Motorcycle tire reviews

Motorcycle tire review Honda CB 650 SC Nighthawk

#	Motorcycle tire review and specification	Tire tube type	We recommend
Motorcycle tire review and specification for Honda CB 650 SC Nighthawk
1	Front Tire: 100/90-19 57V	Tubeless(TL)	Dunlop Arrowmax GT501F General Road Tires
1	Rear Tire: 130/90-16 67V	Tubeless(TL)	Dunlop Arrowmax GT501 General Road Tires

Soap It Up: Most tire manufacturers recommend that the only substance used to keep rubber shiny should be good old soap and water. Many alleged protectants actually promote premature cracking and finish deterioration. Make sure you wipe off any lube, brake fluid or gas promptly, too.

Check tire pressure at least once a month for cars, once a week for motorcycles. Tires can lose up to a pound a month of air pressure. Consistency is the key. A sudden drop in pressure is noticeable with regular pressure checks. E.g., 40, 39, 40 then 30 psi indicates a leak or puncture or other type of problem. It could be as simple as a bad valve stem or bent rim or something more serious such as internal tire failure.

When riding for long distances monitor tire pressure every morning when tires are cold. Then check tire pressure after a few hours of use. More than a 10% increase in inflation means the tire is working too hard. Lighten the load, decrease speed, or add air to the tires so they run cooler.

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.

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.