ACT on tyres before you ride

Your motorcycle’s tyres do a remarkable amount of work. Two contact patches, each about the area of your hand, take care of the drive, braking, steering and every corner you go round; everything you ask your motorcycle to do goes through them. That's why tyres deserve lots of attention - perhaps more than we’re all willing to admit to giving them!

That's the thinking behind ACT, the message road safety organisation TyreSafe is putting out in support of Operation Apex, the current national police campaign on motorcycle safety. TyreSafe says improved tyre maintenance is one of the most effective things riders can do for themselves, and it boils down to just three letters you can run through before every ride: ACT.

A is for Air pressure

Check them cold: first thing, before you set off, rather than after a blast down the bypass. Your recommended pressures can usually be found in the handbook or workshop manual, and often on a sticker under the seat or on the swingarm. Get them spot on and your tyre warms up the way its designer intended, steers the way you expect, and wears evenly right across the tread.

A decent pocket tyre pressure gauge is a few quid well spent, and it beats relying on the one bolted to the wall at the petrol station. Keep it with your bike and it becomes second nature.

C is for Condition

A quick walk round, turning each wheel as you go. You're looking over the tread and the sidewalls for cuts, bulges, cracking, uneven wear, or the odd stone or nail that's hitched a ride. It takes about as long as putting on your gloves.

Bikes that have been standing for a few months are especially worth a proper look, as tyres can lose a little pressure and suppleness while parked up, even when the tread still looks good.

T is for Tread

For machines over 50cc, the legal minimum in the UK is 1mm across at least three-quarters of the tread width. It’s always better to plan your replacement well before you get near that; most riders find their bike feels sharper and more stable - especially in the wet - on a tyre with plenty of depth left.

Take a look at how evenly it's wearing while you're down there, too. Uneven wear can be a sign of running incorrect tyre pressures or an issue with wheel alignment.

The idea is to make it part of the ritual: a gauge in the garage to check pressures after you take the cover off; and a quick check of both tyres while the kettle's on. It's one of those small habits that becomes second nature after a while and can make a huge difference to how your bike feels and performs - it will also help your tyres last longer into the bargain.

And when yours are ready for replacement, Fowlers Parts stocks a huge range of motorcycle tyres from all the major brands, with our workshop team on hand to get them fitted and balanced properly. Have a browse online, give us a ring or pop in; we're always happy to talk tyres.

Find out more about tyre safety at https://www.tyresafe.org/