MXA TEAM TESTED: RINALDI RS47 SOFT/INTERMEDIATE TIRES
Yesterday at 01:30 PM
WHAT IS IT? Rinaldi is a Brazilian tire brand manufacturing motocross tires and tubes for off-road motorcycles. Rinaldi hired Pirelli’s chief engineer a few years back to redesign and increase performance on their motocross-specific tire range, which includes the RS47 tires tested here.
WHAT’S IT COST? $63.00 (80/100-21); $76.00 (100/90-19); $79.00 (110-90-19), $83.00 (120/90-19).
CONTACT?www.motomandistributing.com, info@motomandist.com or (760) 949-0941.
WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with Rinaldi RS47 tires.
(1) Tire weight. The front tire weighs in at 7 pounds. The rear (120/90) weighs in at 11 pounds, making these tires approximately 1.5 pounds lighter than some of the big tire manufacturers.
(2) Front tire. If you take a close look at the RS47 front tire, you may see some similarities in tread patterns compared to another big-box brand (Pirelli). The RS47 uses a lighter carcass to create more sidewall flex for increased traction. This had test riders a bit skeptical, but to our surprise, we were very pleased with lean-angle traction in corners, bump absorption and overall front-tire connection. We recommend running 13.5 psi.
(3) Rear tire. The rear tire takes the same approach in carcass design as the front. In addition, the outer two rows of knobs have dimples to create better traction on lean-angle acceleration. This is something we really appreciate on the hard-packed Southern California dirt. We recommend 13 psi.
(4) Durability.MXA test riders were pleased with traction for up to 10 hours. Some of our faster and pickier testers choose to change them out for fresh rubber at eight hours. Being that the Rinaldi RS47 does utilize a softer carcass, we recommend bumping up your tire pressure by 1/2 or 1 full psi. This helps as the carcass breaks down to maintain the performance the RS47 has to offer.
(5) Price. Not all of the MXA test riders get free tires. We know that is hard to believe, but it’s true! For the guys shelling out their hard-earned cash, it’s very hard to ignore the excellent performance you get for a fraction of the cost of the big-box brands. How can these tires be so inexpensive? Rinaldi’s tires cost significantly less due to less marketing dollars spent on professional racing and no middleman in the chain to hike the price, ultimately putting money back in your pocket.
WHAT’S THE SQUAWK? Towards the end of the tire’s life span, you’ll find some noticeable wear and chunking. Also, it is a must to increase tire pressure as the tires wear or you will find a lot of tire roll and discomfort on square-edge chop. If you choose off-road styles of racing, expect a shorter life span.
MXA RATING: It is extremely hard to dismiss this “bang for your buck” tire. MXA test riders tested the Rinaldi RS47 in the dark, loamy dirt of Red Bud, the sands of Indiana, and the hard, nasty dirt of Southern California. Not only can we purchase a complete set of RS47 tires for only a few more dollars than just a single tire from the big-brand tire manufacturers, but we are also very pleased with the performance and durability of the Rinaldi RS47 tires.
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