Correct tyre pressure is essential for predictable handling, stability, grip and even tyre wear. There is no single pressure that suits every motorcycle, because the correct setting depends on the bike, its load and how it is being used.
For normal road riding, the motorcycle manufacturer’s recommended cold tyre pressures should always be the main reference. These figures are usually listed in the owner’s manual and may also appear on a sticker or plate on the motorcycle.
What tyre pressure should a motorcycle use?
Many road motorcycles use pressures somewhere around 2.2–2.5 bar at the front and 2.5–2.9 bar at the rear, but these figures are only general examples.
A lightweight motorcycle, a powerful sports bike, a large touring machine and a heavy cruiser can require very different pressures.
Tyre size alone is therefore not enough to determine the correct pressure. The same tyre size can be fitted to motorcycles with very different weights, suspension layouts and performance levels.
Check pressures when the tyres are cold
Tyre pressure should normally be checked before riding, when the tyres are cold.
As a tyre is used, its temperature rises and the air inside expands. This naturally increases the measured pressure.
A warm tyre should not normally have air released simply because the reading is higher than the specified cold pressure. Once the tyre cools, the pressure will fall again.
Road riding
For everyday road use, follow the cold pressures specified by the motorcycle manufacturer.
These pressures have been chosen with the motorcycle’s weight, chassis, suspension, intended tyre sizes and normal operating conditions in mind.
Using an arbitrary pressure copied from another motorcycle with the same tyre size is therefore not a reliable method.
Riding with a passenger and luggage
A passenger, panniers and other luggage increase the load carried by the tyres, particularly the rear tyre.
Some motorcycles have separate pressure recommendations for solo riding and for riding with a passenger or heavy luggage. If the manufacturer provides different values for increased load, those figures should be used.
Do not simply add extra pressure beyond the manufacturer’s recommendation because the motorcycle is heavily loaded.
Before a long trip, check the pressures with cold tyres and make sure the motorcycle is not loaded beyond its permitted limits.
Tyre pressure on a track day
Track riding places very different demands on tyres.
Hard acceleration, braking and repeated cornering generate considerably more heat than normal road riding. For this reason, manufacturers of sports and racing tyres may specify different pressures for circuit use.
Some tyres have a recommended cold starting pressure as well as a target pressure when hot.
There is no universal track pressure that works for every motorcycle tyre. Always use the recommendations for the exact tyre model being ridden.
Before returning to normal road use, reset the pressures to the values specified for road riding.
What happens if the pressure is too low?
An underinflated tyre flexes more as it rolls.
This can increase heat build-up, accelerate wear and make the motorcycle feel less precise when steering. Excessive deformation can also place additional stress on the tyre structure, especially at high speeds or under heavy loads.
A deliberately lower pressure specified by a tyre manufacturer for track use is not the same as running an underinflated tyre on the road.
What happens if the pressure is too high?
More pressure is not automatically better.
Excessive pressure can change the way the tyre responds to bumps and may alter the size and behaviour of the contact patch. It can also contribute to undesirable wear characteristics.
If additional pressure is required when carrying a passenger or luggage, use the figure specified by the motorcycle manufacturer rather than choosing a higher value yourself.
Is the pressure printed on the tyre the correct setting?
Not necessarily.
Information moulded into the tyre sidewall may relate to the tyre’s load capability or maximum operating limits. It should not automatically be treated as the correct everyday inflation pressure for the motorcycle.
For road use, the motorcycle manufacturer’s pressure recommendation is normally the correct starting point.
How often should tyre pressure be checked?
Tyre pressures should be checked regularly.
It is particularly worthwhile checking them before a long journey, after the motorcycle has been parked for an extended period and when the weather changes significantly.
A tyre that repeatedly loses pressure should be inspected rather than simply topped up again and again. The cause may be a valve problem, a puncture, damage to the rim or another leak.
Temperature affects tyre pressure
Ambient temperature has a direct effect on pressure.
When the weather becomes colder, the pressure inside the tyre normally falls. When temperatures increase, the pressure rises.
This means a pressure that was correct during warm weather may need to be checked again after a significant drop in temperature.
Use a reliable pressure gauge
A good-quality pressure gauge makes it easier to maintain consistent pressures.
If possible, use the same gauge each time, as small differences can exist between measuring devices.
While checking the pressure, also inspect the valve and make sure the valve cap is fitted correctly.
Which tyre pressure is correct?
For normal road riding, use the cold tyre pressure specified by the motorcycle manufacturer.
If the motorcycle has separate recommendations for a passenger or increased load, use the appropriate loaded setting.
For track riding, also check the recommendations supplied by the manufacturer of the specific tyre model.
Correct tyre pressure is determined by the motorcycle, its load and the type of riding rather than by tyre size alone.
