There are many aspects of the motorcycle that are important for our safety, but perhaps the most important of all are the tires. Obviously if the brakes fail, the engine seizes… we will have problems, but those will be specific problems. However, if our tires are not in good condition, we will be in trouble. So the question is: do you know when to change the tires on your motorcycle?
There are several cases in which they must be changed, so it is important to be aware of them and thus not get scared. Let's go over them one by one so that you know when to change the tires.
Wear
This is the first factor that we are going to take into account. In addition, it is easy to check and you don't have to be very knowledgeable to know if we are wearing out the tires. All street tires have treads and within those treads are the wear indicators. Although these witnesses indicate the moment when the tire must be changed to comply with the law, the ideal is not to wait for that point to arrive.
It can also happen that this wear occurs unevenly. For example, on motorcycles that circulate a lot on the highway, it may be the case that the central area of the tread becomes flattened and the sidewalls are almost brand new. They also have to be changed, because in the end the tread is what, as a general rule, will give us grip when braking. And that's not to mention that a tire that stays square is a real challenge when turning the bike in corners.
Tire age
It is an extremely important point, especially for those who do not use the motorcycle and think that the only thing to look out for is that the tire does not wear out. As a general rule and depending on the manufacturer, you will have between 5 and 10 years maximum, during which the tires will not lose their properties.
After that time and even if the external appearance of the tire seems correct, it may not be correct and it may not have the grip it should. Furthermore, in extreme cases the different internal layers could separate, which would be even more problematic. It is important to know that if you do not use your motorcycle much, having the wheels elevated and at a constant temperature and without cold or heat will increase its durability.
Physical damages
It seems so obvious that it practically doesn't even have to be mentioned, but many times we trust ourselves. Beyond a puncture, which if repaired with a “worm” can cause deformations and some problems, you must be on the lookout for cuts or bulges. This type of damage can contribute not only to punctures, which would be a setback, but also to blowouts, which are always more complicated.
You know, you always have to pay attention to the tires and, if you can, have a surplus so you can change them quickly and not wait until the end of the month or the extra pay to do it. In the end, the best investment you can make for a motorcycle is in safety.
