vons and Harleys are a great match. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a full-on custom, a Sportster 883 or a Buell Lightning Super TT. There’s a great handling, long wearing, all-weather performing Avon for it, and every one of those Venoms, Storm STs and Roadriders in all the right sizes are in stock at Drag Specialties. Getting the right tire for the job is never a problem. Little wonder why Avons are consistently at the top of most tire-shopper’s list.
     But that service doesn’t stop at the sale. Avon goodness is a joint effort, because as good as any tire is and as well as it performs and as long as it’s going to last is due in equal parts to the tire itself and then the care and maintenance it gets once mounted. The best Avon in the lineup won’t last very long or perform anywhere near its potential with only 10 PSI inflation, and that brings up the single most important thing any rider can do for his tires–keep them properly aired-up.
     Tire pressure should be checked daily when you’re on a road trip, at least weekly at home, and all checking should be done on a cold tire. On average a tire will lose about a pound of pressure a month. There’s a wide range of recommendations as to what pressure is correct and it all depends on the bike, the rider, and the use. As a starting point Avon has put together a chart using a 170-pound rider as an example. You might want to keep it handy.



     Right up there with inflation pressure, tread wear needs close attention as well. When any tire is worn to its built-in wear indicators (at 2/32-inch; approx. 1 millimeter) that’s the minimum legal limit and it’s time for a replacement. Noticeable wear on one side of the tread or the other, or flat spots in the center of the tread indicate a problem, too. It can be the tire, the bike or both. Find it and fix it. Riders need to keep an eye on their wheels, too. A bent or cracked rim spells big trouble and must be replaced.
     Here’s something else. New tires need a “scrub in” period if they’re ultimately going to deliver the best mileage and performance. They should be ridden with a light touch for the first couple hundred miles as the compounds in the tread begin working and providing grip and as the tire settles into its proper profile. It’s like breaking in a pair of shoes. Hard acceleration, hard braking, and hard cornering should be avoided until the new tires have acclimated to their new home.
     Mixing tire designs is generally not a good idea, either, although there are exceptions to the rule. You can, for instance, use a bias-ply front with a radial rear in a custom application. It’s okay, but try to replace tires in pairs, and always check the bike manufacturer’s recommendations before switching to anything markedly different than stock. And of course replacing just one tire while leaving the other worn one on is also a no-no. Don’t do it.
Heed the above and those Avons and the Harley they’re mounted on will both live a long, happy, high-performance life. And remember, the most important and most often overlooked part of this whole tire/rider equation is proper tire inflation. Stock plenty of quality pressure gauges, use them and make sure all your customers have one in their tool kits. It’s the single best thing they’ll ever do for a tire.