Eurogrip Roadhound tyres: 2500km review

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The stock Ceat tyres on the Guerrilla 450 just about manage to get the job done. While grip in the dry is decent, it doesn’t inspire confidence in the wet. This and a few other factors are reasons why we switched to the Roadhound, which is a proper sport touring tyre. Here’s how they fared over 2,500km of riding in the city as well as a 1,200km round trip to Goa.

In the city

With the tyres mounted and the wheel balanced, I set off riding the Guerrilla in the city. The difference that these Roadhounds offered over the OEM tyres were immediate and significant. Considering the profile of the tyre, its lightness and the construction in terms of the compound used, there was newfound confidence in the Guerrilla 450.

The ‘feel’ from the front end was clear, the tyres felt light during quick direction changes and the overall sense of grip over Mumbai’s horrible, undulating roads was immense. There was a marked improvement in the low speed ride as well, with the bike now ironing out small bumps at low speeds with ease.

At city speeds, the tyre is relatively quieter and that again adds to their comfort aspect. More importantly, the Guerilla required less effort while tipping the bike into some of the corners that I usually encounter on my 35km commute from my home to the office.

All said, what I truly appreciated about these Roadhounds were the overall sense of grip they offered over Mumbai’s varying roads. From undulating concrete to paver blocks and smooth roads, I was never left guessing about the amount of grip on offer.

The several rides on the city on these tyres impressed me but also set an expectation about how they’ll perform on the highway. That’s another area where the Roadhounds shone.

On the highway

The first thing I noticed about these tyres, while riding the bike at triple digit speeds on the highway, is how quiet they are in comparison to the stock Ceat tyres. The design of the grooves, though deep, don’t cause a lot of road noise and that’s a blessing when you are covering over 600km and more in a day.

The second thing is the high speed stability that these tyres offer and that adds another layer of confidence in these rubber hoops. The proverbial cherry on top, however, was how these tyres have vastly improved the handling of the Guerrilla.

Corner carver

Corners, to me, were the ultimate test of the Roadhounds and the fast, flowing but narrow Anuskura Ghat turned out to be a good proving ground for the tyres. There were hairpins, chicanes, long sweeping corners, undulations, steep descents are what have you. Through all of those sections, these tyres performed exceptionally well.

I particularly liked the feel and feedback that these tyres offered once leaned into a corner. Even quick direction changes through the multiple chicanes on the route felt effortless. It left me grinning ear to ear and I’m firmly of the opinion that these tyres managed to unlock the handling potential of the Guerrilla’s chassis.

At the end of the long road trip, we encountered a few patches of broken tarmac and rocky road surfaces as well. A few detours also caused us to ride off-road but through all of it, the tyres were unscathed.

Should you buy it?

The Eurogrip Roadhound tyres cost roughly Rs 25,000 a set and that may be on the steeper side, especially for a bike like the Guerrilla 450. However, if you consider big bikes like the Suzuki Katana, it will be quite the steal considering the price of imported big bike tyres.

All said, these tyres are suited to the demands of Indian road conditions. From highways to city roads with less than ideal surfaces, the Roadhounds manage to tackle everything with aplomb. They also lend themselves to the task of going around corners with confidence. Overall, these tyres performed well and should figure on your shopping list.

Photos by Kaustubh Gandhi