Motorcycle tyres: pressure, wear and when to replace them

The tyre: your only contact with the road

On a motorcycle, each tyre's contact patch with the ground is roughly the size of a credit card. That is everything connecting you to the tarmac through corners, braking, and acceleration. An under-inflated or worn tyre is a risk you do not want to take.

Recommended pressures

Tyre pressures are always measured cold — before riding or after at least 2 hours standing. While riding, pressure naturally rises by 0.2 to 0.3 bar, and that is normal.

Common ranges by motorcycle type:

• Front tyre: 2.0 to 2.5 bar cold
• Rear tyre: 2.2 to 2.9 bar cold

These values vary by model, fitted tyre, and load. Always check the manufacturer's label (frame, swingarm, or owner's manual) for your bike's exact specification.

By category:

• Sport / supersport: higher pressures (F 2.3-2.5 / R 2.5-2.9) for steering precision
• Touring / GT: medium pressures (F 2.2-2.5 / R 2.5-2.9), adjusted for passenger and luggage load
• Adventure / trail: lower pressures off-road (F 1.8-2.0 / R 2.0-2.2), standard road pressures on tarmac

TWI wear indicators

Every motorcycle tyre has TWI wear indicators (Tread Wear Indicator) moulded into the main grooves. These are small rubber bars set at a depth of 0.8 mm.

• When the tread surface reaches the TWI level, the tyre is legally worn out
• The legal minimum in France and most European countries is 1 mm of tread depth
• In practice, a motorcycle tyre loses significant wet grip well before reaching the TWI — replace it as soon as the grooves look shallow

How to check: look for small triangles or "TWI" letters on the tyre's sidewall. They point to the location of the wear indicators in the tread.

DOT manufacturing date

On the sidewall of every tyre, you will find a DOT code followed by 4 digits. The first two indicate the week, the last two the year of manufacture.

• DOT 2524 = manufactured in week 25 of 2024
• A motorcycle tyre should not be fitted if it is more than 5 years old, even if it looks brand new
• Rubber hardens over time and loses grip, especially in wet conditions

Breaking in new tyres

New tyres are slippery due to mould-release agents on the surface. Observe a break-in period of approximately 100 km, avoiding hard braking, aggressive acceleration, and steep lean angles.

During break-in, ride progressively: start upright, then gradually increase lean angles. The risk of a slide is highest in the first kilometres.

Sport, touring, trail: which tyre for which use?

• Sport: soft compound, maximum grip, fast wear (3,000-8,000 km). Ideal for track and spirited road riding
• Touring: hard compound, longevity (10,000-15,000 km), good grip-to-durability balance. Ideal for trips and daily commuting
• Trail: mixed road/off-road profile, deep grooves, good water evacuation. Suited to adventure bikes

The right tyre depends on your actual riding. A sport tyre on a touring bike covering 20,000 km per year is a waste. A touring tyre on a track sportbike is dangerous.

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