Checking your tyres for wear and general condition is extremely important.

Using a motorcycle with tyres in poor condition can result in reduced performance and increase the chance of crashing. For this reason, tyre should be check weekly and especially before long rides.

Here are some things you should look out for.

Tyre Pressure

Regularly setting the correct tyre pressures will ensure that the tyre performs to it best and wears evenly. This can also help identify a tyre puncture as an unexpected drop in pressure will now seem out of the ordinary.

Tyre pressures will depend on a range of factors such as weight of the bike, Type of tyre, road conditions and temperature. Sometimes getting this perfect for your riding style can take a little time. So if you have any questions about tyre pressures, feel free to contact us.

Reaching the wear limit

All tyres have a tread wear limit indicator built into the tread grooves. These indicators are often located with a small arrow on the sidewall or the letters T.W.I. This is the LOWEST safe tread depth. Because the grooves are needed for water dispersion, using them below this or bald will increase the chances of aquaplaning and accidents.

 Worn out tyres can also become thin, resulting in tyre failure and often more susceptible to punctures. 

Tyre Age and Condition

Most manufacturers will suggest a 5 year usable life. Beyond that the tyre will become hard due to the drying of the oils in the tyre. This hardening in the rubber will decrease the sidewall flex making a stiffer ride and severely reducing the tire grip. 

Leaving a motorcycle in storage for extended periods with flat tyres will cause them to distort and crack at the sidewalls. Tyres with cracked sidewalls should be replaced to avoid complete tyre failure. 

 Tread Shape and Profile

Stating that tyres should be round would sound pretty obvious. However, typical usage can result in the tyre only being used in certain sections of the tyre. Long distance touring or daily commuting will cause the centre of the tyre to wear faster than the edges. While a tyre only used at the race track typically wears the shoulder through to the edge.

It is for this reason, manufacturers design dual compounds. For touring tyres, the centre is usually harder while the edge compounds are much softer. The theory is the edge compound will wear quicker however the rider will spend far more time in the centre tread, resulting in uniform tread wear.