More critical than you might think.  Proper tire pressure, just like on your car, keeps your motorcycle tires wearing properly.  Low front tire pressure can cause a high speed wobble, and cup the tire.  Cupped tires, even when aired back to proper pressure with not handle properly and in many cases still cause a high speed wobble that won’t go away until it’s replaced with a new tire.

Rear tires seem to be a little less critical.  Some will drop rear tire pressure in order to achieve a cushier ride.  Though there are a couple of problems that can arise.

1.  Handling in the corners at speed begins to degrade with the lower pressures.  The tire was designed to give it’s best handling at proper pressure.  Lowering pressure can make the cornering unstable.

2.  I’ve seen some customers bring in some bikes for service and when pressures are checked, some have been as low as 15 psi.  Extremely dangerous.  The short sidewalls on these new tires can loose their bead at the rim, and that get’s messy real quick.

Check you tire’s pressure regularly.  The temperature changes we have here in the Midwest plays havoc with tire pressure.  It should be part of your pre-ride ritual.

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