Pre-Ride Tire Check by Olivia Montalbano
“Being the only connection between you and the road, here are a few important things you can check before you head out on your next ride!”
We recently reached out to Olivia Montalbano, founder of The Lita’s Sacramento, Vlogger, Mad-Max Wasteland Machine Maker, and asked her to give us some simple advice on how to check your tires.
Here’s what she had to say:
PRE-RIDE CHECKS: TIRES
1. TIRE PRESSURE
Did you know the pressure rating on the sidewall of your tire is NOT the recommended tire pressure? That is the tire’s MAX load, and not what you should necessarily be riding with. Find your bike’s tire pressure specification in your owners manual, VIN sticker, or even with a quick internet search. The correct tire pressure leads to a better ride!
2. TREAD LIFE
Like your favorite pair of shoes, the tread wears down as the miles go up. If your tires are starting to lose their grooves and gain a flat spot, it might be time to start looking for your next set. Some tire brands even have “wear bars” inside the tread, so when you’ve worn down to the bar, you know it’s about that time. To keep the rubber side down, make sure you’ve got enough of it!
3. TIRE AGE
On every tire since the year 2000, there’s an easy to read 4 digit date code displaying when the tire was manufactured. Since rubber degrades over time, it’s recommended to replace tires 6-10 years old. Signs of age are cracking inside the tread, hardening of the rubber, and even cracks on the sidewall! Despite how much tread may be left, an old tire is not safe and should be replaced.
A few more tips before taking off:
Check your brakes!
Check you brake lever (front and back) to make sure brake system is working. Also, check for brake fluid levels, and look for any leaks.
be sure to also check your clutch cables, throttle clicking back and fourth property, signals & horn working, loose spokes, etc.
Inspect the outer surface of the tires. Look for any punctures or nails. Also, excessive wear in the tread, cuts or cracks on the tread or sidewall, exposed threads or wires, or bulges. If you see any of these, replace the tire.
Stay tuned for future info on how to ride safe, and stay safe!
Olivia’s IG: @killswitchqueen
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/KillswitchQueen
Thanks for reading!
