When should I change my tires?

 

 Are your tires tired?

The tire is the only point of contact between your motorcycle and the road. Hence it’s essential to maintain the quality and performance of your tires as ignoring these may have a negative effect on vehicle performance and compromise the safety of the user and third parties.

One should check tires regularly. Tires which are checked regularly last longer.

Wear is the most common reason to get fresh rubber, but damage and age can also be grounds for replacement. 

In, practice, you are advised to make a weekly check on:

• the condition of your tires
• the tread depths
• any damage due to impacts or any abnormal sign of wear

and check your tire pressures before every ride (A firm kick would suffice).

REASONS FOR CHANGING YOUR TIRES

1. The tire is punctured

Punctured doesn't always mean losing air. Motorcycle tires are very strong and capable of withstanding a lot of impacts, tires may sometimes puncture and hold their air alongside the object of puncture.

If this happens, it should be examined by a professional. He alone can make sure that the interior of the tire does not suffered more damage, when removing the sharp object.

If your tire doesn't hold and you suffer a flat tire out on the road, here are a few safety tips to follow:

• Your passenger’s safety and your own is THE priority: make sure you stop your bike in a protected area well away from the road
• Turn the engine off
• Switch on your hazard lights
• Put on your high-visibility jacket
• Place your warning triangle at a distance of about 50 metres back down the road from your vehicle

And remember: Your safety comes first!

2. The legal wear limit is reached

How do you make a regular check on the wear of your tires? Simple.

Most tires come with the tire wear indicator as pictured below:

When the top of the indicator rubber becomes even with the rest of the tire (as in the pic below), the tire has reached the legal wear limit of 1 mm. Note: The generally accepted regulation is 1⁄32 inch. 

 Whatever the case, even with a more than 1 mm of wear left, your safety depends on adapting your speed and riding style to the external conditions, particularly on wet roads.

3. The tires show signs of aging

It’s difficult to predict how long a tire can be used. It doesn’t depend on their date of manufacture. Tires which have never been used, or just used occasionally, may show signs of aging.
Several factors may affect the service life of tires: climatic conditions, conditions of storage and use, load, speed, inflation pressure, maintenance, riding style, etc.
Each of them may alter the expected service life considerably.

For all these reasons, it is recommended that all riders should regularly spend a few minutes on checking their tires so as to detect any external signs of aging or wear, such as deformation or crazing on the tread, shoulder or sidewalls, etc. 

Better get your tires checked by a professional mechanic, from time to.

4. The tire is damaged

A pavement, a hole or a blunt object can seriously damage a tire. Any perforations, cuts or deformations must be examined carefully.

As a general rule, you should be aware that you should not ride on a damaged tire or one which has been run flat except it is absolutely important (Security, emmergency and such).

Immediately physical damage is noticed, a mechanic should have a look at and replace the damaged tire.

5. The tire shows abnormal wear

Abnormal tread wear – located at certain points, at the centre or on the shoulders – is often a sign of a mechanical problem (worn shock absorbers, transmission, brackets, etc.) or a balancing fault.
It can also be the consequence of unsuitable inflation pressure.

To prevent any irregular wear, get the balancing of your wheels checked every 6 months.
This operation will extend the service life of your tires and give you a more comfortable ride.
Additionally, you may feel that tire wear is exaggerated in comparison with the mileage covered or other bikes ridden in exactly the same way as yours.

In these cases, contact your specialist.

6. The tires do not suit your vehicle

Select your tire in accordance with legislation and the type of fitment recommended for the vehicle. For optimum performance, it’s preferable to use front and rear tires with the same tread pattern.
Tires of different designs, tread patterns and degrees of wear may affect the vehicle’s road-holding and its stability.

Unless specifically stated by the manufacturer, it is unadvisable to fit a radial tire and a bias-ply on the same motorcycle.