How does low tire pressure affect motorcycle handling?

A kind-of soft tire can be squirmy and squirrelly, and make you think something is wrong with your bike. That low tire will also flex its carcass too much, potentially overheating and causing uneven and premature wear. A too-hard tire won’t have the grip it should, and will also make for a very rough ride.

Can low tire pressure cause unstable handling?

Low Tire Pressure Adversely Affects Handling Low tire pressure hurts your car’s handling as well. When a tire is underinflated, its sidewalls flex more than they were designed to during cornering and braking. The tread, the contact point with the road, squirms. The tire is less stable and has less traction.

What is the correct tire pressure for motorcycles?

28 to 40 psi
Typically, street motorcycle tires are in the 28 to 40 psi range. A label like this may be on the bike that tells you what tire pressures to use for different load conditions.

Can you ride a motorcycle with low tire pressure?

Under-inflated tires can cause a list of safety risks: Decreased handling and riding precision. Poor fuel economy. Poor braking performance.

How does temperature affect motorcycle tire pressure?

Temperature changes impact tire inflation. Temperature has a powerful effect on motorcycle tire pressure. As temperatures rise, tire pressure goes up, while pressures fall with lower temperatures. In fact, every 10-degree change in air temperature causes a two percent change in inflation pressure.

What happens if you ride with underinflated motorcycle tires?

That’s an important fact to be aware of, because prolonged riding with underinflated tires can damage the tire and increase the rate of pressure loss. Temperature has a powerful effect on motorcycle tire pressure. As temperatures rise, tire pressure goes up, while pressures fall with lower temperatures.

Does tire pressure affect handling?

Tire pressures certainly affect handling. Low pressures can make handling heavy and unresponsive. Over-inflated tires can be “squirrelly” and break contact with the road. These effects can be detected when inflation pressures are just a few pounds off optimal.

Should I increase the tyre pressure on my motorcycle tyres?

If you are an aggressive rider who corners hard, carries heavy loads or rides at sustained high speeds, you may consider slightly higher pressures than the motorcycle manufacturer recommends, but make sure they are no higher than indicated on the tyre sidewall.