(Tutorial) How to fill motorcycle tyre pressure, by Amirul Zulkifli on YouTube. 2 min.
- Video length
- 2 min
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Find the recommended tyre pressure in your owner's manual or on the sticker on the swingarm or chain guard. Front and rear often differ, and the figure may change with a passenger.
Check the tyres when they are cold, meaning the bike has sat for a few hours or you have ridden less than about 2 km. Warm tyres give a falsely high reading.
Unscrew the valve cap on the front wheel and keep it somewhere safe. Press the gauge firmly onto the valve so no air hisses out.
Read the gauge and write the number down. Repeat on the rear wheel. Compare both figures with the recommended pressures.
If a tyre is low, connect the pump chuck to the valve. Add air in short bursts and recheck with the gauge after each burst so you do not overshoot.
If a tyre is too high, press the small pin in the valve centre with a tool or your fingernail to release air, then recheck.
Refit the valve cap tightly on each wheel. Caps keep dirt and moisture out of the valve.
Squeeze each tyre with your thumb and look for cracks, nails or bulges. A tyre that keeps losing pressure needs a proper check at a shop.
Tips and common mistakes
Under-inflated tyres make the bike feel heavy in corners and wear out faster, so check at least once a week.
Do not trust the gauge on a cheap forecourt pump alone. Use your own gauge for the final reading.
Add a little extra air if you often carry a passenger, but follow the manual's loaded pressure figure.
Never remove a valve core unless you have a tool to refit it, or the tyre will deflate fast.
Questions
What pressure should my motorcycle tyres be?
Use the figure in your owner's manual or the sticker on the bike, not a generic number. It is usually between about 28 and 36 psi, and the rear is often higher than the front.
Can I check tyres after riding to the shop?
A short ride warms the tyres and raises the reading slightly. If you must ride first, add about 2 to 3 psi less than the cold target and recheck when cold.
How often should I check tyre pressure?
Once a week is a good habit, and always before a long trip or when carrying a passenger. Tyres can lose a little air over time even without a puncture.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
