How To Tell If You Need To Replace Your Motorcycle Tires | MC Garage, by Motorcyclist Magazine on YouTube. 2 min 28 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 28 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Park the bike on level ground and let the tires cool. Cold tires give the truest reading when you check pressure later.
Check the tread depth. Find the TWI marks on the sidewall, then look for the raised bars molded into the tread grooves.
Push a penny into a tread groove with Lincoln's head down. If you can see the top of his head, the tire is worn out.
Run your hand slowly around the tread and sidewalls. Feel for cuts, bulges, nails or cracks, and look closely with a flashlight.
Look at the wear pattern. A flat spot in the middle of the rear tire means it is squared off. Uneven dips on the front sides mean cupping.
Check the date code on the sidewall, a four digit number in an oval. The first two digits are the week and the last two the year.
Set the pressure to the figure in your owner's manual with a gauge. Low pressure speeds up wear and harms handling.
Replace any tire that is at the wear limit, damaged, cracked or very old. Fit a matching pair or follow the maker's advice.
Tips and common mistakes
Check tires before every ride, not just at service time, since damage can appear fast.
A squared-off rear tire still grips in a straight line but makes the bike slow to turn, so plan the swap.
Cupping on the front often points to worn suspension or wrong pressure, so fix that too or the new tire will wear the same way.
Never ride on a tire with a bulge, deep cut or exposed cords. Replace it before you go anywhere.
Questions
How worn is too worn on a motorcycle tire?
When the tread wear indicator bars sit flush with the tread surface, the tire is at its limit. If a penny shows the top of Lincoln's head, replace the tire soon.
Do old motorcycle tires need replacing even with good tread?
Yes. Rubber hardens and cracks with age, so check the four digit date code. Many makers suggest replacing tires around five to six years old, even if the tread looks fine.
Can I replace just one tire?
It is possible, but a worn tire next to a new one can upset handling. Many riders replace both as a pair, or at least match brands and models.
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.
