Mic Tire Guide - Motorcycle Safety Foundation
Contents
1. Solo rider Rider and passenger SIZE OPTION 1 OPTION 2 radial ply tubeless 120 70 ZR17 Brand X F Brand Y F radial ply tubeless 190 50 ZR17 Brand X R Brand Y R page 22 Specifications Owner s manual the air pressure when the tires are cold at least three hours since the last ride as part of your pre ride T CLOCS inspection T CLOCS means Tires and Wheels Controls Lights Oil and Stands see page 15 for a complete MSF T CLOCS checklist and adjust it according to your motorcycle s owner s man ual or the tire information label on the chain guard frame or swingarm There may be two sets of recommendations for tire pressure as well as suspension settings one for solo riding and one for riding with a passenger and or cargo Do not exceed the maximum inflation pressure listed on the tire s side wall And never exceed the motorcycle s or tire s load limit combined weight of operator passenger cargo and accessories since that can cause tire failure Refer to the Load Limit Calculator on page 18 Some riders eventually reduce the frequency of air pressure checks to at least once a week and before long trips but will still visually inspect tires before each ride Regularly inspect the tire tread depth to ensure that adequate tread remains Tires have small wear bars molded into the tread grooves When the tread is worn down to the level of t2. be thought of as the mechanical adhe sion between tires and road surface Predictable traction Is essential in all rid ing situations espe cially cornering To enable this connec Poor Traction Good Traction Lateral Force Lateral Force D Motorcycle Industry Council Tire Guide tion to transmit as much force as possible it is necessary for the tire s rubber surface to interlock at the microscopic level with the protrusions and pores of the road That means there must be sufficient tread thick ness and it must be flexible like a sponge There are several ways in which the adhesion between rubber and road can be compromised The tire surface has lost its elasticity because of cold temperatures aging or other factors The asphalt or concrete has been polished down and made smooth by automobile and truck tires The interface between tire and road is lubricated or obstructed by any number of substances rainwater engine oil leaves gravel sand dirt etc TIRE FAILURE 1 1 1 1h tire blowout can occur suddenly and without warning and can in duce panic even in experienced riders You may feel a vibration or sluggish handling depending on the cause of failure If a blowout should occur keep a firm grip on the handlebars steer smoothly and gently ease off the throttle Avoid downshifting or hard braking as these actions can upset the now unstable chassis If traffic permits slow gradually
3. and move off to the side of the road If you must brake limit your braking to the wheel with the good tire Applying the brake to the wheel with the bad tire can cause the tire to separate from the rim leading to a loss of control Fortunately blowouts are uncommon and generally preventable es pecially with modern tubeless tire technology If a tire is punctured it might be possible to patch it but repairs should be considered a temporary measure at best and speeds should be kept low Some manufacturers advise against repairing holes more than in diameter repairing radial tires or any punctures in the sidewall or using liquid sealants Speeds should not exceed 50 mph for the first 24 hours after the repair and the repaired tire should never be used over 80 mph Mo torcycle tires experience tremendous sideways forces and deformation when cornering which can cause patches to flex and fail Motorcycle Industry Council Tire Guide GAS CONCLUSION uy the right tires have them professionally installed maintain proper air pressure inspect them regularly don t ride over sharp objects and avoid slick surfaces Treat your tires well and they ll treat you to many miles of safe comfortable riding Danger lurks beyond the wear bars Once the rub ber is gone so is your tire s ability to grip the road AZ Motorcycle Industry Council Tire Guide O y y MSF T CLOCS Pre Ride Inspection Checklist T C
4. LOCS WHAT TO WHAT TO LOOK FOR CHECK OFF ITEM CHECK T TIRES amp WHEELS Dnm wear weathering evenly seated bulges embedded Check when cold adjust to load Spokes Bent broken missing tension check at top of wheel ring OK E thud loose spoke XE Out i A 5mm Spin wheel index against stationary pointer Bearings Grab top and bottom of tire and flex No freeplay click between Font il Ren hub and axle no growl when spinning Seals Cracked cut or torn excessive grease on outside reddish brown BENE MN pon pear Each brake mm bcn c On bike from rolling ICCONTROLS CONTROLS Levers and Condition Broken bent cracked mounts tight ball ends on handlebar levers Pedal proper adjustment Pos Lubricated ooo o Fraying kinks lubrication ends and interior MEER MH ss NNNM angles wire supports in place IEEE ma pee angles hose supports in place Throttle Moves freely snaps closed no revving when handlebars are turned Battery Condition Terminals clean and tight electrolyte level held down securely VentTube Not kinked routed properly not plugged Headlamp Condition Cracks reflector mounting and adjustment system 1 _ Operation Hi beam low beam operation Taillamp Condition Cracks dlean and tight prakelamP Operation Activates upon front brake rear brake application Turn signals O
