Inspect Your Tires for YOUR Safety.

With riding season in full swing, now is the time to take a few minutes to inspect the condition of your tires. Cracks, bulges, cuts, lumps and foreign objects are all indicators of tire issues. Make sure your tire pressures are correct and adjusted appropriately for riding solo or with a passenger or carrying luggage. Under inflation causes excessive flexing, deterioration of the casing and rapid shoulder wear. Fuel consumption also increases. Over inflation may result in an uncomfortable ride, a reduced contact patch and accelerated wear in the center of the tread. It also makes the tire more susceptible to impact damage. Thankfully we don't have many potholes here in San Francisco... yeah right!

Tread depth should also be inspected as this plays a vital role in removing any water from the road surface, allowing the tire to grip wet roads. The MINIMAL legal tread depth is 1mm across three quarters of the width of the tread pattern. For safety I recommended replacing tires at 2mm. Here are a few tips for you to keep in mind when inspecting your tires:

1. Check tire pressures from cold at least once a week.

2. Inflate tires to the recommended level.

3. Inspect tires for cuts, bulges, uneven wear and foreign objects embedded into the tread.

4. Ensure valve stem caps are in place as they keep dirt away from the valve core and act as a secondary air seal.

5. Inspect rims for cracks and dents. If you find any the rim should be replaced immediately.

6. Measure tread depth - remember 1mm is the MINIMUM legal limit.

7. Check the condition of the valve stems.

8. Check that both tires are from the same manufacturer and have the same tread pattern - this is of VITAL importance.

9. Check that directional tires are fitted the right way round by checking the directional arrows on the sidewall.

10. Keep tires clean. Use detergent to remove oil and grease.

11. Ensure that the tires installed are correct for your scooter AND your riding style. In other words- CHECK THE SPEED RATING! Scooter tires are typically rated either L or P. What does that mean? An "L" rated tire is capable of a MAXIMUM speed of 75mph. A "P" rated tire is capable of a MAXIMUM speed of 95mph. Factory supplied tires are the BEST choice for your Vespa.