One of the most important things that every motorcycle rider should know when they’re out on road is checking their motorcycle’s tire pressure. Having low tire pressure can lead to a multitude of problems like losing control of the bike or even a blowout. So suffice it to say, its essential to learn how to check motorcycle tire pressure. Here is a complete guide on how you can check air pressure in your motorcycle tires.
How to check tire pressure on a motorcycle: the ultimate guide
While motorcycles can be incredibly fun to ride, they’re also a lot more difficult to maintain than your average car. And one thing that you have to be especially careful of with your motorcycle are that its tires properly inflated. If you don’t have optimal tire pressure, the motorcycle tires could experience premature wear and could seriously affect your handling. So, the first thing that you need to check if the motorcycle tires have proper pressure is by getting a quality pressure gauge. A tire pressure gauge can help you tell if your tire has the proper tire pressures.
The first step is to determine the optimal tire pressure that your specific motorcycle tires should have. Usually the owner’s manual can tell you the right tire pressures that you should reach. Better known as the Recommended Tire Pressure (RTP), you can sometimes also find this information on the inside of the gas tank door.
You can check the motorcycle tire pressure using the tire gauge, which will tell you if it needs more air. If it does, you should just add the proper pressure accordingly through the valve stem.
What happens if you don’t check the air pressure for your motorcycle tires
Checking the tire inflation pressure is essential, since it can save you from a possible range of issues. For one, not enough motorcycle’s tire pressure can lead to uneven tire wear throughout the tires, which can significantly affect the lifespan of your tires.
Furthermore, not meeting tire pressure specifications can also affect your stability and handling when riding your bike. And if you have trouble controlling your bike because of uneven motorcycle tire pressure, you could even crash.
In terms of long term repercussions for not being careful with your tire inflation pressure is that riding with underinflated tires can put a lot of strain on the engine. This added strain on your engine could even lead to expensive repairs that you easily could have avoided if you just checked with a tire pressure gauge.
The perks of checking motorcycle tire pressure with a tire gauge
Checking the tire inflation pressure for your bike is simple, and for all of the ways that it keeps you safe, it should be a regular part of your maintenance check. By keeping motorcycle tire pressure in check, you can prevent uneven tire wear, which can extend the life of your motorcycle. Keeping the recommended tire pressure can help you avoid under inflated tires, which can improve fuel economy and help your bike run smoothly.
The motorcycle manufacturer will have a recommended tire pressure that you should follow. Make sure you us a quality tire gauge to check the tire pressure, and make sure that you check every time before you head out for the day. Simple insert the tire pressure gauge into the valve stem and just look at the reading. You should also make sure that you check the tire pressure in both the rear wheel and the front wheel.
How often should you check tire pressure for your bike?
Your average motorcycle tire can lose pressure for various reasons like changes in temperature or even because you rode over bumpy roads. If the tire pressure drops too low, it could lead to motorcycle tire failure or could even make it burst. So you should make it a habit to regularly check your tire inflation as part of your tire maintenance. But how often you check your tire comes down to the types of roads you travel on.
If you find yourself off-road or riding down bumpy roads often, then you should be checking the tire pressure more often to see if its up to the value in the motorcycle owner’s manual. As a general rule, you should at least check the tire pressure through the valve stem at least once every month along with the tire tread.
Different ways that you can check your motorcycle tire pressure
By keeping your tires properly inflated according to the owner’s manual, you can improve your fuel efficiency and your bike’s handling characteristics. But when it comes to checking pressure and proper inflation, you have plenty of options. The first way that you can check your motorcycle tire pressure is through a manual gauge that you insert in the valve stem. You can also use an electronic gauge, which functions similarly to a manual one. Finally, some motorcycle manufacturers will even have ways to tell how much air is in a tire. These are just as trustworthy as a reliable gauge.
FAQ
Its important that you keep an eye out for your tires and make sure they have the right pressure to offer a smooth ride. Here are a few answers to frequently asked questions that people have about inflating their tires.
What happens if I under inflate a tire?
Underinflated tires are generally something that you want to avoid, since they can lead to uneven wear throughout the tire, resulting in premature ageing. A bike without enough pressure could even affect the overall performance of motorcycles and add unnecessary strain on the engine. The short answer is that anything bad you could possibly imagine happening can happen if you don’t properly inflate your tires.
Should I check tire pressure on cold tires or warm?
You should always check tire pressure on cold tires, since that’s when they’re most likely to be at their ideal air pressure. But even if you don’t get the chance to check when the tires are cold, you can check your tire pressure specifications when its warm.
What happens when you over inflate a tire?
An overinflated tire will always struggle with its grip, and is at a higher risk of being damaged by road hazards like pot holes.
What’s tire sidewall?
It’s the side of the tire with no grooves on it, providing lateral support and containing lots of numbers that denote speed index, load, diameter, etc.