5. Motorcycle Industry Council Tire Guide Council LENEN VS The information in this booklet represents the collective knowledge of a number of motorcycle tire manufacturers and Motorcycle Industry Council staff and is intended to be a useful resource for motorcyclists This booklet however cannot cover every possible example or aspect of tire usage Consult the appropriate motorcycle or tire manufacturer for issues not addressed in this booklet N ever under estimate the importance of having good properly inflat ed tires on your motorcycle The small con tact patches provided by the front and rear tires are the motorcycle s only source of traction Dete rioration of your tires condition can jeopardize this contact patch and bring a good ride to a quick end Safe riding depends on selecting the right tires inspecting and maintaining them and replacing them as necessary ts all about inflation inflation inflation Proper air pressure is critical for tire performance and tire life Under inflation or overloading can cause sluggish handling heavy steering and internal damage due to over flexing and can cause the tire to separate from the rim Over inflation can reduce the contact area and therefore available trac tion and can make the motorcycle react harshly to bumps Check Motorcycle Industry Council Tire Guide O Tire Pressures TIRE PRESSURE COLD FRONT REAR
6. amp near your home at maximum lean angle and corner ing speed before your tires come up to temperature Tire temperature is so important that professional racers actually use electric tire blan kets to preheat the tires so they ll have maximum grip when the green flag drops out on the track PNO Motorcycle Industry Council Tire Guide y y Vou motorcycle was designed to work in harmony with a limited selection of tires The owner s manual will specify tire size con struction radial or bias tube type or tubeless load range and speed index and may identify the brand installed as original equipment In addition tires are specifically designed for use only on the front or rear wheel because each tire has a different function and the front and rear tires should match each other by being from the same brand and model line Tires must also be mounted so the sidewall arrows corre spond to the direction of travel Motorcycle dealerships can recommend a variety of brands and types within brands that best match your motorcycle and style of riding whether commuting touring sport riding or on and off road adven ture riding Some tires even use two different rubber compounds in the tread a harder compound in the center for extra life when riding in a straight line and a softer compound on the outer edges for extra trac tion while leaning through turns Note too that different tread patterns can make a difference in how you
7. ernail into the surfaces of each to see the difference in how they react Tires can also absorb petroleum based fluids from the road which can further deteriorate the rubber So tires eventually have to be replaced even if they have plenty of tread left And don t Motorcycle Industry Council Tire Guide GAR take a chance on buying used tires you don t know how many heat cycles they ve gone through This also means that when you buy a used motorcycle you should thoroughly inspect the tires and replace them if their condition is questionable To clean your sidewalls use a mild soap solution and rinse off with plain water Do not use chemical cleaners or protectants as they may degrade the rubber and cause cracks in the sidewalls If you ll be storing your motorcycle for more than a month and it has a center stand set the bike on its center stand to raise the rear tire off the ground and use blocks under the frame to lift the front tire slightly off the ground If it doesn t have a center stand periodically roll the bike forward or backward a few inches so the tires don t develop flat spots in the tread Sras AON Fe M SER lt m BOSE e bio ubber is harder when it s cold than when warmed up Motorcycle tires are designed to provide maximum traction at specific temper atures Riding moderately for the first few miles on the street will allow your tires to come up to proper operating temperature Don t take the freeway on r
