Browse Michelin Motorcycle Tires

At TheHelmetCenter.com, you will find many great deals on Michelin Pilot tires http://www.thehelmetcenter.com/Click-For-Deals-p-1-c-2545.html as well as discounted prices when you purchase any pair of motorcycle tires. http://www.thehelmetcenter.com/Tires-p-1-c-2460.html At TheHelmetCenter, however, we want to do more than just provide you with the best deals possible on your motorcycle tires. In fact, we want to help you get the most out your tires in terms of longevity as well as performance. Therefore, we hope that you find these tidbits of advice to be helpful.

Inflating Your Motorcycle Tires

Maintaining the proper inflation in your motorcycle tires is an essential part of helping them last as long as possible while also achieving maximum performance. Ideally, you should check the tire pressure at least once per week as well as before taking any long trips.

In order to obtain accurate tire pressure readings, you should check the pressure only when your tires are cold. If you have recently taken your bike for a ride, you should wait at least three hours before checking the pressure. If you check your tires while they are warm and you appear to be over the proper pressure, you shouldn’t release air in order to achieve the recommended pressure level. Remember, the recommended level is based on a cold reading, so letting air out from warm or hot tires will likely result in them becoming underinflated.

If you find that your tires are losing pressure at a rate of more than two psi per month, there is a good possibility that your wheel, tire or valve is damaged. If you are losing air at this rate, you should have your local dealer check out your tire and your wheel.

If you aren’t sure of the proper air pressure for your tires, take a look your owner’s manual or on the sidewall of the tire. Keep in mind that the recommended air pressure may be different for your front and back tire, so don’t automatically assume they are the same after finding out the recommended pressure for one tire.

Having the proper air pressure not only improves gas mileage and handling, it also provides you with a safer ride. Riding on underinflated tires is particularly dangerous, as tires that are underinflated tend to heat up quickly and wear unevenly. Both of these situations can lead to sudden tire failure, which is the last thing you need when you are hitting the open road.

To help prevent slow leaks from occurring, you should take the following steps:

• Keep the valve cores clean from debris
• Avoid using decorative valve caps, as they do not seal as well as the manufacturer’s caps and prevent water and debris from getting into the valve stem

Tires that are overinflated, on the other hand, are more susceptible to being cut or punctured and are prone to breaking upon sudden impact. Overinflation will also cause your tires to wear out more quickly and may cause your bike to ride hard.

Keeping Your Wheels Balanced and Aligned

Keeping your wheels properly balanced and aligned is also essential to providing a smooth ride and keeping your tires healthy. Tire and wheel assemblies that are improperly balanced have a tendency to vibrate when reaching certain speeds, which also increases the rate of wear on the tire. Improperly aligned tires will also negatively impact your cornering and steering capabilities. If you make an adjustment to your chain or belt, or if you take off your rear wheel, you should take your bike in to get your tire balanced.

Replacing in Pairs

When replacing one motorcycle tire, it is also a good idea to replace the other one at the same time. Riding with one fresh tire and one worn tire will reduce your handling capabilities and the overall performance of your motorcycle. Improperly matched tires can also cause instability.

Along the same lines, you should never mix bias and radial tires on your bike. Remember, these tires are constructed differently and each type of tire offers different properties. Furthermore, motorcycles are developed to achieve optimum performance with a specific type of tire. Therefore, you should replace your tires with the same type of tire that came with the bike when you purchased it.

Mount the Tires Correctly

When mounting your tires, it is also important to pay attention to the directional arrows that are placed on the tire. Many manufacturers use tread patterns that are designed for a specific rotation in order to achieve optimum performance. Setting your tires up properly will also ensure the wear pattern develops properly, which will provided you with a smoother ride.

Choosing the Right Tread

When selecting new tires for your bike, it is essential to pay attention to the tread pattern and the compound. While softer tires grip the ground more firmly and provide more performance, you will lose out on gas mileage with these tires. A tire without a tread will also grip tightly to the road, but they are pretty much useless in rainy conditions. A harder tire, on the other hand, will provide you with better gas mileage, but you will lose out on performance. As such, if you are looking for a good all-around tire, you will want to go with a tire with a light tread that is made from a medium to hard compound. With this type of tire, you will be able to travel several miles without worrying about the tire breaking down quickly or losing stability in varying weather conditions.

Is it time for you to purchase some new tires for your motorcycle? If so, you will be happy to know that TheHelmetCenter.com offers a wide variety of different motorcycle tires http://www.thehelmetcenter.com/Tires-p-1-c-2460.html for sale at great prices. Even better, if you purchase a pair of tires, you will save even more. But, how do you know when it is time to purchase new tires and how you take care of them once you have purchased them?

