Straight Talk on Motorcycle Tires
As motorcycle riders, we all love to talk horsepower, customization, and performance upgrades, but none of those things matter if your tires aren’t up to the task. It’s your responsibility to understand where your tires are designed to excel and what areas they may experience limitations. Luckily, top manufacturers these days have lessened what we have to actually compromise on, but there are still important tradeoffs to consider.
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Why Are Tires So Important?
Selecting the right tires is essential, and proper ongoing maintenance should never be overlooked. There’s a phrase you hear all the time in motorcycling, because it’s absolutely true: your tires are the only thing that connects you and your bike to the road. Those two contact patches (each roughly the size of a credit card) are responsible for transferring every input you make, whether accelerating, braking, or cornering. Stability, safety, and confidence all come from having the proper tires in good condition.
When to Replace and Why
Age
Looks can be deceiving. Even if a tire looks fine, it may not be. Age, storage, and usage can all lead to the degradation of the tire’s compound. Rubber, silica, and other elements change or harden as they are exposed to air, moisture, and direct sunlight. Other potential factors like temperature swings, debris from the road, and heat cycles will all contribute to aging a tire and affecting their performance levels.
“Not all tire manufacturers agree on a maximum age for service life of a tire, as there is no universal standard,” says Keith Willcome, Manager of Product Strategy, at Bridgestone. “We recommend that tires are replaced after a maximum of 10 years in service based on date of manufacturing indicated by the date code on the sidewall. While the vast majority of tires will be removed long before 10 years due to wear or damage, a lot can happen to a tire in 10 years which is why Bridgestone aligned with the Japanese Tire Manufacturers Association on the 10 year max recommendation.”
To determine age, you’ll need to find the DOT Date Codes on the sidewalls, which will end in four numbers. The last four digits indicate the week and year the tire was manufactured. For example, “2721” means the tire was made in the 27th week of the year 2021.
Wear
Tires have wear bars that are raised indicators molded into the tread grooves. When the tread wears down to be flush (level) with these bars, the tire has reached the end of its service life, and there’s no debate that it’s time for replacement. Be sure to check these across the profile of the tire since wear can vary at different points from sidewall to sidewall depending on riding style.
It’s difficult to locate and identify these wear bars on some tires. If that’s the case, you can always do the penny trick. Place a penny in a tread groove with the top of Lincoln’s head pointing down – if you can see the top of Lincoln’s head when looking from the side of the groove, your tread is too shallow. You are at or approaching the minimum with a depth of 2/32 of an inch (about 1.6 mm). Remember to check at different points across the tire’s profile as wear may not be consistent.
Occasionally, tires can experience irregular wear and/or cupping. This can be due to improper inflation, overloading weight, or improper balancing. Look for strange patterns that may indicate an issue and have it evaluated by a qualified service professional.
Damage
A visual inspection of your tires should be part of every pre-ride walk-around. Look for cuts, abnormal wear patterns, or embedded objects. Catching a nail or screw early can prevent a dangerous failure at highway speeds. It’s also possible for pot holes with sharp edges to make cuts or gouges. If you discover something, have the tire evaluated by a qualified service professional as soon as possible.
Willcome provided this advice: “There are a lot of tire repair kits out there, like plug kits for road side repairs. Those are good to carry in case of emergency, but it could cause problems down the road if any tire is repaired from the outside without taking it off the rim, fully inspecting it, plugging, and patching it. Removing the tire for inspection is a critical step in the repair process as it can reveal unknown damage. The glued-in ‘plug and patch’ solution seals the tire against water and dirt intrusion as well as sealing the air chamber. If you have to make a road side repair, ride with caution and get the tire fully inspected and repaired at a shop as soon as possible.”
Some vibrations, uneven wear, or strange handling could be caused by improper mounting and balancing, or alignment and suspension issues. Remember to consider this as well if you’re experiencing problems. Your tires may be functioning perfectly, but if they are consistently being pushed beyond their limits, it may be a good idea to research replacements that will be more suitable for your riding style and use.
What to Look for When Buying Replacement Tires
Size Matters
Always start with the correct tire size for your wheels and bike. Approved rim widths, sidewall height, and tire diameters exist for a reason, but some riders still try to experiment. Changing sidewall height or overall diameter can affect geometry, clearance, and suspension travel, and in some cases, lead to rubbing as the suspension compresses while riding. If you purchased your bike used, look up the original tire size in case the previous owner deviated from the manufacturer’s specifications.
Tube or Tubeless
Most street-legal motorcycles run tubeless tires today, but there are still many cruisers, dual sports, ADVs, and vintage bikes that run tubes and tube-type tires. Size, construction, and riding type, play a role, so do your research to find the appropriate replacement.
Riding Style
When shopping for tires, consider your riding style and performance needs, such as grip, longevity, wet vs. dry, and on-road vs. off-road. Top manufacturers offer versatile options that handle varied weather conditions, as well as products for specialized use.
Ask yourself realistically:
- What would benefit me the most from my tires?
- How do I actually ride?
- Am I commuting, touring, riding twisties, or mixing surfaces (on/off-road)?
- Do I need mileage, grip, comfort, fuel economy, or versatility most
Important Information to Consider
If you have a larger, heavier bike, sometimes they call for “reinforced” versions of tires, which usually have the same load rating but are designed to carry a heavier average load throughout the life of the tire. Refer to your owner’s manual and consult a qualified service professional.
Never use race tires or slicks on public roads. Without heat, they don’t have the grip you may expect. It’s almost impossible to get them warmed up properly on public roads and very unlikely to keep that needed heat going. Tire manufacturers make high performance street-legal options that will give you more grip than a slick that’s not up to temperature.
Never mount a car tire on a motorcycle. There’s a reason motorcycle tires have a curved profile from sidewall to sidewall. If tire mileage is your priority, find a touring option that focuses on wear-life.
Proper Tire Maintenance
Storage
- Park on dry surfaces and avoid prolonged sunlight exposure.
- Store your motorcycle(s) inside a garage if possible.
- If you already have a new set of tires but don’t plan on mounting them for a while, store them inside (climate controlled) in large plastic bags, cinched and taped shut. This helps to preserve compound integrity and performance.
Air Pressure
Your bike will have manufacturer’s recommended air pressures. Some riders will adjust for specific reasons (such as performance, safety or tire life), but don’t stray too far and always check pressures on “cold” tires that haven’t been ridden within three hours.
- Low inflation pressures lead to excessive heat buildup (from flexing), mushy handling, and accelerated wear.
- High inflation pressures reduce the contact patch and grip (especially over bumps) and harshen the feel of the ride.
- It’s a good idea to be familiar with the accuracy of your tire pressure gauge.
Check tire pressures regularly, especially before long trips. Tire pressure is among the most important and overlooked factors in a motorcycle’s safety and performance.
If you want your bike to feel better, ride safer, and perform at its best, start where the rubber meets the road. You’ll feel the difference every time you roll out if you choose tires that match how you ride and keep an eye on pressure and wear.
Disclaimer: Each motorcycle is unique. Always follow the vehicle manufacturer’s guidelines and procedures outlined in the owner’s manual. This article focuses on DOT certified motorcycle tires and does not specifically discuss non-DOT tires used for motocross/dirt bikes/etc.
Andrew Little
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