8. he wear bars indicating 1 32 inches of tread remaining the wear bars become exposed and the tire should be replaced Some manufacturers recommend replac ing the tire when there are 2 32 or 3 32 inches of tread remaining Al ED Motorcycle Industry Council Tire Guide CP y y TAN d gt 4 1100106 XT 1265184 though it may look like there is a sufficient amount it may not be enough to maintain traction in wet conditions The deep grooves in fresh tires help channel water away from the contact patch and worn tires are thinner and easier to punc ture For a quick check if you insert a penny into a groove in the center of your tire 2 32 of an inch is right at the top of Lincoln s head In addition to tread depth N c glance over the tires surface inq for any evidence of uneven This photograph shows how water is squeezed wear cuts embedded objects the path of a tire bulges or sidewall cracking Every time you ride the tires go through a heat cycle as they go from ambient to operating temperature and back down again Each successive heat cycle slowly hardens the tire Similarly as tires age chemical reactions cause the rubber to harden even during nonuse Whether through heat cycles or aging the tire s surface becomes less spongy and less able to interlock with the protrusions and pores in the road surface If you have an old tire and a new tire you can press your fing
9. ich also hap pens to be 96 mm Some tires use letter or inch designations instead of millimeters as shown in the chart on page 10 d uz 2227 SUS te 2 reset 2 105 27 d d p In the second photo the R means radial ply construction In the third the means bias construction A B would mean bias belted Next is rim diameter in inches 17 in the second photo 18 in the third The M C means the tire was designed for motorcycles AQ Motorcycle Industry Council Tire Guide oO y ustry Council Tire Gui The next set of characters indicate load index and speed index The 69 and 62 indicate the maximum load the tire can carry see Load Index Rating chart below at the speed indicated by the speed indexes W and H respectively see Speed Index chart on the next page In the chart note that the W in parentheses has a different rating than a W without parentheses Also note that tires with W or W speed index are identified by a Z before the construction code in the tire size designation Load Index Rating LI Ibs LI lbs LI Ibs s qm s e e _ fe m e As all street legal tires are capable of handling the full range of posted speed limits nationwide the higher maximum speeds shown in the Speed Index chart page 10 are intended only for certain high speed European road use applications and those participating in track da
10. ni Threaded Tight missingbolts nuts o NENNEN LL dip Cotter Pins S STANDS Center Condition racks bent NEN stand EU f E Retention prings in place tension to hold position C C Side stand Condition racks bent safety cut out switch or pad equipped Retention WN vn prings in place tension to hold position T CLOCS checklist used by permission of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Motorcycle Industry Council Tire Guide Tire Replacement Log FRONT recommended pressure PSI solo riding PSI with passenger cargo Installation Odometer Brand Size date reading REAR recommended pressure PSI solo riding PSI with passenger cargo Installation Odometer Brand Size date reading Motorcycle Industry Council Tire Guide GZS Load Limit Calculator AVAILABLE LOAD CAPACITY 1 Enter GVWR Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Check owner s manual or Vehicle Identification Number VIN plate 2 Enter dry weight of motorcycle Check owner s manual minus 2 3 Average weight of fluids gas and oil minus 3 4 Available load capacity of our motorycle Line 1 Line 2 Line 3 LOADING OF YOUR MOTORCYCLE 5 Enter total weight of rider and passenger Include helmets boots and clothing 6 Enter weight of accessories Accessories you have added including chrome windshield saddlebags etc T Enter weight of any cargo luggage you are carrying 8 This is the load you are adding to yo
11. peration Flashes correctly Front Front left right Rear Rear left right Cracks dean tight mounts and swivel joints LI Adjust when seated on bike Lenses amp Condition Cracked broken securely mounted excessive condensation Reflectors Fraying chafing insulation Routing Pinched no interference or pulling at steering head or suspension wire looms and ties in place connectors tight clean continued on next page Motorcycle Industry Council Tire Guide GAS MSF T CLOCS Pre Ride Inspection Checklist T CLOCS WHAT TO WHAT TO LOOK FOR CHECK OFF ITEM CHECK Levels Engine Oil Check level per owner s manual 0 meer Shaft Drive Hydraulic Fluid Brakes clutch reservoirorsightglass Coolant Reservoir and or coolant recovery tank check only when cool Re jRnogug Engine dil Gaskets housings seals Hypoid Gear Oil Gaskets seals breathers Shaft Drive Hydraulic Fluid Hoses master cylinders calipers Coolant Radiator hoses tanks fittings pipes Lines fuel Lines fuel valve carbs TO C CHASSIS Condition Cracks at gussets accessory mounts look for paint lifting Bearings for play by pulling pushing forks Bearings Front Forks age moves freely and is lubricated Chain or Tension Check at tightest point Lubrication Side plates when hot Note do not lubricate belts _ Sprockets Teeth not hooked securely mounted fJ o _ u
