potential of their machine. The difficulty is compounded when these are meant for sports touring. This means - being able to carry luggage and a passenger, take corners with a knee down, stay stable on highways at triple-digit speeds, and last at least 10,000 – 15,000km. And that’s where TVS Eurogrip comes in, for they seem to have come up with a solution to take on established marques.

TVS Eurogrip Roadhound Review: Looks the Part

Did I forget to mention design? Yes, even the design plays a big part in how well it performs and to some extent, how it makes the motorcycle look. Select superbike owners, especially in India, also base their tyre buying decision on how nice it would look in their Instagram profile picture. Not ideal, but true. First and foremost though, it must perform. The Roadhound tyres were conceived at TVS Eurogrip’s R&D centre in Madurai, built with patented compound technology and tested across different road conditions & race tracks in Europe. This, was even before they started their extensive testing across India. All that is well and good, but what about the tyre? The Roadhound radial tyres are purpose-built for longevity, performance, safety, and load-bearing. To cater to the majority of sports-touring / naked big-capacity motorcycles available in the Indian market, the company offers these tyres in just one size for the front (120/70 R17) and two sizes (160/60 R17 and 180/55 R17) for the rear. The load-bearing capacity for the rear tyres is 69W (325kgs) and 73W (365kgs), respectively.

TVS Eurogrip Roadhound Review: Feels the Part

TVS Eurogrip has taken a meticulous approach to designing the front and the rear tyres for specific purposes. The front has been designed to give better grip and handling, while the rear aids in better braking and acceleration with a softer compound on either side for better cornering. The Roadhound tyres have a thoughtfully-designed tread pattern that aids in stability and comfort while riding. The Roadhound tyres feature TVS Eurogrip’s Zero-degree steel belt technology, which is meant to prevent the expansion of the rubber as the temperature rises. Furthermore, the silica compound of the tyre enhances the grip in wet conditions, even though it may lead to slightly faster wear. Now, to address the concern of faster wear and to increase durability, Roadhound tyres also use a chemical called Carbon Black, which increases the life of the tyre, decreases its rolling resistance, and enhances the handling.

TVS Eurogrip Roadhound Review: Goes the Part

For our comprehensive test of the TVS Eurogrip Roadhound tyres, we evaluated their performances on a wide range of motorcycles, covering almost all categories. Among the bikes we tested, the Honda CBR 650F stood out as the fastest, while the Harley-Davidson Street Rod 750 felt out-of-sync in our testing conditions. We even had the likes of the Kawasaki Z650, Ninja 650, Benelli Leoncino 500, and TRK 502. On all motorcycles, these tyres offered immense grip levels irrespective of the lean angle or deliberate attempts to upset the bike mid-corner. The tyres inspire confidence progressively, thereby allowing you to not only lean in more confidently but also to handle hard acceleration out of corners. This was especially apparent while riding heavy, torquey motorcycles like the Street Rod 750 on a technical circuit like Kari Motor Speedway. The only chink in its armour that we could notice was that mid-corner transitions felt a bit heavy on bikes with stiffer suspension setups. On the other hand, the tyres felt a lot more forgiving on light but softer-set Kawasaki Z650 and the top-heavy-natured Benelli TRK 502.

Also Read: 2023 Petronas TVS One Make Championship - TVS Eurogrip Tyres to Continue as Technical Partner

TVS Eurogrip Roadhound Review: Plays the Part

The TVS Eurogrip Roadhound tyres are a real surprise entry into the world of superbiking in India. As a home-grown manufacturer, TVS Eurogrip has boldly entered the high-performance tyre market and come up with a competent product that can rival the offerings of renowned brands like Michelin, Metzeler, and Pirelli. That said, my first impressions were formed in a controlled environment, so I would reserve any further judgments about these tyres until I get the opportunity to test and experience them in real-world conditions. So, stay tuned.