If you own a motorbike, you certainly know how important looking after your vehicle is. You may have noticed that one of the vital aspects of motorcycle care is taking proper care of your motorcycle tyres.
Motorcycle tyre care involves various practises, many of which are quite similar to the rules of looking after car tyres. However, not all motorcycle drivers are familiar with car tyre care, e.g. because they have never had a car before. If you are one of them, then this guide is just what you need.
Check your motorcycle tyre tread
In case of basically any kind of tyres, you should always check their tread at regular intervals.
Be aware that, according to the UK driving regulations, tyres must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm. This rule is the same for both motorcycle and car tyres. The only exception is the requirement for scooter tyres, which are allowed to have a minimum legal tread depth of 1 mm.
That said, it is your obligation to control the tread and tyre depth. As a motorbike owner you are responsible for replacing your motorbike tyres as soon as, or preferably before they reach the limit.
How to check tyre tread on motorcycles?
One of the easiest and quickest ways to check if your motorbike tyres have the legal tyre tread is to perform a so-called “penny test”. Insert a 20p coin into the tread groove. If the whole diameter of the coin can be fitted in the lot, your tread is above the legal limit. However, if the outer band of the coin is out of the groove, it is a sign that your tyre tread is too shallow and you should replace your tyres.
The minimum motorbike tyre tread is just as important as the actual, overall tyre condition.
How to check the condition of your motorcycle tyres?
To perform a regular check of the condition of your motorbike tyres, slowly inspect every centimetre to find any alarming signs such as cracks or damage. This includes looking for any places where the tyre may have been worn down as a result of harsh braking. If you have a bike that is not fitted with anti-lock brakes, then you should pay extra attention to such dangerous signs of damage.
While small punctures can sometimes be prepared, when you see such visible signs of damage, this is typically a strong indication that the tyres need to be replaced.
Check your motorcycle tyre pressure
Similarly, you should check the tyre pressure on a regular basis, preferably once a week. Both motorbike tyres should always be pumped up to the correct pressure levels.
Where to find these? They are provided in the manufacturer’s recommendations so the easiest way to do that will be to consult your motorcycle manual or check the manufacturer’s website.
Remember to always check your motorbike tyre pressure when the tyres are cold, as temperature may influence the pressure. If you perform the check on hot tyres, it may be increased and therefore give you a wrong indication. Likewise, make sure you replace the cap on the tyre valve when you are finished.
If you want to always stay in control of your bike’s tyre pressure, consider getting a motorcycle tyre pressure gauge. This small and very useful tool enables you to measure the pressure in your tyres accurately, and it is cheap and easy to use.
Running regular tyre checks and keeping the correct motorcycle tyre pressure is a very important factor in taking care of both your tyres and your safety.
Store your motorcycle tyres right
You should always make sure that when not fitted to the motorcycle, tyres should be stored in a correct way.
Compared to cars, there is less of a problem in case of motorcycles as you don’t need to rotate between summer tyres and winter tyres. Still, if for any reason you decide to change your tyres or have a spare pair waiting to be used at a later time, you will have to store them.
The importance of the right motorcycle tyre storage
There are a number of factors, such as UV light, water and heat, which can influence the rubber compound, tyre structure and consequently impact the properties of your tyres. As a consequence, this may reduce your vehicle’s performance and road safety.
How to store your motorcycle tyres correctly?
As such, here are a few things you should consider when storing your motorcycle tyres:
- Store your tyres in closed yet ventilated rooms with fairly dry air and the right, rather cool temperature.
- Remember that the optimum air temperature for stored tyres is between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius.
- Avoid the presence of ozone characteristics, such as rooms lit by mercury lamps.
- Do not place any acids, solvents or other chemicals near your motorbike tyres.
- Do not leave your tyres exposed to natural sunlight.
- If you have to keep your tyres on top of one another, lying down, then it is always recommended that you swap their positions every few weeks.
Ideally, the best way to store your tyres is to keep them on a special stand. Such a stand should be placed in an area that meets the above criteria. Therefore, a cool, dry garage is usually the best choice to store your bike tyres until you require them.
To get the best out of your motorcycle tyres, you should adhere to the basic tyre care principles.
While the above are not the only factors and parameters of taking proper care of your motorbike tyres, they are the minimum priority practises. By following this guide, you will ensure your tyres do not succumb to avoidable problems. Similarly, you can also consider checking your motorcycle tyre wear and damage on a regular basis, as well as ensuring you have the right type of motorcycle tyre for your bike.