6 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TIRE PRESSURE

The right tire pressure is essential for a more efficient and safer ride. In the event of loss of grip, excessive fuel consumption, strenuous driving, try to measure the pressure before taking the bike to your trusted mechanic.

1. THE 5 THINGS THAT AFFECT TIRE PRESSURE

1. Weight: a pressure that is good for a 70 kg person will hardly be good for a person who weighs much more or much less. 
2. Tire type: some tires have harder carcasses (inner parts) and harder sides, meaning they do not need high pressure like a tire with a soft carcass. 
3. Ambient temperature: the outside temperature will affect the heating of the tires. Setting the rear tire to 2 bar on a cold day will not give you the same performance as setting it to the same pressure on a hot day, because on a hot day tires will warm up more and faster. 
4. Hot and cold pressures: if you set the pressure to 2 bar when the tire is cold, it will not be the same as setting it to 2 bar when the tire is warm. 
5. Road and track tires: Road tires are generally designed to function at higher pressures than track tires because they are not expected to overheat as much. In addition, some track tires have a more rigid structure. 

2. HOW TO TELL IF THE RUBBER IS TOO SWOLLEN

If a tire pressure is excessive, some more or less obvious problems may occur:

• poor grip on asphalt 
• reduced driving comfort (reduced cushioning) 
• irregular tread consumption, especially in the central part 
• greater risk of damage to rims in the event of a crash. 

3. HOW TO TELL IF THE TIRE IS TOO FLAT

If the bike has a flat tire (or both), you may notice some problems:

• The bike seems “heavier” 
• The tread consumption is irregular, especially on the sides 
• The carcass is more prone to damage resulting in greater wear 
• Fuel consumption is higher 
• When driving, you may experience sudden loss of grip 

4. HOW CAN I FIND THE RIGHT PRESSURE FOR MY TIRES?

If you want to understand the perfect pressure declared by your motorcycle company, just check the use and maintenance manual. It is important to remember that these values may differ depending on the load and driving style: however, these are a few tenths of a bar more or less.

A “road” tire used on a motorcycle suitable for everyday driving has a pressure that varies between 2.1-2.3 bar on the front and 2.3-2.6 bar on the rear.

5. HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO CHECK THE PRESSURE OF THE MOTORCYCLE’S TIRES?

As we have seen, tire pressure is something that should not be underestimated. Generally, it would be good practice to check:

• after having traveled many kilometers in a short time; 
• before leaving for a vacation (pay attention to the load); 
• before carrying a passenger. 

Experts told us that a check every 15 days (obviously also based on usage) would be optimal.

6. HOW DO YOU MEASURE THE TIRE PRESSURE OF A MOTORCYCLE

First of all, when the good weather is back, after winter storage, or even after a few hundred kilometers, it is advisable to measure tire pressure. The tip is to have a small compressor at home (for less than €100) and a pressure gauge (less than €20). Avoid gas station pressure gauges, which are often worn and malfunctioning.

First of all, remember that the pressure should always be checked with cold rubber. Remove the valve caps and press the pressure gauge hose attachment to the valve. After inflating the tire slightly, you can release the air until you reach the precise measurement.