No matter how good your bike, and how comprehensive the electronics package, your tyres are still the only point of contact between your motorcycle and the road.
Manufacturers spend a lot of their R&D budget optimising each and every tyre’s contact patch to suit the application for which that tyre has been designed.
On most front tyres, that contact patch is about the size of a credit card, and about the size of the average wallet on the rear. The size and shape of that contact patch is dependent upon that tyre being run at the correct pressure, changing the way that the load is spread across the tyre and also the amount of heat that builds up in the tyre.
Whether over inflated or under inflated, running an incorrect pressure will affect tyre performance in terms of stability, handling and also lifespan because it alters both the profile and contact patch.
If you’ve ever about the effect it has on lifespan, here’s some approximate figures:
- 20% Over Inflated – 90% Lifespan
- 20% Under Inflated – 85% Lifespan
- 40% Under Inflated – 60% Lifespan
- 60% Under Inflated – 15% Lifespan
To ensure you get maximum value for money from your tyres, you need to ensure your pressures are correct, checking and adjusting them from cold as often as possible.
Ensure you use a calibrated gauge – a garage offering free air is not required to calibrate their equipment.
Don’t just rely on your pressure sensors if you have them, a manual check will provide further peace of mind.
Each major manufacturer will produce their own fitment guide with recommended pressures for your machine which you should consult.
