Motorcycle tire reviews

Motorcycle tire review Ducati 650 SL Pantah 1983

Ducati motorcycle tires

#	Motorcycle tire review and specification	Tire tube type	We recommend
Motorcycle tire review and specification for Ducati 650 SL Pantah 1983
1	Front Tire: 100/90-18 56V	Tubeless(TL)	Dunlop Arrowmax GT501F General Road Tires
1	Rear Tire: 120/90-18 65V	Tubeless(TL)	Dunlop Arrowmax GT501 General Road Tires

Steady, Now: Although it primarily affects handling, improper balance can also shorten a tire's life. Check it after 500 or 1000 miles of use.

Remember cold weather means air in the tires contracts and may require additional air. High temperatures, hot or rough road surfaces, high speeds and heavy loads all cause the tire to work harder and hotter. Make sure tire pressure is sufficient to deal with these conditions. Also under inflation is the number one cause of tire failure.

Eyeballing tires for under inflation or over inflation is not a good idea, particularly on a motorcycle. A bike on a center stand and with no riders on it could be missing half the weight or more the tires will end up supporting. In addition, it is necessary to get down and examine tires under the fender to see if there is any tire damage. With only a few small inches supporting the load on two tires versus a much larger contact patch on 4 tires it’s a much riskier proposition taking a chance with motorcycle tires. Check also for cracking on the sidewalls, in the grooves, stones or cuts.

Motorcycle tires work in much more brutal environment then car tires. Because of many factors such as load carried, horsepower and torque produced, and this being applied to a contact surface that is very small by comparison, one can understand why the tires are not only expensive but also work in a much more demanding environment. Therefore keeping the tire pressure correct and routine tire inspection is critical.

Tubes should always be replaced as these will wear just like the tire itself. When installing tubes be sure to locate the valve stem retaining nut all the way to the top of the valve stem so that it touches the cap. This way if the tube spins inside the tire you can see this by the tilt of the stem before the stem is torn from the tube itself. On tubeless tires always inspect the valve stem for cracks and dried out rubber, since these can crack over time and leak air. This thinking applies to car valve stems as well.