Tires, Tires, Tires

Harley riders are always looking for ways to improve the performance of their hogs.  From pipes to pistons, batteries to brakes and everything in between, there is no shortage of ways a person with a creative mind (and a little spending money) can personalize their Harley to fit their individual riding comforts and performance preferences.  And one thing that entails performance, aesthetics and safety like few other things on your Harley is the tires you put under you.  And while everyone who rides (and not surprisingly, even some who don’t ride) have opinions on which tires are the best or ride the smoothest in rain or last the longest,  there are some tire facts that are pretty standard across the board, regardless of tire brand or style.

Let’s talk proper tire inflation.  It doesn’t matter how much you spend on a set of tires.  Nor does it matter if you ride on the interstate, through crosstown traffic, or just to the beach and back.  If you aren’t riding on properly inflated tires, you’re riding on borrowed time.  Under or over inflating your tires, whether on purpose or through neglect can lead to tires that wear improperly and that don’t function to their best abilities.  Routinely checking tire pressure will also help you to catch other potential tire and wheel issues like missing spokes, bent rims or tire imperfections and debris that may have punctured the tire.  These aren’t just performance issues:  these are safety issues.

Another thing that many people don’t fully understand is what the proper tire pressure actually is for their tires.  Manufacturers put the proper inflation pressure on the tires themselves, but be aware that the load rating includes the maximum pressure the tire can safely handle at maximum load.  Unless you are riding your bike at maximum load, this pressure will be too high for normal riding conditions.

Make sure you check your tires often, especially in the hotter months, as temperature fluctuations can cause  tires to react accordingly.  Proper tire maintenance will lead to longer happier rides for you and a better return on your investment when it comes to your sweet Harley.