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What tires do is more than just roll. Just as a shoe makes all the difference for an athlete, tires also play a very important role in the proper functioning of a vehicle. They are the only point of contact between you and the machine and the road below. In other words, it all comes down to whether the tires effectively transfer speed, lose speed, or provide the grip needed to navigate a corner. On parallel lines, today’s rider doesn’t limit their time in the saddle to weekday trips to and from the office and weekend highway trips. On the contrary, they evolve and develop an alter ego, an explorer personality with the thirst to travel on their motorcycle beyond the cobbled tarmac.
While not all moto-explorers have the luxury of having a dedicated weekend bike, most have to make do with their daily workhorses to get to far-flung places. For such applications, standard road tires are unable to provide the kind of performance and grip required for the ever-changing surface. Seeing this need for dual application tyres, Apollo launched the Tramplr ST and XR tires for motorcycles that fall in the 150cc to 500cc displacement bracket in the Indian two-wheeler market.
Let’s start with the Tramplr XR tires, because I have to try them first. These tires are designed for on-road or off-road applications. Basically, if you plan to take your personal motorbike to Leh-Ladakh, these are the tires you want to ride on. Designed for rugged road conditions, the Tramplr XRs feature a block pattern and hof-shaped tread patterns, with alternating center blocks to strike the perfect balance between grip on tarmac and traction in the dirt. The tread design also incorporates grooves to channel water out, as well as stone ejection.
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On the route organized to test the tires, I was able to ride on several terrains, ranging from tarmac, dirt and gravel, to concrete, slush and even rock. Despite the limited time available, as a first impression, the Tramplr XR delivers the confidence required when dealing with variable road conditions. Apollo offers the Tramplr XR in 17, 18 and 19 inch sizes, covering a variety of motorcycles including KTMs, TVS Apaches, Yamahas and Royal Enfields.
Next to the test were the Tramplr ST tires. There are mostly road-focused dual-purpose tires that are designed for those who ride mostly on tarmac, but occasionally venture off of it. For the tread construction of the tire, it features staggered center blocks, with large alternating shoulder blocks to provide sufficient levels of grip even when leaning the bike into corners. The grooves have an open cross design for efficient water channeling and increase progressively to allow better stability and acceleration.
During the test, the tires performed well, with consistent grip available when ridden straight or leaned into corners. In terms of application, Apollo offers the Tramplr ST in sizes ranging from 90 to 140 section tires in 17 inches. This covers most motorcycles that fall within the displacement range of 150cc to 300cc.
Apollo has priced Tramplr tires between Rs 4,000 and Rs 13,000, depending on size, for a pair. Additionally, the company also claims that the tires will last around 25,000 to 45,000 km, making them a very cost-effective option when going for new tires.
