Motorcycle Tire Information
All motorcycle riders know that without their tires, they're not going anywhere. However, it's important to know as much as possible about your tires. That way, you can make informed choices about what's keeping you on the road day after day, shiny side up. Your tire choices really do make a difference.
Other People Are Reading
-
Types
-
Tires exist for wet weather, dry weather, all weather, racing and off-road use---and that's just the start. Within those groupings, different manufacturers make different compounds to cover a range of conditions you might encounter in your riding.
Additionally, a wide range of sizes exists to fit the vast spectrum of motorbikes that are on the road today. Check to see what size your bike requires before setting your heart on a particular tire. Just like a good pair of motorcycle boots, it's frustrating when they don't make them in your size.
Ratings
-
When shopping for bike tires, you'll often find a long string of numbers followed by a letter accompanying the information for each model of tire. These numbers and ratings tell you the size, wheel diameter of fitment, load rating and speed rating---if you know how to read them. See the Motorcycle Tire Size Conversion chart for a guide to deciphering this rather complex code.
-
Hard or Soft?
-
In addition to the choices mentioned previously, tire compounds generally fall into two categories: hard and soft. Generally speaking, hard compound tires wear better and last longer, but don't tend to grip as well. Soft compound tires grip very well, but as a result, they wear out much more quickly.
Maintenance
-
The single most important thing you can do to keep any tire you buy in good working order is this: check your air pressure regularly. Buy a good tire gauge (not a stick gauge; they're often inaccurate) and check your pressure regularly. Always check it when your tires are cold, too; air pressure (which is measured in pounds per square inch, or PSI) goes up when your tires are warm, and won't give you an accurate reading.
The second most important thing you can do is to check your tires before riding, every single time you ride. It's likely that if you've picked up a nail, you'll notice it while you're riding and do something about it when you get home. Sometimes, though, you may not notice it right away---and that's a dangerous situation. Check your tires before you ride.
Cleaning
-
A little soap and water is all you should use to clean your tires. Many commercial cleaners actually contain chemicals that can harm your rubber, causing it to wear and crack more quickly than it would otherwise. For that reason, if you have an accident at the gas pump and it somehow gets on your tires, make sure to clean the gas off as soon as possible.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit robennal - http://www.flickr.com/photos/robennals/1348856544/
