If the tire had a letter B, e.g. “180/55/B17”, it would indicate that the tire was bias. Bias belted tires are also labeled with a “-”. An example of this would be “180/55–17”. 180/55R17. The final piece of information in the sidewall code gives the diameter of the wheel rim.

Shinko tires may not have the latest in motorcycle tire technology compared to larger brands like Michelin or Dunlop, but they do offer pretty decent quality at much more affordable prices. If you want the best tires available, you'll probably look elsewhere, but if you want good value, Shinko tires are a good option.

Each letter indicates the approximate ply strength for that tire regarding standard ply count. So, for instance, a tire with a “B” load range means that the tire's strength is equal to a 4-ply construction. This information doesn't mean that the tire has four plies; just that it has the same strength as a 4-ply tire.

If you read 120/70 – 12 51 S, it means: 120 indicates the width of the tire (in millimeters) 70 indicates the aspect ratio (between height and width) 12 is the rim size (in inches)