Learn about Motorcycle Tires
A Harley-Davidson® motorcycle delivers tons of power to the pavement. It does this because of clever engineering and the careful construction that result in quick engines, smooth handling components, and comfortable riding. However, none of this means anything without a way to contact the road, and that’s done with two of the simplest parts of a motorcycle—the tires. Although they’re not as complex as the other features on a bike, these two strips of rubber are incredibly interesting, and even more, they’re important to keep an eye on. Your safety is important, and one of the first ways to stay safe is by making sure your bike always has good tires. If one of them blows out, it’ll be nearly impossible to maintain control of the bike. Even when they start running low on tread, those corners will get harder and harder to navigate.
So make sure you’re always paying attention to both tires, which we’ll talk about how to do in this guide from Barnes HD. If you have any further questions, or simply need new tires, come on into our dealership or service department in Langley, BC. We’re just a short ride from Surrey, Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Chilliwack, and Abbotsford, British Columbia.
The Important Parts
We’ll start by talking about the basics of every tire. Although this information won’t affect your maintenance procedure much, it’s still good knowledge to have. Your motorcycle tires have four main parts: the tread, carcass, sidewall, and bead. You’re probably familiar with the sidewall, which just supports your bike’s weight. The tread’s also an easy one, since this is the part that makes contact with the road, giving you traction and control of your motorcycle. But the bead isn’t so commonly understood as the first two. This component actually connects the tires to the wheels with a vacuum seal, and it’s essential for safe riding. If this part gets punctured, they won’t rest tightly to the rim, meaning you’ll lose control and air in the tire. Finally, the carcass isn’t talked about so frequently, but it gives a tire structural integrity. This is typically made with a bias ply construction, which is simply a series of cords. These cross each other throughout the inside of the tire, making a web of cords that run at about 30-45 degrees to the tread’s center line. This makes your tires stronger by holding the other components in place.
Quality and Pressure
Although some sources advise to check your pressure weekly or monthly, we recommend getting in the habit of inspecting your tires before every ride. This isn’t a hard habit to get into, and it ensures you’ll notice any damages or significant loss in pressure before you ride. Remember, you never know when you’ll run over a sharp object or when your tires will suddenly lose enough tread to lose traction. To keep an eye on everything, check your tread first. It should have at least 1/”16 of an inch of tread marker all the way around. For the pressure, you should consider investing in a tire pressure gauge. These things are pretty cheap, and they can be lifesavers, because they’ll help you catch a deflating tire before it becomes a serious issue.
Knowing when to Change Tires
When doing your daily inspections, you’ll be able to spot serious issues in time to get new tires. If you notice you’re losing a lot of pressure every ride, that probably means you need to get new ones. Likewise, when your tread markers start running below the recommended point, bring your tires in to get changed out.
Tires are important. There’s no way for your Harley-Davidson to function properly without them, so make sure you pay attention to their pressure and quality at all times. If you’re noticing any other problems with the tires though, feel free to bring your bike into Barnes HD for an inspection. We can fix small issues with tires or set you up with a replacement, right here in Langley, BC. We also proudly serve riders from Surrey, Burnaby, Vancouver, Richmond, Chilliwack, and Abbotsford, British Columbia.