Knowing When it is Time to Purchase New Motorcycle Tires

While many people purchase new motorcycle tires simply in an effort to improve their performance, it is also necessary to replace your tires as they become worn out and less efficient. Here are a few signs that it is time to replace your motorcycle tires:

• The back end of your motorcycle is starting to feel a little loose when you go through corners
• The tire tread is worn down to the built-in tread wear indicators
• The tread groove depth is less than 1/32^nd of an inch, or 0.8 millimeters (This can easily be tested with a penny. If you can see Lincoln’s hair when placing the penny in the tread with Lincoln upside down, it is time to replace your tires.)
• The tire cord or fabric cord is exposes (It is dangerous to ride with tires that are worn to this point, so be sure to replace them immediately if they have become this worn.)

Not only do worn out tires reduce your performance, they are also more susceptible to being punctured by nails and other shrapnel.

Metric Designations

• 130/90 – 16 67 H
• 130=Tire width (mm)
• 90 = Aspect Ratio (90%)
• 16 =Rim Diameter (in.)
• 67 = Load Rating
• H =Speed Rating

Alphabetical Designations

• MT 90 – 16 Load Range B
• M=Motorcycle Code
• T=Tire Width Code
• 90=Aspect Ratio (90%)
• 16=Rim Diameter (in.)
• Load Range B=Load Rating

Inch Designations

• 5.00 H 16 4PR
• 5.00=Section Width
• H=Speed Rating
• 16=Rim Diameter (in.)
• 4PR=Casing Strength (ply rating)

In addition to checking the wear on your tires, you should also periodically inspect the condition of your wheels. Bead unseating can cause gradual air loss, while bent rims can cause the wheels to wobble. If your wheels experience sudden failure, it is a sign that your cast wheels might be cracked. If your rims are bent or your cast wheels are cracked, they should be replaced immediately. Other signs that you have problems with your wheels include:

• Uneven wear on your tires, including flat spots in the tread
• Vibration
• Instable handling
• Rubbing or unusual noises while riding

If you are experiencing any of these issues, you might want to contact your manufacturer or a mechanic in order to get the necessary repairs.

When purchasing a new tire, it is helpful to know what the numbers and letters on the side of the tire represent. With so many different numbers and letters out there, it is easy to get confused. As such, here is a look at some of the most basic letters and numbers you will encounter.

Taking Care of Your Tires

In order to help your tires last as long as possible, you should take the following steps to care for them:

• Never store your tires in direct sunlight for a long period of time, as this will cause the tires to harden and to age more quickly than they would if they were stored in an area that is dark or dimly lit.
• Wipe away any oil or gasoline that comes into contact with the tires, as prolonged contact with these materials will contaminate the rubber compound. Not only will this degrade the rubber, it will also remove the weather and ozone cracking-resistance. It is also best to avoid cleaners and chemicals such as Armor All. If you need to wash your tires, stick with a mild soap and water.
• Get your tires and wheels inspected after running over something hard, hitting a major pothole or running over a curb. Don’t ride on a tire if the pressure suddenly decreases or if a bulge appears.

By taking proper care of your tires, you will be certain to get as much use out of them as possible. If the time comes when you do need to replace your tires, however, you will be happy to no that TheHelmetCenter.com has the best prices available on the most quality tires on the market.

Michelin Tire Deals

Is it time to replace the tires on your motorcycle? If so, you will be happy to know that we have some great deals on Michelin Pilot tires http://www.thehelmetcenter.com/Click-For-Deals-p-1-c-2545.html right now. Whether you want to purchase the Michelin Pilot Power 2CT Combo, the Power Combo or the Power One Combo, we are certain you will be quite pleased with the prices as well as with the performance.

No matter which Michelin Pilot tires you select, you will enjoy a number of great features. These include:

• A product that is backed by 15 consecutive GPWorld Championships
• A rubber mix that is 20% softer on the tread edges for improved cornering grip
• Test track proven 51.2 degree lean angles in dry conditions
• A tire that is equally as good on the track as it is on the road

If that is not enough incentive to swap out your tires with a set of Michelin Pilot tires, consider the fact that Clint Edward as able to achieve lap times within 7% of the Michelin Moto GP slicks when they were put on his Yamaha Moto GP bike and he tested them out at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit in February of 2006.

After getting your new Michelin Pilot tires, make sure to break them in properly before you expect them to provide you with peak performance. In fact, it is a good idea to run on your new tires for about 100 miles before you start pushing them to their limit. This is particularly true if you are replacing a different type of tire with the Michelin Pilot tire, as different types of tires have different patterns and are constructed differently. By riding on your new tires for about 100 miles, you will gain a better feel for the new treads and how the tires affect your ride.

During your break in period, you should avoid  blasting into corners, tilting too far while learning into a turn and revving your engine up to maximum power. Instead, take some time to find the edge and the best road grip for various speeds. After getting in your first 100 miles of riding, you should also check and adjust the inflation of your tires after they have had about three hours to cool down. This way, you can be sure they are properly inflated before you go out and start pushing them to the limit.