US motorcycle tyre market studied

ERJ staff report (DS)

Newport Beach, California -- Dunlop is the top motorcycle brand in the US, though its lead is declining according to readers of Cycle World magazine.

The US-based motorcycling publication has reported on the 2009 market for tyres, updating information from 2005.

The top brand was Dunlop, followed by Metzeler, Michelin, Bridgestone, Pirelli and Avon. Half the magazine's readers own sport bikes, with tourers and cruisers coming close behind -- some readers own more than one bike, of course.

The survey said its readers spent a total of $100 million on 782 500 tyres, averaging $125 per tyre. This price was up by just 3 percent compared with 2005.

The main reason (51 percent) for switching tyre brand was for improved durability, while just 10 percent switched for a better price.

Most tyres (44 percent) were bought at a dealer, but 31 percent of purchases were made over the internet, an increase of 10 percentage points over the prewvious survey.

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Press release from Cycle World