You are riding all the time – come rain or storm, on gravel or asphalt, and through every season? Eventually, your tyres will give out in one way or another. By staying up to date on information, maintenance, and inspection, you’ll be able to handle anything that comes your way.
In this ultimate guide to motorcycle tyres provides a comprehensive overview on everything you need to know. In this article, we’ll discuss how to read tyre information, how to inspect your tyres, maintaining tyre pressure for different road conditions, and many more tips and tricks for motorcycle tyre care and maintenance.
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How to Read Motorcycle Tyre Information
There’s lots of different information available for your tyres – so much so, it might seem overwhelming. Aside from the manual and the manufacturers website, there’s one more place to get information you might not have considered: the tyres themselves.
By looking at the tyres for information, you can cut out the pages of irrelevant documentation and get the info that actually matters to you. There are a few different markings on tyres that give you key information, although the actual data may vary depending on manufacturer or country of origin.
Different Types of Tyre Information
Sizing. This is a list of three numbers: the first is the width of the tyre in millimetres, the second is the height as a percentage of the width, and the third is the diameter of the wheel that the tyre will fit on in inches.
Type. There are a few different types of tyres, marked with various symbols. A radial tyre is indicated by an “R”, a bias tyre has a “-”, while a bias belted tyre has a “B”. Each type of tyre has its own benefits and specific use cases.
Speed Rating. The speed rating is a letter which refers to the maximum speed that the tyre is suitable for. There is a lot of different letters that have their own ratings, from J at 62mph to Z at 150+mph, so making sure you understand what the letters mean and what speed you’ll be going at will ensure you get the right fit.
Load Index. This is a pair of numbers which equate to the maximum load a bike should carry. The actual load weight may also be listed on the tyre somewhere else.
Tube Type. This will be a word that says either “tubeless” or “tube-type” and indicates whether the tire has an airtight lining or requires an inner tube to function.
Rotation. Tyres designed to be used in a single direction have an arrow on the side that points in the direction they should rotate. It is crucial to your safety to make sure this arrow is facing the correct direction and is a requirement for passing an MOT.
Production Information. This includes data codes to give the week and year of the tyre’s production (i.e. 1721 would be the 17th week of 2021), as well as the country of origin.
Other Information. Other information such as the named country of origin, brand model, and logo marks may also be present. This isn’t the most useful information but does show you where and who your tyre is from.
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Inspecting Your Motorcycle Tyre for Damage
The first step to maintenance is finding out if there’s actually a problem, and what that problem is. Even if you don’t think there’s any issues with your tyres, it’s still a good idea to check – just because damage isn’t causing a problem yet doesn’t mean it won’t. If the damage reveals itself while you’re riding, you might end up stranded, or worse injured, so regular inspections of your motorcycle tyres are a must.
Checking Your Motorcycle for a Flat
Regular inspections of your motorcycle tyres help you to spot problems before they become big problems. Things you should look out for include:
- Objects like nails and screws.
- Air pressure levels.
- Any signs of cracking.
- Tread depth across the centre of the tyre – it should be at least 1mm.
- Any other damage.
By finding things which cause flats, you’ll keep your tyres in top condition – letting you ride without worry.
Things to Consider When Checking the Condition of Your Motorcycle Tyres
Aside from flat tyres, it is important to check on a number of other things that can impact your tyres condition. These are:
- Irregular or uneven wear.
- Signs of dry rot, blisters, or cracking.
- Stones or other objects wedged in the tread.
- Wear below the legal requirement.
- Making sure the air pressure is at the right level.
If you do find damage, you’ll need something to fix it – our tyre sealant products have you covered.
Maintaining the Best Tyre Pressure for Different Road Conditions
This might seem obvious, but different road conditions require different tyre pressure levels. Without the optimal level of pressure in your tyre to match the surface you are riding on you’ll find that your motorcycle has decreased performance and increased strain on the bike and tyres. Your load also has an impact on the amount of pressure you need, so adjust accordingly.
The Best Tyre Pressure for Rough Terrain
Sand: Keep your tyre pressure and speed low (10-16psi, 10-15mph). This will give you a greater surface area to build traction with, outputting a lot less pressure onto the surface of the sand. This will allow you to move more easily over the ground rather than trudging through it.
Rough Unsealed Roads: These include rough roads like gravel that haven’t been treated with sealant. Not quite as volatile of a surface as sand, gravel still has a lot of slip and rough sections which can damage your tires, so keeping your tyre pressure and speed at moderate levels (23-29psi, 30-40mph) will give you the best protection and grip.
The Best Tyre Pressure for Roads
Sealed Roads: Sealed roads are standard roads treated with sealant. This allows for a smooth, secure ride with optimal speeds and few possible hazards to the integrity of your tires. This is where you’ll have the maximum potential for tyre pressure and speed (35-38psi, 60-70mph).
Good Unsealed Roads: While sealed roads are usually a lot better to ride on, unsealed roads that have proper maintenance can also provide a decent surface. On a good unsealed road, you can still have a decently high tyre pressure while reaching high speeds (30-34psi, 40-60mph), but it won’t be as good as a properly sealed road.
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What to Do if Your Motorcycle Gets a Flat Tyre
There’s never a good time for a flat tyre. Even so, it will always seem like the worst possible time when a tyre does go. Preventing a flat tyre in the first place through good maintenance and inspection is the best thing to do, but it’s also good to know what to do in the event that you do get a flat.
How To Know if You Have a Flat Tyre
You’ll probably know right away if your tyre is completely flat, but there are a few tells for ones that have started to deflate. If your bike starts to lightly shake, or if it feels like you are losing power, it’s probably a sign one of your tyres has deflated.
