IRC Tire

IRC Tires: A Century of Two-Wheel Expertise

IRC — short for Inoue Rubber Company — carries a legacy that few tire brands can match. Tires have been at the heart of IRC's mission since the very beginning: founded in 1926 in Nagoya, Japan, the company began manufacturing motorcycle tires in 1952 and entered the U.S. market in 1966. Nearly a century of continuous research, real-world racing feedback, and precision Japanese manufacturing backs every tire that carries the IRC name.

Built for Every Riding Surface

One of IRC's defining strengths in the tire category is the sheer breadth of its lineup. IRC produces motorcycle tires for cruiser, dual purpose, competition, dirt bike, scooter, and moped applications — making it a genuinely versatile option regardless of how or where you ride. For riders who spend time in the dirt, IRC's off-road tire range has deep roots: the company was a leader in the development of oversized motocross tires in the 1970s, and collaborated with legendary riders like Rick Johnson, Jeff Ward, and Broc Glover to engineer tires capable of winning at the highest levels of motocross and supercross competition.

That racing heritage translates directly into the product lineup available today. Off-road and enduro riders will recognize models like the VE33 Gekkota and VE35 Enduro, which are engineered for aggressive grip on loose terrain. For motocross use, the M5B EVO delivers a self-cleaning tread design for consistent traction in mud, sand, and hill-climbing scenarios. Trials enthusiasts can turn to the TR-11 Trials tire, a purpose-built option for technical, low-speed riding on rocks and extreme obstacles.

Street and touring riders are equally well served. The GS-11 AW front and rear tires are S-rated for both wet and dry pavement — a solid choice for cruiser owners logging highway miles. Sport bike riders have gravitated toward the Road Winner RX-01, which features a flexible, aggressive tread surface optimized for high-speed cornering. Dual-sport and adventure riders can bridge both worlds with the GP-22R Foot Loose and GP110 lines, designed to perform capably from pavement to gravel and dirt.

Engineering Backed by Global Manufacturing

IRC operates seven manufacturing plants worldwide, all linked to a "mother factory" in Wakayanagi, Japan, where core production standards and technologies are developed and then shared across every facility. This structure ensures consistent quality regardless of which plant produces a given tire. IRC applies strict Japanese quality control processes, using high-quality materials and modern manufacturing techniques throughout its production chain.

A key differentiator in IRC's compound technology is its cross-pollination of motorcycle and bicycle tire research. Advanced rubber compounds developed for motocross — where soft, grippy traction is essential — are applied and refined across the broader tire range. The result is a lineup that prioritizes real-world grip and durability across a wide range of surfaces and conditions.

Why Choose IRC Tires?

• Nearly 100 years of dedicated two-wheel tire manufacturing
• Racing-proven designs developed alongside professional motocross athletes
• Broad lineup covering dirt, street, dual sport, scooter, and moped applications
• Global manufacturing network with Japanese quality standards at every facility
• Specific models engineered for mud, sand, enduro, trials, cruising, and sport riding

Whether you're shopping for an aggressive knobby for the trails or a reliable all-weather street tire, explore the full range of IRC tires available, or browse the complete IRC brand catalog for tubes and other accessories.