Experiencing TVS Eurogrip Roadhound big bike tyres on track

TVS Eurogrip has already cemented its presence in the sub-400cc motorcycle tyre category with its proven Protorq Extreme rubber. With these new Roadhound tyres, it aims to capture the big bike space not only in India but international markets too. To experience the Roadhound tyres, the company invited us down to the tight and technical Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore, where we would get to test it on various different bikes. 

A day prior to the track experience, we were taken through TVS Eurogrip’s vast manufacturing plant situated on the outskirts of Madurai. This is where its vast portfolio of tyres – catering to everything from EVs to premium bikes – are made. For the Roadhound, which is made up of four different compounds, the company has set up a dedicated manufacturing line. 

The centre band is hard to aid durability in the long run, while the shoulder patches on both sides are lined with a softer and grippier compound, claims the company. And, at the very edge of the tyre, the Roadhound is lined with a super-sticky compound, which the company claims is meant to withstand lean angles in excess of 50 degrees. These three compounds are all laid jointly on top of a singular durable ‘base layer’ compound.

The TVS Eurogrip Roadhound tyres aren’t very catchy to look at, with a typical sport-touring tread pattern that has plenty of siping to aid water drainage. But, as we would soon find out, looks don't really paint the full picture.

My first session was aboard a Harley-Davidson Street Rod, and this being my maiden opportunity to ride at Kari, I used the first few laps to familiarise myself with the track. The most enjoyable session of the day, and my favourite, was on the Kawasaki Z650. Its nimble handling and punchy engine made for a fun 10 minutes because I gelled so well with the fast yet friendly Z.

Over the course of the day, I got to experience the Roadhound tyres on the Street Rod and Z650 as well as a Honda CBR650F and a BS3 Ninja 650. All bikes run 120 section front tyres, but the H-D and the Ninja were the only bikes that I rode shod with the 160 section rear (the stock size). The Z650 comes with a 160 section rear as standard, but as TVS Eurogrip had only one bike with a 180 section rear, they decided to shoehorn the 180 section rear onto the Z as well so that there were enough 180 section shod bikes for us journalists to experience. To compensate for the wider hoop, the company had jacked up tyre pressures at the rear. While this is certainly not ideal to make definitive statements about the Roadhound tyres, after spending close to an hour of riding, I have a couple of takeaways.

First, these tyres are grippy and confidence-inspiring right from the get-go, and I was immediately at ease no matter the bike I was on. Despite their rather boring appearance, they are quick to tip into corners, and even once you’re leaned over, there was no misbehaviour despite me dragging footpegs on the H-D on multiple occasions.

Second, these tyres are pricier (around a Rs 5,000 differential) than the Vredestein Centauro ST (the comparable locally made big bike tyre). Pricing for the 120/70-ZR17 front tyre stands at Rs 12,999, while the 160/60-ZR17 and the 180/55-ZR17 rear tyre options cost Rs 14,999 and Rs 16,999, respectively. 

However, this being a track ride only, we can’t tell you how the Roadhound tyres perform in the wet, on poor roads or how they age and what’s the life you can expect out of them. Only a comprehensive real-world long-term test will determine that. Generally speaking, these are sport-touring tyres that are built to perform optimally in wet and cold conditions.

The company claims that it has consistently been receiving upwards of 15,000km on a single set overseas, but that number drops to the 12,000km ballpark here in India.

The company also has plans to launch a 190 section rear Roadhound in the next few months. And once that’s out, I’d be ready to install a set on my Aprilia Tuono V4 and let you know how they perform in the real world.

TVS Eurogrip has its sights firmly set on what it labels Tier-I tyre brands (Pirelli/Metzeler/Bridgestone), but it says its pricing puts it in the Tier-II tyre makers' zone (Maxxis/Mitas). It has also claimed that around EICMA 2023, its tyres will be standard fitment on an international brand's premium bike. A spy shot of an Aprilia RS 440 test mule has surfaced overseas with TVS Eurogrip Protorq Extreme rubber, and this could be what the manufacturer alluded to.

As for the distant future, it claims there is a 'superbike' tyre being readied in the 120 front and 200 rear size, which will debut in 2025-26. With Indian tyre manufacturers slowly but surely churning out credible options in the premium space, this can only bode well for the consumer and force international players to rethink their pricing strategies. Either way, it’s a win-win for us motorcyclists.

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