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Motorcycle Tire Guide 101

Jul. 31 2024 Maintaining a Motorcycle By Willamette Valley Indian Motorcycle®

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Motorcycle tires play a key role in the riding experience. Without them, you would never be able to leave your driveway. But it's not enough to simply have tires. It's important to use tires that are compatible with your motorcycle and that are well-maintained. We've created the following motorcycle tire guide to help you learn the basics of buying, owning, and using motorcycle tires. 

The Parts Of A Motorcycle Tire

A motorcycle tire is made up of a few key components.

  • The tread grips the road and provides traction.
  • The sidewall provides support and handling. It's the side of the tire connected to the height and aspect ratio.
  • The bead is the edge of the tire and grips the rim.
  • The valve stem influences the tire's inflation.
  • The carcass is the body of the tire.

Mixing Tire Brands, Types, Or Sizes

It's best to use the same tires on the front and back of your motorcycle. Different tires could have different tread patterns, construction, size, and other factors that affect the riding experience. Mixing tires can hurt your motorcycle's stability and reduce your control, which can create a risky ride.

Replacing Tires

Motorcycle tires do not last forever. They need to be replaced when one of three situations happens. First, the tire is over ten years old. It's too old to remain reliable and promote a safe ride, which means it's time to replace it. Second, the tire has unsolvable damage. Some issues can be repaired, but some cannot. In that situation, the tire becomes a safety threat and needs to be tossed. Third, the tire's tread is too low. Tread helps the motorcycle maintain traction with the road and gets naturally worn down with each ride. The tread eventually gets so low that it creates a safety risk and the tire needs to be replaced. 

For more tips and information or motorcycle parts and components, stop in at Willamette Valley Indian Motorcycle® here in Eugene, Oregon. Our expert staff will be happy to assist you with all of your motorcycle maintenance needs, and we look forward to serving those nearby in  Corvallis, Oregon.