Checking Your Tires

Take 10, and Check Your Tires

In Virginia you must have 2/32 inch of tread wear remaining to pass the annual safety inspection. But what if that inspection was six months ago? How are your tires now? Have looked recently? If not, then you're probably doing damage to your tires every time you ride by running them under inflated. Take 10 minutes and check your tires from time to time. At a minimum, this will save you money from premature tire wear, and it just might prevent an unpleasant and unexpected slide down the road.

There are three simple things to check: pressure, tread wear, and tire damage. You'll need a good quality air gauge, a flashlight or other light source, and something to measure tread depth (A penny will work for this, as explained later). You'll also need the ability to roll your bike to rotate the tires so you can see all around them.

Begin by checking your tire pressure. This should be done before you ride since the pressure should be measured when the tire is cold. Your owner's manual will provide a recommended pressure for both front and rear. There will probably be a separate set of pressures if you are riding two-up. Pressures outside the manufacturer's recommendations can cause vibration, excessive wear, handling and turning problems, and damage to your tires. If you find that you frequently have to add air to keep the correct pressure, it is likely that you have some sort of damage that needs repair or replacement of your tire.

Next check for tread wear. Most wear on a motorcycle tire will occur in the middle of the tread, so that's where you want to check the amount of tread remaining. There are a couple of easy ways you can do this. The first is to look for the "wear bars" in the groove of the tire. These are small bars of rubber in the groove of the tire. If they are getting close to showing wear you are due for a tire change. Another way is to use the penny method*. Just put your thumb on Abe's face and stick the coin head down into the tire's tread. If you can see all of his head above the tread; you got it - you're overdue for a new tire.

Once you've determined you have sufficient tread remaining, have a look at the wear patterns. Ideally you should see a fairly even amount of wear across the footprint of the tire. If the wear appears excessive in the middle of the tire, your tire pressure is probably too high (or you're overloading your bike). Likewise, if the wear is excessive towards the outer edges you're either running too low a tire pressure, or you're taking way too many corners for normal riding. Also look for signs of uneven wear. This can appear as a cupping in the tread, a raised edge of the tread, or any other evidence of abnormal contact with the road bed.

Finally, check for tire damage. Look for nails or other objects stuck in the tread that would indicate a puncture. Look for cuts and splits in the rubber over all the tire. Bulges and any evidence of a broken belt under the tread or the tread separating from the fabric are all cause for immediate tire replacement. Also check the sidewalls for cracks. Cleaning solutions, oil and gasoline, ozone, and sunlight can all damage the rubber and cause a failure.

If you find anything questionable when doing your inspection, stop by your shop and have your mechanic take a look. With tires, "better safe than sorry" is the only way to go. You only have two of them and they are all that is between you and the road. Ride safely.

* The Dunlop Tire Company recommends the penny method and states tires should be replaced when there is less than 1/32 inch of wear remaining. Please consult your owners manual for the manufacturer's recommendations on your motorcycle.

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