Tips to Take Care of Your Motorcycle Tires in Winters

Winter is terrible for motorcyclists as it usually doesn’t allow them to ride. It snows or rains heavily throughout winter in certain U.S. states and regions. If you are a motorcyclist, you are usually stuck at home.

Winter is also harsh on motorcycles as it can cause several issues with your motorcycle. You must store them somewhere safe, warm, and dry to keep them functional.

Similarly, motorcycle tires must be taken care of and maintained in winter. If you plan to store or use your motorbike sparingly, follow a few essential tips.

If you don’t take proper care of your motorcycle tires during winter, they will wear out quickly. The next time you take your bike out for a ride after winter, you will have to replace it with a new one.

Continue reading this article to learn the tips to take care of your motorcycle tires in winter.

Winters are just around the corner, and you must be ready to store your motorcycle. Most riders don’t plan to store their bikes properly in winter. Finally, they have to face the consequences of spending money repairing and replacing parts.

If you don’t store your motorcycle in an appropriate place, it will be exposed to specific external elements. These elements can prove to be harmful to the bike. It will not only affect the paint and chrome parts; these external elements can also impact the engine and tires.

Motorcycle tires are also prone to damage if the temperature goes extreme.

• Store the bike somewhere dry and dark to protect it from external elements.
• Ensure not to store or park your motorcycle in direct sunlight.
• Temperature fluctuations are also not suitable for your motorcycle tires.
• The best place to store your motorcycle in winter is a garage.

It is recommended not to let the motorcycle tires touch the ground if possible. Keep them elevated a little, especially if you plan to store your bike for a long time during winter.

We understand that elevating your motorcycle tires may not be feasible and affordable for most motorcycle owners. However, it is still the best solution to protect your tires from damage.

What happens to your motorcycle tires if you don’t elevate them while storing the bike for winter? The bike's weight will be centered on just one spot on the tires. The part of the tire taking all the motorcycle load will get flat and damaged.

The motorcycle tires may not get flat or damaged if you store your bike for a day. However, a constant weight load on a single tire position will make them lose air. The rubber will also get damaged and cracked.

There are different types of motorcycle lifters and stands available that you can use to elevate your bike. There are hydraulic lifters widely used to lift a motorcycle for maintenance.

On the other hand, the best way to keep your tires elevated for winter storage is through stands. These include:

• Swingarm Spool Stand

• Forklift Stand

• Headlift Stand

These stands are widely used for sports bikes.

If you plan to store your motorcycle in winter for a long time, you must keep the tires rotating. Do not let the bike sit in a single position during winter. It will cause pressure to be distributed throughout the tire surface.

Most riders can’t afford to buy expensive motorcycle stands and lifters to keep tires elevated during winter storage. Therefore, this tip can help them keep their motorcycle tires safe and functional without purchasing an accessory.

You can also use tire covers to save your motorcycle tires from external elements like moisture, dust, and debris. Keeping your tires fresh and new while storing your bike in winter is a good and less expensive idea.

Along with covering the motorcycle tires, it is also recommended to cover the whole bike to keep the dust and debris away.

Storing a motorcycle for winter doesn’t mean that you should completely forget your bike. Even though you can’t take the bike out for a ride in extreme weather conditions, you should check it regularly while it is stored.

Keeping a check on your motorcycle tires will allow you to keep track of their condition. From their current condition, you can easily predict if they will be flattened in the coming days. If you find anything suspicious with your motorcycle tires, you should immediately find a solution to the problem.

Before storing your motorcycle for winter, and even while it is stored, you should clean your motorcycle tires. Simply wipe out the tire surface with a piece of cloth and water. No chemical product or cleaner is needed as it can react with the tires’ rubber.

You will also keep a check on your motorcycle if you regularly clean it during winter storage.

Most riders don’t know that moisture or excessive water is terrible for tires. Firstly, it can cause wheels to rust, and secondly, moisture can cause tire cracks and leaks.

It is, therefore, recommended that your motorcycle tires be protected from moisture while being stored for winter. 

Your motorcycle tires can lose air if the bike is not in use during the winter. It can happen due to temperature fluctuation and tire cracks due to a constant load on a single position. It is best to check the tire pressure and keep them inflated constantly.

If your motorcycle tires are about to expire, it is better to replace them before the riding season starts. You should know how to tell the age of a motorcycle tire to find out its expiry date.

A DOT number is engraved on your motorcycle tires, showing their age. The first two digits represent the week number of a particular year in which the tires were manufactured. The last two digits tell the year of manufacture.

If they are about to complete their lifespan, buy a new pair of motorcycle tires.

If you want to continue riding your motorcycle even in winter and in the snow, specialized tires are designed for this purpose. Regular motorcycle tires can become highly slippery and unsuitable for riding in snow. They may fail to ensure traction and road grip.

You can replace your motorcycle tires with M+S (Mud and Snow) rated tires to overcome this issue. These specialized tires are designed to provide maximum traction by cutting off the mud and snow from the road. If you pay attention while riding, you will maintain control of your bike with these motorcycle tires.

The M+S motorcycle tires are also made of unique material that can bear cold weather conditions without getting damaged. These tires have a snowflake sign engraved on the tire wall.

If you live in a state or region where it snows throughout the winter, installing winter tires on your motorcycle is preferred. Winters tires are made from specialized material. Their rubber is designed to remove ice and mud and reach the road for better traction. The winter motorcycle tires are designed to provide better traction in slippery conditions. 

The studded tire is one of the widely used motorcycle tires for riding in snow. These tires feature small metal spikes in the tire treads to ensure better traction, control, and maneuverability.

Studded tires also help provide better acceleration and braking efficiency while riding in the snow. However, these tires can damage the road if you riding in normal conditions. Also, they make relatively louder noise than the standard tires.

Keeping or storing motorcycle tires in a dry and warm place is recommended. The ideal temperature for storing a motorcycle is around 15 to 25°C.

However, the temperature must not drop below 0°C. It is bad for motorcycle tires, particularly for racing bike tires. If the temperature is below 0°C outside, you must store your bike in a warm garage.

Motorcycle tires are prone to damage if the bike is stored in winter for longer. However, if you live in a region where it snows throughout the winter, you may have no option but to store your bike. Follow the tips mentioned in this article to keep your motorcycle tires safe and last longer.

Always check your motorcycle tires and look for any deformation or cracks. Don’t let your bike sit unmoved for a longer duration. This can put the while pressure on a single spot, causing flat tires.

Riders don’t like winter as it doesn’t allow them to ride their motorcycles. Nevertheless, if you never want to stop riding, even in writing, you can install snow tires to ride in the snow as well.