Your tires are the only thing separating you from the pavement, so it’s a must that you regularly inspect and maintain your tires. Inspecting your tires before every ride is a good habit that every rider should adopt. It’s also important to maintain the proper tire pressure and make sure that your tire treads aren’t worn out.

Inspect Your Tires

It only takes one or two minutes to check your tires. Check the tires closely for any signs of punctures, bulges, or cracks. Make sure you roll your bike forward so you can check the entire surface of each tire.

Check Your Tire Pressure

It is recommended that you check your tire at least once a week.  The best time to check your pressure is when your tires are cool. Check your owner’s manual or on the tires themselves for the recommended PSI, and remember that your tire pressure will increase in the warm months of summer.

If you need to add air to your tires, inflate them to the recommended PSI level. If you put too much air in, just let the air out slowly by depressing the center of the Schrader valve. Check your tires again after a few hours of riding – if you have more than a 10% gain in pressure, that could mean that your tires are working too hard. You should lighten your load or slow down.

Check Your Treads

Tire tread is extremely important for motorcycle riders. Proper tread allows water to channel away from the area of the tire that makes contact with the road, which helps to maintain a better grip. Take a penny and stick it into the groove of your tread. If you have 1 mm or less, you’ll be able to see the top of Abe Lincoln’s head – and that means it’s time to replace your tires. If you have up to 2 mm of tread, you’ve probably got one more season left, depending on how much horsepower you have and how often you ride). If you’ve got more than 2 mm, you’re going to be good for quite a while.

With these tips, you will improve the quality and safety of your ride, as well as help your tires last longer. If you have other questions about your bike’s tires, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 512-735-5151. We’ll be more than happy to assist you with any maintenance questions or needs. If you’re ready to start looking for a new ride, head over to our website and check out our inventory – we have the best selection of used Harleys in Austin.