Greetings all!

Hope you are all enjoying your summer and getting lots of riding in. This months editorial concerns the single biggest improvement you can make to your bikes handling, comfort and safety- tires.  There is nothing like new tires to change the way your bike feels. Tires get hard and cracked with age, and the rubber breaks down from UV exposure. They are subjected to tremendous stresses, especially the rear tire which generally wears out quicker. It is not necessary to change both front and rear at the same time but they should be properly matched, and be mindful of the rotation arrows. As a rule age should not exceed 10 years regardless of how much tread is left. Check the date code on the side wall. It is a four digit number indicating the week and year of production. Proper inflation is the key to long tire life. A general rule for classic bike tires is inflate to 32 psi when cold which will increase to about 35 psi after tires warm up from riding, but modern sport bike tires are different so refer to the manufacturer’s recommendation. Tire pressure should be increased to adjust for heavy loading and possibly decreased for wet riding conditions.

Be safe, have fun!

Norm

August, 2025