Tyre pressure is a compromise.

The lower the pressure, the better the tyre is able to ’flow’ into the uneven surface of the road and the bigger the contact patch is - this is what we mean when we say a tyre ’grips’ the road. Under inflated tyres generate more heat and although this helps them grip better, the tyre does not last as long. Under inflated tyres also wear unevenly. This leads to poor handling and premature replacement.

Over inflated tyres run cooler and therefore last longer. Tyres however need to be warm in order to offer good grip on the road surface. At high speed they offer better handling and save fuel. They also offer better resistance to damage as a result of impact.

The manufacturers recommended pressures are therefore the best compromise as they have no idea of the type of riding you do, the type of roads you travel on and the climatic extremes of where you live. You as a rider can therefore adopt their approach - stick rigidly to the recommended pressures and forget about the matter altogether. This approach is a good one for motorcyclists who travel short distances and long distances on asphalt only in a country with a moderate climate.

If however you ride on a variety of surfaces, during a variety of climates and temperatures you can adapt a proactive approach and vary your tyre pressures by a very large margin to suit conditions. For this to be viable however you need a compact 12v compressor, tyre gauge and 12v electric plug point fitted on your motorcycle. With this kit you can quickly and easily match your tyres to the conditions. Consider the guidelines as giving below. The logic applied is aimed at providing the maximum grip while still protecting your wheel rims, tube and side walls from damage.

NOTE: The table below is not for specialist tyres that require very specific tyre pressures to perform. At no times should the maximum type pressure be exceeded as per the manufacturers specification