When it comes to the safety and handling of your motorcycle, there are few things as important as your tires. Maintaining and caring for your bike tires can help ensure a safe ride and prevent accidents. Also, good tire maintenance will ensure top mileage and performance. It doesn't take a lot of time or effort to keep your tires in good condition, but it does require regular inspections. If you're unsure about what to look for when inspecting your tires, many dealers will check them for free.
Here are some tips to help keep your tires performing in top condition.
Check for proper tire inflation pressure. For optimum performance and fuel economy, make sure your tires are not over or under inflated. Your owner's manual and tire placard on the vehicle will tell you exactly what the tire pressure should be for your particular tires. When tires are cool (wait at least an hour after running), check the pressure with an accurate tire pressure gauge. Repeated under inflation should be inspected because it may mean that you have a slow leak that could result in a blow out. Over inflation can reduce traction and cause poor handling or vibration, which could result in an accident. Both under and over inflation can cause build-up of internal heat, tread groove cracking, fatigue cracking and eventually complete tire failure.
Don't overload your bike. Check your owner's manual to determine proper load limits and know your loaded vehicle weight. Overloading places stress on the tires and can cause poor handling and excessive fuel consumption.
Check tires regularly for wear. Get professional inspections to be sure your tires are in the best condition possible. You should also inspect your tires regularly between professional inspections for excessive or uneven wear, foreign objects, cracks or grooves and tread depth. Pay attention to tread wear indicators. Especially in inclement weather, bald tires can cause skidding and are more susceptible to blow outs. Replace damaged or worn tires immediately.
Make sure wheels are aligned and tires are mounted properly. Improper mounting can cause serious injury and accidents. It is a good idea to have a trained motorcycle service technician mount your tires.
Avoid spinning tires excessively. If your bike gets stuck in mud, sand or snow, avoid spinning the tires excessively. Try not to run the bike over 35 mph and if you need to push the bike out, avoid doing it directly in front of or behind the tires. Spinning can cause heat to build up and tires could explode.
Break in new tires. Avoid high speeds, abrupt leans and hard cornering until after 100 miles. This gives you a chance to learn how the new tires handle and react. Some dealers have programs that let you register your new tires with a mail-in registration card so they can contact you in case of recalls or safety advisories. This is a good idea if your dealer offers it.
Most important,
pay attention to how your bike is handling. Most accidents related to
tire failure are due to under or over inflation. If steering response
is slow, or cornering or braking response is heavy, your tires may be
under inflated. Vibration or wobble could indicate over inflation or tire
damage. Keeping your motorcycle tires in good shape is one easy way to
ensure that you enjoy your time out riding and not waiting on the shoulder
for a tow truck.
In addition to regular tire inspections
and maintenance, it's important to have the right insurance coverage for
your motorcycle. Choose a policy like the one through Foremost's AARP
Motorcycle Insurance Program. There is peace of mind in knowing that if
something goes wrong, you have a customized insurance policy to cover
it.
