Most riders realise their bike’s sole connection to the unforgiving asphalt is a thin, pliable hoop of rubber encircling the wheel. What many bikers don’t realise though, is how crucial their motorcycle’s relationship with this rubber really is. “Co-dependent” would not be an understatement here.
No matter how hard I try, I just can’t stress enough how important it is to look after your motorcycle tyres. I’ll debate the issue with mates who insist that a motorcycle’s engine is more important than its rubber.
On that issue, I can’t say who’s right. Both a motorcycle’s engine and a good set of rubber are important, but I also can’t seem to get them to agree that bike tyres are just as critical an issue. Not to mention other key factors that directly influence their bike’s performance…like the right gear selection, correct engine tuning, the fact they ride like a nana…
First of all, the tyres literally “go” with the bike that they’re put on. They have to match. Every single tyre is built to accommodate the demands of a certain bike and it addresses every issue from tread style, bias, materials and more, all the way to riding style (racing, street use, cruising etc).
Second, the front and rear tyres on most motorcycles are different from each other. Every tyre is engineered to perform a specific way depending on its placement (front or rear) and if you put a tyre on the wrong end, you’re not only dragging down the performance of the tyre, you’re also dragging down the performance of the entire bike. What’s more – you’re risking a severe crash considering that the back tyre is designed to provide acceleration and the front tyre is engineered to provide braking power.
Third, the back wheel is built to carry more weight than the front wheel and it’s also built to simply lean. The front wheel however is built to lean as well as to turn left and right. I don’t want to imagine what could happen if tyres were mounted in the wrong ends.
Good working tyres will considerably contribute to the wonderful experience that only motorcycling can afford as well as to a safe ride. Motorcycle tyres can also be expensive, so you’re well advised to take good care of them.
Below you’ll find nine tips that will help extend the life of any motorcycle tyre regardless of its type or use.
Tip #1 – Keep your tyres at the right pressure. They will perform better and last longer. Always carry a pressure gauge in your bike and check air pressure at least once a week. Under inflated or over inflated tyres will wear out faster and can compromise your safety.
Tip #2 – When mounting new tyres, always balance the tire and rim. This will avoid vibration while riding as well as premature tyre wear.
Tip #3 – Every new tyre could use a good break-in period. This will enhance your tyres’ performance over their lifetime of service. After installing new tyres on your motorcycle, take the bike out for a few easy and light rides just for the purpose of breaking in the new rubber. After the first 100-200km the new tyres should be stable enough to accommodate fast accelerations, hard cornering and sharp breaking. Otherwise you could be faced with imbalance, low tyre life and differing profiles on both the front and rear.
Tip #4 – When possible, keep new tyres out of direct sunlight. Whether they’re on a motorcycle or not, direct sunlight (or more precisely, UV radiation) will chemically change the tyre compounds and weaken bonds, dry the tyres and make them brittle ahead of time.
Tip #5 – Never mount a front tyre on the back of the bike or a rear tyre on the front. The front and rear tires of a motorcycle have completely different design profiles.
Tip #6 – Replace motorcycle tyres at the same time. If you ride a motorcycle with an old worn tyre in the front and a spanking brand new one in the back, the bike’s stability will decrease and create a dangerous riding environment.
Tip #7 – Don’t mix radials with bias-ply motorcycle tyres. Each one of these different types of tyre gives a motorcycle a specific type of handling characteristic. Mixing them will only create an unstable condition, a rougher ride and it will decrease the ability to hug corners.
Tip #8 – Clean tyres with mild soap solution and rinse with plain clear water. Clean your tyres frequently and especially after a long ride or after riding on rough terrain. Oil, gas, and street debris can degrade the tyre’s compounds faster than usual. Take the time to clean off the tyres so that their treads can a) move the way that they were designed to move, b) maximise grip and friction, and c) stabilise the bike.
While cleaning your tyres, inspect them carefully and look out for cracks, stones in the treads, nails, small children stuck to the rims, etc.
Tip #9 – Do not overload your bike. Heavy add-ons can have a significant impact on the lifetime, the durability and the performance of motorcycle tyres. If you are planning to add a sidecar, saddlebags and/or other heavy accessories, ask your motorcycle dealer about your bike’s tyres and which ones would be most appropriate for the intended purpose.
The most important thing to remember when choosing motorcycle tyres is: The type of tyre you select must match the type of bike you ride and there really isn’t any getting around it.
Now get out there you crazy kids and enjoy the spring weather!
