ires aren’t just important, they’re mega-important. No matter what brand or style is chosen it’s critical that a rider pay close attention to his tires, their condition and their maintenance. Here are some of the most important bike-tire considerations to keep in mind and they’re coming direct from Avon. Take a look, and take heed…

     Check it daily when you’re on a road trip and weekly when at home. On average, tires lose about a pound of pressure a month. This is the single most important tire maintenance procedure you’ll ever do. There’s a wide range of recommendations as to what’s correct, but it all boils down to the bike, its rider, how that bike is used and where it’s used. Avon has put together a chart using a 170-pound rider as an example. It’s a great starting point and always check the pressure when the tire is cold.


     Sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how often this isn’t done. Tires marked “Front” belong on the front, tires marked “Rear” go on the back. Some tires just have a directional arrow and some have a dual directional arrow; that’s a universal tire and can be used as a front or a rear. Replacing just one tire while leaving the other worn one on or mixing construction styles should be avoided, although you can mix a bias front with a radial rear in cases of custom applications or on certain bikes such as a BMW F650 or Triumph Tiger. Try to replace tires in pairs, especially performance tires, and carefully check the bike manufacturer’s recommendations before switching to anything that’s markedly different than stock.

     To get the most life and best performance from a new set of tires they should be ridden with a light touch for the first couple hundred miles. A “scrub in” period helps settle the tire into it’s proper profile (like breaking in a pair of shoes) and also allows the compounds within the tire to start working and providing grip. Hard acceleration, hard braking, and hard cornering should be avoided until the new tires have acclimated to their new home.

     When any tire is worn down to its built-in wear indicators at 2/32-inch (approx. 1 millimeter) it’s at the minimum legal limit and should be replaced. Noticeable wear on one side of the tread or the other, or flat spots in the tread, indicate a problem, too. The problem can be with the tire, the bike or both. And keep an eye on the wheels. A bent or cracked rim must be replaced.

     All this is just a starting point for safe riding on safe tires. There are plenty of other considerations, too, but none more important and more often overlooked than that first one, proper tire inflation. Dealers should stock quality pressure gauges, make sure all their customers have one in their tool kit and remind them to use it often. It’s the best thing they’ll ever do for a tire, and that’s coming straight from Avon, the folks who should know.