Hey, tyres are important. That is such a vague statement, but when you realise how much they do, the statement becomes much more enriched and powerful. Grip, traction, putting the power down, keeping your motorcycle shiny side up and much more. Also, as the power that needs to be put down increases, so does the importance of tyres. So yeah, tyres are important. And when it comes to tyres, in all likelihood, MRF is the most common name. 

From trucks to buses to cars and motorcycles, MRF is the largest manufacturer of tyres in India. A ton of motorcycles from various brands have MRF as the OEM tyre supplier. And now, they are the OEM tyre supplier for Suzuki in India. And no, I am not talking about motorcycles like the Gixxer 150s and 250s. I am talking about motorcycles like the Hayabusa, Katana, V-Strom, and the GSX-8R! Wrap your head around that. From manufacturing toy balloons in 1946 and being the current owners of Funskool, to wrapping the proverbial feet of a legend like the Hayabusa! 

So the MRF Steel Brace radial tyre lineup was launched a while ago. Made for high-performance entry-level motorcycles, the tyres did well. But MRF has always been around in that segment. So making superbike tyres is a giant leap. And more than that, doing it right as rain in the first go? That is more than impressive. More on the experience in a bit. 

So the process of making these tyres and getting them approved by Suzuki must have been a ton of work. You know how meticulous the Japanese are. To that end, these tyres were tested on tracks in Japan and NATRAX in India. Moreover, they were also put through their paces on a hallowed name in the MotoGP Calendar- Mugello, in Italy, a racetrack where we consistently see MotoGP missiles hit over 350 kays an hour! 

Now, the Busa is a legendary name too. It held the title for the world’s fastest motorcycle for a very long time. And while the speedo may be limited to 299, thanks to the Gentleman’s Agreement, it can go higher. But adhering to that very agreement, these tyres are W-rated and rated for 299 kays an hour, a first for an Indian manufacturer.  And I am sure that while testing on the NATRAX high-speed proving ground, they did 299 (on the speedo) all day long before approving these tyres for the mighty Busa. 

Now, as I said, the MRF Steel Brace lineup is a big one, and there will be more tyres, including for adventure tourers and off-roaders. So the ones we had on the Busa that we rode are called MRF Steel Brace SP. 120/70-ZR17 at the front and 190/50-ZR17 at the rear. While the front is standard for most big bikes, the rear is also available in 190/55-ZR17, 180/55-ZR17, and 160/60-ZR17 as well. In terms of where we tested it, it was MRF’s PGTEC or Proving Ground Technical Evaluation Centre in Perambalur, the largest proving ground amongst all Indian manufacturers. Quite a few superlatives already! 

Onwards to the tyre itself. The MRF Steel Brace SP features a zero-degree steel belt construction that provides it with the structural rigidity required for what motorcycles like the Suzuki Hayabusa can do. The groove design is meant to maximise confidence even in wet weather conditions to keep water away from under the contact patch. While we did not get to test the tyres in the wet, we did get to do a lot with them in the dry. 

PGTEC has multiple tracks designed to mimic various riding conditions. Now, I have had a lot of experience riding the Hayabusa over the years, and I have had the latest one around for a while as well. So, I could skip getting to know the motorcycle and get straight to pushing it hard to figure out the limits of the tyres. Before I could, I saturated the limits of the motorcycle. 

The Busa is a big lug but still handles really well for its size. Its intuitive handling was further accentuated by immense support from the MRF Steel Brace SP tyres. On the very technical handling track, I could easily throw it around the corners as the tyres inspire that much confidence. These tyres are meant for the road, and yet, the edge grip was something you could rely on. There were moments where I decided to give it the beans, putting a whole lot of stress on the rear tyre, no problems. I braked hard, putting the front under immense strain, no problems. 

With a motorcycle as big and powerful as the Hayabusa, a lot is riding on the tyres, quite literally. That makes the performance of the MRF Steel Brace SPs even more impressive. Throughout my time in the saddle, there was not one moment when I felt that there was a misstep. I am not someone who takes a lot of risks while riding, but I was doing my best to push the tyres beyond their limits, and fortunately, I never found those limits. And that was on a racetrack with a near-190 bhp motorcycle that weighs over 260 kilos. So if you have a motorcycle and the MRF Steel Brace range has a tyre for it, I would urge you to give it a try before you splurge on anything imported. You might just be surprised!

The way motorcycling in India has grown has been a matter of pride for me. Now, we have world-class machines at our disposal that need world-class tyres to make the most of them. And now, we do not have to rely on foreign brands for that because brands like MRF are bringing their A-game to the market now. As such, I am sure they are going to play a major role in helping motorcycling in India grow leaps and bounds in the near future.