How to Check Motorcycle Tire Pressure the Right Way

A car with a soft tire just feels a little vague. A motorcycle with a soft tire turns slowly, wobbles in corners and can overheat the carcass on a long highway run. Yet many riders only check motorcycle tire pressure when a tire looks flat, which on a bike means it is already far too low. Two contact patches, each about the size of a credit card, carry you and the machine, so a few psi either way changes how the bike behaves.

I have ridden and wrenched on bikes for twenty years, and pressure is the cheapest safety check there is. Here is how to do it properly.

Why motorcycle tire pressure matters more than on a car

A car tire that is 4 psi low loses a little fuel economy. A motorcycle tire 4 psi low on a typical 36 psi rear is more than 10 percent under, and you feel it: the bike resists turning in, then drops into corners suddenly. Low pressure also makes the sidewall flex more, which builds heat. On a long ride at speed that heat can damage the tire from the inside without any visible sign.

Over inflation has its own problems. The contact patch shrinks, so grip falls, especially on cold or wet roads. The ride turns harsh and the center of the tread wears faster.

Motorcycle tires also lose air faster than car tires. Small volume means a small leak shows up quickly, and most riders find a loss of 1 to 2 psi per week is normal. If you check monthly, you may be riding 6 psi low by the end of it.

Find the right pressure for your bike

The correct figure comes from the motorcycle maker, not the tire sidewall. The number molded on the sidewall is the maximum the tire can hold, not what your bike needs.

Look in three places:

• The owner's manual, usually in the specifications section.
• A sticker on the swingarm, chain guard or under the seat.
• The manufacturer's website for your model and year.

Typical figures for road bikes sit around 32 to 36 psi front and 36 to 42 psi rear. Many manuals list a second, higher rear figure for riding with a passenger or luggage, often 2 to 4 psi more. Use it whenever you carry a load.

How to check motorcycle tire pressure step by step

You need a decent gauge and five minutes. Do it before you ride, not after.

1. Check cold. The tire should have sat for at least three hours or covered less than about 2 miles. Riding warms the air inside and can raise the reading by 2 to 4 psi, which hides an under inflated tire.
2. Put the bike on its center stand or a paddock stand if you have one. It makes the valve easy to reach. On a side stand, roll the bike until the valve sits at the bottom or side.
3. Remove the valve cap and keep it in your pocket so it does not roll away.
4. Press the gauge on firmly and straight. A short hiss is normal. A long hiss means the gauge is not sealed, so reseat it.
5. Read the figure and compare it to the cold pressure in your manual.
6. Add air in short bursts and recheck after each one. If you go over, press the valve core gently with the back of the gauge to let some out.
7. Refit the valve cap. It keeps dirt out of the valve core, which is a common cause of slow leaks.

Valve access on tricky wheels

Many bikes have the valve squeezed between brake discs or close to the hub. An angled valve extension or a gauge with a 90 degree head makes this much easier. A right angle metal valve stem, fitted at the next tire change, is a worthwhile upgrade for about 10 to 15 dollars.

Choosing a gauge you can trust

Gas station gauges are often abused and out by several psi. Buy your own and keep it in your tank bag or under the seat.

Compare your gauge with a friend's or a shop's every few months. If two good gauges disagree by more than 1 psi, replace the cheaper one.

The "drop pressure for more grip" myth

You will hear riders say they let a few psi out for more grip on a twisty road or a cold day. The idea comes from racing, where riders do run lower pressures. But that advice depends on tire warmers, race compounds and track temperatures that a road tire never reaches.

On the road, a softer tire builds extra heat in the sidewall, wears unevenly and makes the steering feel vague. Any extra grip is small and short lived, and you give up stability under braking. Unless your tire maker publishes a specific lower figure for a use such as light off road riding, stick to the motorcycle maker's numbers. Grip on a cold morning comes from smooth inputs and a few gentle miles to warm the tire, not from a lower pressure.

Build pressure into your riding routine

Check pressure at least once a week, and before every long ride. Combine it with a quick look at the tread and sidewalls for cuts, bulges or embedded stones. Our guide on checking tire tread depth with a coin or gauge covers the tread side of that inspection, and the legal limits apply to bikes as well as cars.

If you are getting a bike back on the road after time off, pressure is the first thing to check. Tires can lose 10 psi or more over a winter. Our guide to storing a motorcycle for winter explains how to keep them in better shape during storage, and checking chain tension and lube at the same time makes a sensible pre ride routine.

Frequently asked questions

What should my motorcycle tire pressure be?

Use the cold pressure listed in your owner's manual or on the sticker on the swingarm or chain guard. Most road bikes run around 32 to 36 psi front and 36 to 42 psi rear. Add the manual's higher rear figure when carrying a passenger or heavy luggage.

How often should I check my motorcycle tire pressure?

Check at least once a week and before every long ride. Motorcycle tires commonly lose 1 to 2 psi per week, so monthly checks are not enough. Always check cold, before the bike has been ridden more than a mile or two.

Is it OK to ride with low tire pressure on a motorcycle?

Only gently, to the nearest place where you can add air. Low pressure makes the bike steer slowly, reduces stability and builds heat inside the tire. If a tire is noticeably soft, ride slowly and avoid highways until it is properly inflated and checked for a puncture.