Before you go on a ride, you should always have tyres on your checklist because it has constant contact with the road. If you recently bought a used set of tyres from a junkyard, it is important for you to see how old the tyre is. Sometimes even if you buy a brand new tyre, you end up finding out that the tyre is actually a couple of years old. So, you must always watch out the age of tyres, in any place that you are getting a really good deal.

Your ignorance to check tyres weekly might get you stuck in the middle of the road with punctured tyres no matter if it's a long or short ride. And, you don’t want to be in that situation, do you? This blog is here to guide you with everything about motorcycle tyres. 

If I keep my bike idle for a long time in the garage, will the tyres get useless?

If your tyre is stored in a cool and dry place, it will create no problem. You have a warranty period on tyres. However, tyres slowly age and can cause high-speed tank-slappers. As the tyre compound hardens, there is a diminishing grip. Most of the tyres should not be used after six or seven years and being able to read the born on date code on the sidewall of tyres helps you to know when to get the tyres replaced. We suggest replacing tyres if it is more than nine years old and must check the tyres for over five years. Never buy such tyres that have no production date. 

Can I reuse my old tubes when I put on a new one?

You should never ever reuse a tube on a tube tyre because these tyre tubes are designed for a short life. Eventually, with time, they grow hard and actually wear. Just because the tube is not flat doesn't mean it needs no replacement. You can get tube failure even at 25 miles.

Remember:  It is important to order a new set of tubes each time you change your bike tyres.

What size tyre do I need?

Most people don’t know the size of their tyres. And, That's completely okay. Everything is written and displayed right on the tyre itself. All you need to do is go to your garage floor and look at the set of numbers and letters written on the sidewalls of black tyres. You see width, aspect ratio, Rim size, date of manufacture, and many more. The letters and numbers that you see on the box indicate week and year. Also, when you look at the tyres,  if you find tiny cracks, that’s the sign of the tyre ageing. 

When should I replace the old tyres?

The treads on tyres push water away and improve grip from getting it into even worse conditions. When the tread reaches below the legal limit of 1.5 mm, you must think of getting it changed. Tread Wear indicator indicates where in the tread pattern you are going. With the Tread Wear indicator bar, you know that your tyre is worn and that it’s time to replace it. Also, when you find that your bike is not gripping the road, you have to think of replacing one. Sometimes nails on tyres cause air leaks.

Let’s make a quick list when motorcycle tyres should be replaced:

• Sidewall puncture
• Damage that can't be repaired
• A tyre with a puncture larger than 0.25 inches
• tyre more than 9 years old
• Weather-checked (cracked around the circumference), often due to UV or fluorescent exposure
• A tyre that has been run with exceedingly low pressure (damage is typically seen as a circumferential ring that looks “rubbed in”)
• A tyre with cuts or slices
• A tyre with missing tread blocks
• A tyre that is worn (less than 2/32 of an inch of tread in any area)
• A tyre displaying tread wear indicators
• A tyre that has cross-section significantly altered (flatter or more pointed due to uneven wear)

How do I purchase the right inner tube and valve system?

Regarding purchasing the right inner tube, there are three things you should really have knowledge on i.e the valve stem type, rim diameter, and tyre width. If the valve stem is coming through the middle of the rim, you need a Center metal valve. Or, from the side, you need a side metal valve tube. This is important because if you don’t do so, it is just going to twist the tube up.

How do I differentiate whether the tyre is tubeless or not? Which is the right tyre for my bike?

It might be a surprise to you sharing that the mix of rubber in the tyre is porous which will eventually leak air. In order to overcome this, fitting a tube with a different rubber mix would contain much better air and have good performance. But, the default with the design is, if it gets punctured, the tube will lose air. Tubeless tyres were designed where tyres gradually deflated. Tubeless tyres still get punctured.  

Motorcycles spec a tyre that’s going to be tubed or tubeless. If you are running tyres with spokes, you need tubes because of the spokes into the rim that leaks air. You have a rim strip that is found around the rim and covers up all the little joints where the spoke meets the wheel. The strip makes a nice smooth surface for the tube to lay on top and not get poked by the spokes that are protruding through the rim. Likewise, tubeless tyres have a smooth surface on the inside of the rim. It totally depends upon your choice of a tyre whether to choose the tyre that gives you great mileage or tyre that’s great in traction and performance. 

What if I use a tubeless tyre in the tube rim? And, is it okay to use tubeless tyres with tubes in it? 

You can put tubeless tyres on tube-type rims. But, you need to check things carefully. If you’re going to put an inner tube inside a tubeless radial tyre, you have to alter the speed rating of the tyres. If you want to get the maximum life out of a set of tyres, we suggest you run the tyre pressure that the manufacturer recommends. 

If you insist on running a tube in a tubeless tyre, the general rule is to treat the setup as one load rating and one-speed rating less than the tubeless tyre says it can handle. That's mainly because your tube and tyre combination will be creating extra heat, especially the harder you ride. They're not made for each other, after all. In short, it probably won't work and it may be unsafe to try.

Is it necessary to check tyre pressure often? What tyre pressures should I use on my bike?

Tyre pressure is necessary to be checked weekly. It controls the amount of heat that builds up in the tyre. If you're running with low tyre pressure, the heat builds up. Then, it affects the cords which slowly destroys the very construction of the tyre. Hence, it is really important for the inflation rates on the tyres. And again, if you over-inflate, you experience an uncomfortable bike ride. You can find it in your owner's manual.