12. r bike handles For example some patterns will resist tracking on the rain grooves that are cut into some highways And never mount a passenger car tire on a motorcycle rim the flat profile of a car tire is incompatible with the dynamics of a vehicle that leans as it corners and the section of the tire in contact with the rim the bead is incompatible with motorcycle rims Motorcycle Industry Council Tire Guide CZ TIRE SIDEWALL INFORMATION very street legal tire sold in the U S will have a Department of Transportation DOT serial number on the sidewall The serial num ber begins with the letters DOT and ends with a four digit date code if there are only three numerals the tire was made before 2000 and should be discarded The four digits represent the week and year of production For example a date code of 4510 in the first photo means the tire was produced in the 45th week of 2010 The sidewall will also have a code indicating the size plus a load index and a speed index as shown in these examples The examples use met rc designations The first number is the nomi nal tread width in mil limeters 160 mm in the second photo 120 mm in the third The second number is the aspect ratio ratio of tire height to tread width which is a percentage so for the 160 60 the tire height is 60 percent of the tread width or 96 mm for the 120 80 the tire height is 80 percent of the tread width wh
13. ur motorcycle Line 5 Line 6 Line 7 If line 8 is greater than line 4 YOUR MOTORCYCLE IS OVERLOADED Overloading your motorcycle could lead to tire failure accident injury or death ESD Motorcycle Industry Council Tire Guide TIRE TIPS Avoid sharp objects and slick surfaces 3 L Maintain proper air pressure Regularly inspect your tires 3 Buy the right tires for your bike a Have your tires professionally installed CN Motorcycle Industry Council 2011 Motorcycle Industry Council 2 Jenner Suite 150 Irvine California 92618 3806 949 727 4211 FAX 949 727 3313 mic org 10 2011
14. your first 100 miles as the tire s surface scuffs in and provides maximum grip This break in period also gives you time to adjust to the difference in how the new tires feel compared to the old worn tires like getting use to a new pair of shoes Motorcycle Industry Council Tire Guide CES ecause a motorcycle is a single track vehicle and leans as it turns motorcycle tires are quite dif ferent than car tires Whereas car tires have a fairly flat profile and a contact patch that var les little in size or shape motor cycle tires have a U shaped pro file and a con tact patch that changes size and shape during cornering Motorcycle tires are also relatively narrow which makes their gripping capability traction a limited commod ity Plus this limited amount of traction is divided up among multiple forces created when braking cornering and accelerating The more you lean in a corner for example the less traction is available for brak ing the quicker you accelerate the less traction is available for turning If any one of these actions uses an excessive share of available traction you might lose control of the motorcycle For more information on how motorcyclists can manage braking cornering and acceleration forces please read the Motorcycle Safety Foundation s Guide to Motorcycling Excellence Second Edition or any number of in depth books on the art and science of motorcycling Traction
15. ys or other closed course sanctioned competition events Motorcycle Industry Council Tire Guide CER opeed Index Chart O e 9m a m a m V omm V cese At speeds above 130 mph the maximum permissible load is reduced Consult tire manufacturer for details At speeds above 149 mph the maximum permissible load is reduced Consult tire manufacturer for details Cross Reference Chart for Popular Tire Sizes FRONT TIRES Metric Alpha Inch 80 90 2 50 10 2 75 90 90 2 75 to 3 00 100 90 3 25 to 3 50 110 90 3 75 to 4 00 120 80 4 25 to 4 50 120 90 4 25 to 4 50 130 90 5 00 to 5 10 Metric Alpha Inch 110 90 MP85 4 00 to 4 25 120 90 MR90 4 50 to 4 75 130 80 5 00 to 5 10 130 90 MT90 5 00 to 5 10 140 80 5 50 to 6 00 140 90 MU85 MU90 5 50 to 6 00 150 80 MV85 6 00 to 6 25 150 90 MV85 6 00 to 6 25 Motorcycle Industry Council Tire Guide 1 M r Y a 1 Hi x D mE rt ires should be replaced and balanced by a profes sional mechan ic Profession als have the right tools to prevent dam age to the bead of the tire which must seat firmly against the rim to provide an airtight seal and they have equipment that can perform dynamic high speed balancing to guard against wheel vibration Valve stems and tubes for tube type tires should be replaced every time a tire is replaced New tires typically have a slippery surface Take it easy on
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