Your motorcycle tyres not only offer you a needed grip but also helps in maintaining rider safety. Having the right pressure in your motorcycle tyre is important to have a smooth and safe ride. Therefore, maintaining your bike’s tyre pressure prevents them from premature wear and provides you with the best traction control on the road. With that, we have compiled a guide to explain how to check and manage motorcycle tyre pressure for better fuel economy.
Steps to Check Motorcycle Tyre Pressure
Checking motorcycle tyre pressure is an easy task. The optimum motorcycle tyre pressure varies from one to another. Also, your bike usage is an added variable to decide the required tyre pressure. For instance, if you ride with heavy luggage on the back then the required PSI should be a bit higher.
That said, motorcycle manufacturers recommend the pressure for both front and rear tyres in the owner’s manual. This ensures that you load the motorcycle and set the pressure accordingly.
Let’s find out how to check motorcycle tyre pressure and manage it properly.
Consult Owner’s Manual
Have the vehicle manual handy and confirm the pressure indicated by the manufacturer — in the case of custom wheels, check with a specialist.
Check the Tyre Pressure When It is Cold
Always check the motorbike tyre pressure when the tyres have not been driven or when they have been driven very little. When you ride a motorcycle, tyres heat up and increase air pressure. If you check the tyre pressure after riding a bike for a while, it will appear that your tyres are over-inflated and you may get the wrong reading and adjust the pressure.
It is recommended that you check your motorbike tyre pressure when the vehicle has driven less than 2 km. This will give a realistic reading of your tyre pressure. If necessary, it can be adjusted by adding air if there is low pressure.
Have Your Tools Handy
The first and most important point to checking the inflation of motorcycle tyres is to have a digital pressure gauge to measure the motorbike tyre pressure correctly.
Adjust the tyre gauge to the number of pounds (PSI) or bars indicated by the manufacturer or specialised professional. Always do it with a quality pressure gauge, because some that are installed in gas stations and are free to use are unreliable, they are usually in the sun and this is already a determining factor.
The usual values of pressure for tyres on the road range between 2 bar in the front tyre and 2.5 bar in the rear tyre, before entering the circuit these must be lowered to 2.2 bar and 2.5 bar respectively.
Properly Place the Gauge on the Valve
Place the gauge well on the valve, otherwise, you will measure the pressure partially. Don’t forget to move the valve and make sure it doesn’t lose air. Squeeze the calliper hose lock (if fitted) and put it onto the wheel valve. In case of leakage, remove and reposition the hose to the valve.
Wait for the Final Reading
Wait for the equipment’s final whistle, indicating that the ideal pressure is already established in the tyre, and remove the hose. Securely reinstall the tyre valve caps. to prevent wear, clogging and corrosion.
Adjust the Pressure Accordingly
Once you know the tyre pressure, adjust accordingly to get the required pressure. If the pressure is high, deflate the tyre and if the air pressure is low, inflate it.
Repeat the Process
Repeat the process for the other tyre. You may need to readjust the gauge as required, between the front and rear wheel.
Causes of Tyre pressure loss
There are several reasons:
- If the tyre valve is leaky, the air loss will be faster than normal.
- The old and rusty rims can also damage the tyre and result in loss of pressure.
- If your vehicle is parked for a longer period, the motorcycle tyres get direct sun exposure and lose air faster than other tyres.
- A puncture caused by a nail or any other sharp thing can cause a slow and steady pressure loss.
During your monthly check, if you notice a significant difference between one tyre and the rest, it could be a sign of a malfunction. In this case, request verification by a professional. You must change motorcycle tyres before they cause any damage.
FAQs
How often should you check your tyre pressure?
There is a small amount of air loss that is normal, regardless of the age and wear level of your tyres. As the tyre circulates, it loses some air. Therefore, we recommend that you check your tyre pressure once a month to avoid any damages and risks.
Should we also check the pressure of the spare tyre?
Often the spare tyre is overlooked in the tyre pressure check process. However, if your vehicle has a spare tyre, you should be able to count on it in case one of your tyres gets punctured. The spare tyre also needs to be checked regularly, even if it is not used daily. Hence, don’t forget to check the pressure as well.
These simple and basic tips on how to check and maintain motorcycle tyre safety will help you ride safer and extend the life of your motorcycle tyres. Also, if your motorcycle stops suddenly in the middle of the road, here is how to jump-start a motorbike.
Incorrectly inflated motorcycle wheels can be a risk factor when driving, reducing adherence to the road and increasing the braking distance. This can also lead to an accident and your tyres may also suffer irregular and premature wear. If your motorcycle tyres aren’t well maintained and you are planning to buy a used motorcycle in the UAE, don’t forget to check its tyre wear.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s popular auto blog for more motorcycle maintenance tips.
Related Posts
