KTM's ongoing tyre struggles in the 2025 MotoGP Season
- Aaratrika Gupta
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Written by Aaratrika Gupta, Edited by Gabriel Tsui
So far into the 2025 MotoGP season, KTM has encountered major tyre problems which resulted in persisting rear-wheel vibration in addition to fast tyre breakdown and problems during setup, harming their ability to compete against Ducati and Aprilia.
Persistent Rear-Wheel Vibrations
A major concern has been recurring rear-wheel vibrations affecting KTM riders, as sophomore rider Pedro Acosta has expressed strong opinions regarding the matter. Following the Spanish Grand Prix, Acosta identified the vibrations experienced as unusual as the issue appears to be something other than the bike or braking system.
Acosta’s teammate, Brad Binder, has also experienced similar vibration issues so far this season. During the Jerez race, Binder faced substantial rear tire sliding that created problems when he attempted to maintain proper corner speed.
Binder reported the new occurrence of tire vibrations during the race as his initial experience with this phenomenon, something that never occurred during practice.
Accelerated Tyre Degradation
The problem with vibrations and extreme tyre wear issues has refrained KTM from sustaining stable lap times. Acosta, after the Argentinian Grand Prix, attributed his underwhelming performance to a lack of rear grip, stating, "It was three very good laps until we started sliding... We are going backwards rather than forwards. It is not normal for the grip to fall so much".
Binder echoed similar sentiments, admitting that the team has "not yet understood" the rear tyre. He explained that the new tyre construction has led to radical changes in the bike's balance, which have been difficult to implement effectively.
Impact on Recent Performances
KTM's tyre issues have affected their recent race results. At COTA, Acosta finished seventh in the Sprint race but crashed in the main event. He expressed frustration, stating, "The main problem is not understanding what is happening".
Acosta and Binder dealt with problems keeping control around the back of their bikes in Argentina. Acosta fell back from ninth to tenth place in the Sprint race and Binder encountered difficulties sustaining speed because of deteriorating tyres.
During the American Grand Prix, KTM and Aprilia complained about unsatisfactory decisions from race direction concerning late tire switches that they considered inconsistent and unjust.
Technical and Strategic Adjustments
The workers at KTM maintain close cooperation with Michelin to understand their new rear tyre system, while Acosta demands immediate action from Michelin to resolve the issues with vibration.
Binder emphasized that a complete analysis of new tyre behavior would lead to better development enhancements. He stated, "Once we understand everything, we can then start to make small steps in each area".
KTM has also experimented with aggressive changes to the bike’s balance and setup, when traditional adjustments failed to yield proper results according to Binder.
Comparing KTM to Ducati and Aprilia
KTM's struggles have stood out in comparison to Ducati, who have capitalized on the new rear tyres. Ducati has been dominant, with riders consistently challenging for wins. A key differentiator has been their ability to maintain strong pace over the entire race and particularly in the final laps.
However, KTM and Aprilia have so far struggled to wring maximum from the new tyres. Aprilia's Aleix Espargaró was confused by their failure to get the tyres to perform effectively, stating, "I don't understand".
Looking Ahead
Issues with the tyres have been identified by KTM as a priority task, to be resolved in upcoming tests. Acosta described it as "potentially the most important days of our season".
But if KTM can improve, there might be a chance of a turnaround. Otherwise, they will have to switch their focus to long term development.
Of course, KTM's continuing struggles with tyres reflects the twists and turns in adapting to change. Yet with target adjustments, to effective testing and continued working together with Michelin, KTM believes they will solve the problem before the season passes.
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