Motorcycle Tire Pressure - Everything you Need to Know, by Big Rock Moto on YouTube. 17 min 28 s.
- Video length
- 17 min 28 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Find the recommended pressures in your owner's manual or on the sticker on the swingarm or frame. Note the front and rear figures for solo riding and for a loaded bike.
Check the tyres when they are cold, meaning before you ride or at least an hour after stopping. Hot tyres read higher and give a false result.
Remove the valve cap and press the gauge firmly onto the valve stem. Read the number and compare it with the manual figure.
Add air with a pump or compressor if the reading is low. Add a little at a time and recheck, since it is easy to overshoot.
Let air out if the reading is too high. A small press on the valve core releases air quickly, so check again after each burst.
Set street pressures to the manual figures for normal grip and tyre life. Lower pressures increase the contact patch but can make the bike feel vague.
For dirt or gravel, air down in small steps, for example 2 to 4 psi at a time, to gain traction and comfort. Stay above the minimum your tyre and rim can take.
Refit the valve caps and note your settings. Pump the tyres back up to street pressure before riding on tarmac again.
Tips and common mistakes
Always measure cold, because sun, hot tarmac and hard riding raise pressure and skew your reading.
Airing down too far risks pinch flats and rim damage, so check your tyre sidewall and manual for a safe minimum.
Check pressure at least once a week and before any long trip, since tyres slowly lose air.
Buy a decent gauge and use the same one each time so your readings stay consistent.
Questions
Should I use the pressure on the tyre sidewall?
No. That number is the tyre's maximum load rating, not your bike's setting. Use the figures in your owner's manual or on the bike's sticker.
How much should I air down for dirt?
Start with small drops of 2 to 4 psi from your street setting and test the feel. Stay above the minimum listed by your tyre maker to avoid pinch flats.
Why do my tyres read higher after a ride?
Friction and heat raise the pressure inside the tyre. That is normal, so always set and check pressures when the tyres are cold.
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.
