Tires don’t usually get the limelight in motorcycle racing. It’s always the bikes that get the glory, the suits that get the style points, and the helmets that get all the shelf space. But tires? They’re just… there. Quietly doing the most important job on the whole machine—keeping it stuck to the ground.
And yet, unless you’re really into the details, they barely register in the conversation. Which is kind of crazy when you think about how much they actually do.
The reality is, tires can completely change the character of a bike. A subtle tweak in pressure, a different compound, a slightly altered carcass construction—these things can shave milliseconds off lap times, change how the front end feels on corner entry, or even give a rider just enough edge grip to stay upright in a dicey mid-corner battle. It’s the kind of black magic that only racers, track day rats, mechanics, and proper nerds tend to obsess over.
But maybe more people should?
And if you needed proof that tires matter, here’s a headline worth paying attention to: Michelin is taking over as the official tire supplier for all WorldSBK classes starting in 2027. That’s right, after 11 years of handling MotoGP’s tire duties, the French tire company is shifting gears and turning its attention to production bike racing.
It’s not just Superbike either. Michelin’s deal covers the full range: World Supersport, the newly launched Sportbike World Championship (which is set to replace the current SSP300 class), and the FIM Women’s World Championship. All of them will be running on Michelin rubber from 2027 to 2031.
So why does this matter to us, the everyday riders who aren’t chasing world titles? Because WorldSBK runs race-prepped versions of the bikes we can actually buy. You know, bikes like the Ducati Panigale V4 and BMW S 1000 RR. The tires Michelin is developing for this series won’t be top-secret prototype slicks—they’ll be very close to what we can fit on our own street and track bikes. Probably a derivative of the brand’s Power Cup series. That means more track-tested tech will trickle down to high-performance road tires, possibly with better longevity, feedback, and flat-out grip.
It also marks the end of a pretty iconic era. Pirelli has been the sole supplier for WorldSBK since 2004. Their long-standing partnership helped shape the format of spec tire racing. Now, with Michelin stepping in, there’s a chance we’ll see a fresh wave of innovation—one that benefits both the paddock and the parking lot.
So yeah, tires might not be sexy. But they’re crucial. And if this change pushes the envelope on performance and brings even a fraction of that tech to the rest of us, then it’s a move worth celebrating. Because when it comes to riding, there’s nothing quite like the confidence of knowing your tires have your back.
Source: Michelin
