Fitted brand new tyres to your motorcycle? Here’s what you need to know before hitting the road. This guide explains how to wear in new motorcycle tyres safely, how long the process takes, and what riding adjustments to make during those first few miles. Learn how careful handling now ensures lasting performance and safety later.
Despite the very different style of driving, motorcycle tyres are much the same as car tyres when it comes to wear and tear, and the need for replacement.
As tyres become worn, and the tread depth starts to disappear, riders need to prepare themselves to switch the tyres out for new ones. What we don’t often see talked about, however, is what this change to new tyres means for the driving experience.
How Often Are Motorcycle Tyres Replaced?
Motorcycle tyres follow much the same pattern as regular car tyres, in that they are subject to wear and tear with continued use and should be regularly inspected to determine when they are ready for replacement.
While the minimum tread wear indicators are set lower, at 0.8mm on a motorcycle tyre, tyres should be regularly inspected for signs of damage.
It is advised across the industry that once a tyre has been used on a motorcycle for five years, it needs to be checked by a professional. They will assess its integrity, structure, signs of wear, and whether it needs replacing.
What Drivers Need to Do Differently on New Tyres
Once new tyres are fitted to a motorcycle, there are a few pieces of advice that riders need to follow.
The most important thing to note is that motorcycle tyres need wearing in. This is because brand new tyres have a glossy surface finish which needs to be scrubbed by the road surface – something which is made possibly by driving on the tyres in order to heat them up and scuff them through handling and steering.
It is recommended that, in order to safely do this, riders on new tyres should drive cautiously and at a reduced speed for the first 100 - 125 miles.
This means no sharp braking, no hard cornering, and easing up on acceleration.
Once those initial 100 – 125 miles have been covered, our advice is to perform a manual inspection of the tyres to see how even the wear is across the full surface of each tyre. This will give you the peace of mind of knowing the tyres are fitted correctly and are safe to ride on.
From there, normal driving can resume!
