Proper Motorcycle Tire Inflation Is Crucial
Dirt bikes, street bikes, touring bikes, and racers all have one thing in common — Two tires. Only half of a standard motor vehicle. Properly maintaining the tires on your motorcycle may be the single biggest safety step that you can take. Yet it’s estimated that approximately half of all motorcycles on the road are rolling on underinflated tires.
Safety begins with tire pressure. Your owners manual will tell you the recommended psi amounts. Do not go by the numbers on the tire’s sidewall. That’s the maximum psi load the tire’s designed to handle, which is rarely the proper amount for any particular type and size of motorcycle. Tire manufacturers send out millions of tires every year without knowing the specifics of the various bikes that their tires will go on. Tire manufacturers leave it to the bike manufacturers to determine how much tire air pressure is needed for each type of bike. That’s why you should use the motorcycle manufacturer’s recommended psi numbers, not the numbers found on the tire itself.
Tires naturally lose air over time, so it’s important to check the tire pressure often to avoid riding on underinflated tires. At least once a week if you’re a regular rider, no less, maybe a little more for regular riding. If you’ve been off the bike for while, or rarely ride, you need to check the tire pressure every time you take the bike out. The tire pressure should be checked when the tires are cold and the bike hasn’t been ridden for at least thirty minutes because heat generated by road contact can temporarily increase tire pressure and make the tire seem more inflated than it actually is.
Buy your own tire gauge for checking the air pressure. Don’t use the gauges that are sometimes attached to air hoses at gas stations and convenience stores. For various reasons, those gauges are often inaccurate by as much as several psi. Plus, having your own tire gauge will allow you to check your tires at home to see whether you even need to make a stop for air.
Underinflated tires can cause decreased handling and riding precision, poor fuel economy, poor braking performance, excess heat, and uneven tire wear. Of greatest concern is tire separation from the wheel if a tire’s underinflated. Things will go very bad for you if that happens, especially if it’s a front-tire separation and bike control is lost.
At some point, even the most perfectly maintained tires will require replacement. Yes, a new set of tires costs money, but this isn’t something that should be put off. Among other things, worn out tires can have poor traction and may be at a risk of complete tire failure. Your safety, and maybe life, depend upon the condition of your motorcycle’s tires, so here are some reasons why your should consider replacing them:
Puncture, cut, slice, or sharp debris.
Tire more than 4 years old.
Weather-checked (cracked around the circumference), caused from sun exposure, or dry heat.
Consistently riding on a tire with exceedingly low pressure.
Tire that is missing tread or with significant wear (less than 2/32 of an inch of tread in any area or displaying tread wear indicators).
Tire with uneven wear (with some sections being more flat or more pointed due to poorly maintained motorcycle tire PSI.)
Feathered or cupped tire. (Could be making noise or exhibiting a choppy ride). Some front tire cupping is normal, but watch for severe feathering.
To sum up, check your owners manual for the correct psi, use your own tire gauge to check the air pressure, top off the tires if necessary, and enjoy your ride!