A motorcycle tyre catalogue packs a lot into one short line. One size, one pattern code and a few letters decide which tyre turns up in your container. If you misread one of them, you may be selling the wrong tyre for a whole season.
This guide goes through each field in the order you usually meet it, and ends with a short list of what to confirm in writing before you place an order.
What a catalogue line looks like
Catalogues are laid out in different ways. In ours, each tread pattern has a code, and the sizes that pattern comes in are listed under it. For example, page 3 of our 2026 catalogue lists:
ZY-014: 2.50-17, 2.75-17, 2.75-18, 3.00-17, 3.00-18, 90/80-14
A quotation then turns one pattern and one size into a line you can order. Example of the format (not a real quote):
| Size | Pattern | Construction | Load / speed, PR | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.00-18 | ZY-014 | TT | confirmed per size in the quotation | 300 |
Each column answers a different question. They are covered one by one below.
Size: inch sizes and metric sizes
Inch sizes such as 3.00-18
Mitas explains this way of writing a size in its marking guide:
- the first number is the nominal section width in inches;
- the dash means cross-ply (bias) construction;
- the last number is the nominal rim diameter in inches.
So 3.00-18 is a cross-ply tyre with a nominal width of 3.00 inches, made for an 18-inch rim.
Metric sizes such as 90/90-18 or 120/70 ZR 17
- 90 is the nominal section width in millimetres.
- The second 90 is the aspect ratio: the sidewall height as a percentage of the width.
- 18 is the rim diameter in inches.
Mitas uses the same layout in its own examples, and Continental gives a full road-tyre description: "120/70 ZR 17 M/C 58W TL". The "58W" in that example is the load index and the speed symbol, which we cover further down.
M/C
Mitas defines M/C as "tyres for motorcycles". It explains that the bead seat on a motorcycle rim is a different diameter from a car or van rim with the same designation. In practice, M/C means the size is meant for a motorcycle rim, not just any rim with the same number.
What to check: copy the size exactly as it appears on the sidewall or in the catalogue. 3.00-18 and 90/90-18 are not the same tyre, and they are not interchangeable without approval from the vehicle or tyre maker.
Pattern code
The pattern code (ZY-014 in our catalogue) names the tread design. It does not tell you the size; one pattern usually comes in several sizes.
The pattern matters for ordering in two ways:
- It is how you tell the supplier which tread you mean. A photo of the tread helps.
- Minimum orders are counted per pattern. Our MOQ for motorcycle tyres is 300 pieces per size and pattern. 150 pieces of 3.00-18 in one pattern and 150 in another do not add up to 300; each needs its own 300.
TT or TL: tube-type or tubeless
Mitas defines:
- TUBE TYPE as tyres "specially designed for mounting with a tube";
- TUBELESS as tyres "specially designed for tubeless mounting on suitable rims".
Continental adds the rim side. Its tube-type tyres "have to be mounted on tube-type rims with inner tubes of the correct size" and "are not allowed to be mounted on tubeless rims". Its tubeless tyres can go on tubeless rims without a tube, or on tube-type rims "if mounted with inner tubes of the correct size". That is Continental's rule for its own tyres. Other makers may word it differently, so follow the instructions of the maker whose tyre you sell.
For a buyer this has two consequences:
- If the line says TT, the tyre needs an inner tube, and you will usually order tubes in the same sizes. We make motorcycle inner tubes in natural rubber and butyl rubber.
- If you are not sure which version your market needs, ask for it by name. We make both tube-type and tubeless motorcycle tyres, and the version is confirmed per size.
Ply rating (PR) and REINF
PR is the field buyers misread most often.
PR is not a count of layers
Mitas defines PR as a mark that "designates various tyre versions (load index/inflation pressure) of the same dimension designation". In other words, two tyres in the same size can carry different PR markings because they are built for different load and pressure levels.
It is not a promise of a certain number of fabric layers. US rules treat the two as different things: 49 CFR 571.119 requires the "actual number of plies" to be marked on the sidewall as a separate item.
REINF
Mitas defines REINF as "motorcycle tyres for load and inflation pressures that exceed standard values". You will see it on sizes built for heavier work.
Load index and speed symbol
Mitas explains that the load index gives "the maximum permissible tyre load", and the speed index gives the highest permissible speed at that load. When two catalogue lines have the same size but different PR or REINF markings, compare the load index and pressure. Those are the numbers that tell you what the tyre is rated to carry.
What to check: do not compare quotes from two suppliers on PR alone. Ask each one to confirm the load index, the speed symbol and the marking that will be moulded on the sidewall for that exact size. We confirm these per size in the quotation.
Before you order: a five-point check
- Size, written exactly as on the sidewall, including M/C where it applies.
- Pattern code, with a tread photo if you are matching a tyre you already sell.
- TT or TL, and the matching inner tube size if it is tube-type.
- Load index, speed symbol and PR / REINF, confirmed in writing for that size.
- Quantity per size and pattern, at least 300 pieces each for motorcycle tyres.
Then check the quotation date. Our quotations are valid for 15 days, so confirm the lines before the quote expires.
FAQ
What does 3.00-18 mean on a motorcycle tyre?
A nominal section width of 3.00 inches, cross-ply construction (the dash), for an 18-inch rim. That is how Mitas describes this way of writing a size.
What is the difference between TT and TL?
A TT (tube-type) tyre is made to be fitted with an inner tube. A TL (tubeless) tyre is made to be fitted without a tube on a suitable rim. Rim rules vary by tyre maker, so follow the maker's instructions.
Does 6PR mean the tyre has six plies?
Not necessarily. Mitas describes PR as marking different load and pressure versions of the same size. The actual ply count is a separate marking. Compare the load index instead.
Can I mix patterns to reach the minimum order?
No. Our MOQ for motorcycle tyres is 300 pieces per size and pattern. Each size in each pattern needs its own 300 pieces.
Where do I find the load index for a tyre in your catalogue?
We confirm the load index, speed symbol and construction per size in the quotation. Send us the sizes and patterns you need.
Send us your list
Send the sizes, pattern codes (or tread photos), TT or TL, and quantities, and we will confirm each line in a quotation. Contact us or see our motorcycle tyre range. If your tyres are tube-type, our guide to natural rubber vs butyl inner tubes covers the tube side.