- Strong balance of grip, comfort and long-distance durability
- Affordable sport-touring tyre that punches above its price
- 4,800km real-world test across New Zealand conditions
Tyres are the only thing keeping you upright on two wheels — and they’re also one of the most expensive consumables on your bike. With prices continuing to climb, riders are increasingly seeking alternatives that don’t compromise performance. That’s exactly where Eurogrip is aiming to make its mark.
You may have heard of Eurogrip already, but they’re still relatively new to New Zealand. Yet that doesn’t mean they are newbies to the motorcycle tyre market, with the brand a subsidiary of TVS, one of India’s largest motorcycle manufacturers. The Eurogrip subsidiary builds tyres not just for motorcycles, but for all sorts of passenger and commercial vehicles, and they’re big business in India.
Imported to NZ through one of the country’s largest motorcycle accessory distributors, Whites Powersports, you’ll find Eurogrip tyres in a lot of motorcycle dealers up and down Aotearoa, with the overwhelming response being positive about the new tyre contender, especially at the price point. With a tyre lineup that ranges from motocross to classic-styled, from adventure and touring to sportbike tyres, they’re proving popular with riders looking for new hoops at a more realistic price.
So how do they actually perform when it matters? To find out, a set of Roadhound tyres was fitted for a proper real-world test — not a short blast or controlled conditions, but a demanding long-distance ride across New Zealand.
Long Miles, Lean Angles and Late Nights
When a tyre claims to balance touring longevity with genuine cornering confidence, the proof is not found in spec sheets. It is found on long roads, loaded bikes and changing weather. Eurogrip’s Roadhound sport-touring tyres have quietly built a reputation overseas by doing exactly that, racking up big kilometres without losing their edge. But reputation only goes so far until the rubber meets the road.
To put the Roadhounds into proper context, they were mounted for a true, real-world test. Extended travel, mixed road conditions and varying climates. Not a track day or a weekend blast, but the kind of riding most sport-touring rubber ultimately lives for.
A Test Within a Test
The plan was simple. Fit the tyres and head to the starting point of the TT2000 rally in New Zealand’s South Island, a ride that covers 2,000 kilometres in just 48 hours. The only catch was that the starting line lay approximately 1,600 kilometres from the test rider’s home.
With an effective long-distance test embedded within a long-distance return trip, this ride provided an ideal opportunity to compare the Roadhounds against previous journeys completed on different rubber.
All up, over six days, a total of 4,800 kilometres was covered in every condition imaginable. From driving rain to hot, melting tar and freezing cold asphalt, the ride crossed some of the most spectacular roads in the world through New Zealand’s Southern Alps.
Built for Balance, Not Compromise
Eurogrip positions the Roadhound squarely in the sport-touring category, and its construction reflects that brief. The rear tyre uses a dual-compound layout designed to preserve mileage through the centre while maintaining grip on the shoulders. The carcass profile prioritises stability and predictable steering, especially when the bike is weighed down with luggage.
On the road, that translates to a tyre that feels neutral and composed rather than sharp or nervous. Turn-in is progressive rather than abrupt, and once settled into a corner, the Roadhound holds a line confidently without needing constant correction.
This behaviour becomes especially valuable during long riding days, where consistency matters more than outright aggression.
The biggest surprise wasn’t the price — it was how little you felt like you were giving up.
Confidence in the Wet and the Cold
Touring rarely offers perfect conditions, and much of the Roadhound’s journey unfolded in cold temperatures and persistent wet weather. The grooved tread design plays a key role here, helping evacuate water and maintain contact with the road surface.
Rather than delivering sudden grip or loss, the tyre communicates clearly. Feedback through the bars remains calm, even on soaked mountain roads, allowing the rider to adjust the pace naturally rather than ride defensively. Wet performance might not sound exciting, but on a multi-day trip it is the difference between confidence and fatigue.
Not Just for Straight-Line Slabs
Despite its touring focus, the Roadhound did not shy away from technical roads. Alpine passes, sweeping highways and tight coastal sections all featured throughout the ride, and the tyres responded with confidence.
Lean-angle stability stood out. Even as the kilometres added up, edge grip remained trustworthy, without the vague or stepped feel that often creeps in as tyres age. Direction changes were smooth rather than sharp, well-suited to the character of the bike and the demands of long-distance riding.
Perhaps the biggest compliment is that at no point did the tyres feel like the limiting factor.
Durability That Changes the Equation
Longevity is where the Roadhound separates itself from many rivals in the category. The ability to complete an extended journey and then continue well beyond it shifts the value conversation entirely.
For riders planning big trips, fewer tyre changes mean lower costs, simpler logistics and more time riding. Importantly, the Roadhound manages this without forcing any real sacrifice in confidence or enjoyment.
The Verdict
Eurogrip’s Roadhound tyres are not trying to be track specialists or hyper-sport rubber. Instead, they deliver something arguably more difficult. A tyre that remains stable, communicative and trustworthy across huge distances, while still encouraging enthusiastic riding when the road turns interesting.
For sport-touring riders who load up their bikes, chase horizons and still enjoy a winding road at the end of the day, the Roadhound proves that endurance and enjoyment do not have to be mutually exclusive.
Available now through Whites Powersports dealers nationwide. If you’re looking to cut costs without cutting confidence, the Eurogrip Roadhound is well worth a look. 👉 bits4bikes.co.nz