There are lots of possible causes for a flat tyre like riding over a pothole, loose nails and screws, tread wear, and more – inspecting and maintaining your tyres regularly can help prevent many of these issues.
Should I Continue to Ride on a Flat Tyre?
No, absolutely not. Flat tyres restrict your control over your motorcycle and may even cause permanent damage to the rim of the wheel. Once you know you’ve got a flat tyre, you should follow these four steps:
- Gently roll off the throttle.
- Avoid any sudden or sharp changes in direction.
- Gently apply the brake of the wheel that isn’t flat, or both if you’re not sure which.
- Slowly come to a halt, pulling onto the side of the road.
Will I Be Able to Repair the Tyre Immediately?
It is highly unlikely you will be able to repair a tyre at the scene unless you’re a mechanic with their tools or have a tyre repair kit on-hand.
Your best bet is to phone someone who can help – a friend or family member who might be able to bring you the right equipment, or your breakdown or insurance company.
If for some reason these aren’t options, your last resort should be to push the bike to somewhere you can get it repaired – not ideal, but it’s still better and safer than riding the bike.
The Best Way to Prepare for a Flat Tyre
Preparing for a flat tyre can keep any impacts it may cause to a minimum. There are some precautions you can take to reduce your chances of getting a flat:
- Regularly checking the tyre pressure, tread levels, and overall condition of the tyre. Riding with low tyre pressure will gradually flatten the tyre and lead to increased wear. Ensuring your bike is in good condition is also a good idea to keep your overall operability and safety at maximum levels.
- Carry a tyre repair kit on your bike. If you’ve got the room, this is a great thing to have. It will only provide a temporary fix, but it can help you get somewhere to get it looked at properly.
When to Replace the Tyres on Your Motorcycle
While the exact lifespan of a tyre is pretty impossible to predict, they usually last about five years. Factors like how often you ride your bike, it’s load, and how thorough you are with tyre maintenance, among other influences, can reduce or extend tyre life expectancy.
You’ll need to replace your tyres if they’re worn or damaged beyond repair, and it’s good to replace them once they get too old to make sure you’re safe on the roads.
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Caring for Your Motorcycle Tyres
Without proper tyre maintenance, your scenic route or exhilarating ride can be ruined. Damage and flats can cost you in more ways than one, so proper care and maintenance is important. You should always perform thorough pre-ride checks, including for your tyres.
Tyres should be cold when assessing things like tyre pressure, as hot tyres will appear to have a deceptively higher pressure than they should.
Prevent Your Tyres from Squaring Off
The manufacturer’s specification, found online or in the manual for your motorcycle or tyres, contains the information you need to maintain the optimum tyre pressure for your bike.
While one pressure will be fine for general use, the same is not true for every situation. If you’re adding things to the bike like a pillion or luggage, make sure to adjust your tyre pressure and suspension to the specifications accordingly.
Riding with the correct tyre pressure will use less fuel and increase the life expectancy for your tyres.
Prevent Your Tyres from Wearing Unevenly
Unless your bike has a single-sided swing arm, chances are you’re at risk of misaligning your wheel (and therefore your rear tyre) while setting the chain tension.
Using a Tru-Tension chain monkey to precisely set the correct tension, and adjusting the rear wheel position evenly using position indicators to ensure the wheel is moving backwards in an aligned, uniform fashion, will help you even out any wear and reduce the chances of a flat or damage overall.
How to Know if Something is Wrong
Unusual vibrations or responses from your motorcycle’s handling may be an indication that your tyres are damaged. Keep your bike upright, ride in a straight line, and grip your handlebars forcefully. Avoid sudden movements and come to a steady, controlled stop to inspect your tyres.
If you suspect you might have a puncture that isn’t visibly obvious, poor water over the tyre, section by section, and look for bubbles or fizzing.
Things to Consider for Repaired Motorcycle Tyres
Our top three things to consider for repaired motorcycles are:
- Never repair the same tyre multiple times.
- Don’t exceed 50mph for the first day after the repair.
- A repaired tyre should never be used to exceed 75mph.
Which Motorcycle Tyres Should You Buy?
While there is no best tyre for a given motorcycle, there is a best option for you. This will depend on how you ride and what you intend to put your motorcycle through over the next few thousand miles.
In our experience, the most invaluable resource when choosing a tyre is owner club forums. For most bikes, there are hundreds of threads filled with insights from experienced riders with knowledge of tyres specifically for your bike. Using these forums can help you get the best fit without having to go through an expensive and time-consuming trial and error process.
Do You Need to Replace Both of Your Tyres at the Same Time?
While it can be expensive to do so, if you’ve got the money then go for it. This will give you the optimum levels of grip on each tyre at once, improving your confidence and safety while riding.
This isn’t the most economical option, however – particularly if you’re a commuter biker. To stick to your budget, the best bet is to get a few extra miles out of your tyres before replacing them; make sure they’re of the same tyre brand and model if you do so!
Should You Replace Your Motorcycle Tyres When You Go Touring?
Yes! Changing tyres abroad can be a massive inconvenience. There’s nothing worse than finally getting off the motorway once you’ve reached your destination to find your tyres are worn and squared off. Making sure you’ve got fresh tyres can avoid all that hassle, and when paired with proper maintenance you’ll be in a great situation for miles of uninterrupted riding.
Precision-Engineered Motorcycle Maintenance Equipment from Tru-Tension
Keeping your tyres maintained and in good condition is one of the easiest ways to improve your safety and performance on the roads. For smooth touring on scenic routes, rough offroad biking, or simply commuting to work, your tyres are at the core of your ride – take care of them, and they’ll take care of you.
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