Last time out we told you that brakes were our mates… but we reckon our best buddy is actually our tyres!
That’s particularly true at this time of year, when the roads are wet and slippery to ride on. Now is when we really appreciate having tyres in tip-top condition, as they’ll give us more grip and better control.
A spokesperson for the National Highways – the people who look after our motorways and main trunk roads – agreed:
“With weather conditions very changeable, riders need to pay special attention to their tyres before setting off.
“Surveys find that more than half (55%) of UK riders don’t check their tyre tread most or all of the time before a long journey that’s longer than two hours.
“So our message is, be tyre confident and check them before setting off this autumn and winter.”
What to look for in our tyres
Give the tyres a really comprehensive check at least once a week, and it doesn’t harm to give them a quick once-over every time we ride.
Look for bulges, cuts and scrapes. If there is a deep gouge in the rubber, or a bulge, replace them. It is a sign the tyre may fail any time soon in a dangerous blow-out.
It is also important to check the tyre tread. Tread ensures a tyre stays in contact with the road during wet conditions, and any flaws in the tread result in lost traction. That means we are more likely to skid or lose control when braking or on turns when the roads are wet.
The minimum legal limit on the tread depends on the size of the motorcycle. The legal limit of tyre tread depth in the UK for motorcycles over 50cc is 1mm across three-quarters of the tread pattern’s width, and with visible tread on the remaining quarter.
For mopeds up to 50cc the law requires that all the grooves of the original tread pattern must be clearly visible.
To check your tread, find the tyre wear indicators. These are included in the tyre design, inside the treads. They give a good indication of how worn the tyres are. When the wear is close to the wear indicators, it means that the tyre needs to be replaced.
They can be hard to spot at first, so manufacturers usually carve markers into the tread. Michelin tyres, for example, have little 'Michelin Man' markings on the rubber. They are there to indicate the location of wear indicators.
Have a look at the tyres now. Do it in good light and look for the tyre wear indicators. If you can’t find them, Google the type of tyre and ask for more information on where they can be found.
Investing in a tyre depth gauge is a good idea, too. It’s a handy little gadget that shows straight away whether the tread is okay to ride on.
Finally, always check the tyre pressure. The bike handbook will say what the pressure is meant to be. Check, and top up with air regularly.
By riding on faulty tyres we are putting our lives at risk. Defective tread or incorrect pressure makes tyres less efficient at gripping the road, increases the chance of a skid and won’t drain away surface water effectively.
The tyres are the only thing we have that’s gripping the road: let’s look out for them.
And if you don’t…
Well, the obvious problem of not looking after your tyres is you lose control and take a tumble… but even if you avoid that disaster, another one awaits if you get stopped by the police with illegal tyres.
The penalty for riding on illegal tyres (ones with defects or lack of tread) is a fixed fine and three points on your licence per tyre if you take the police caution, or as much as £2,500 a tyre if you go before the magistrates’ court.
Think about it…