I'm kinda forced to store my bike "on the ground" for the winter. Whats a safe pressure to pump the tires to to prevent flat spots? Or wont they flat spot if stored on the ground for 3 months? For reference (if it makes a difference) they're NTEC slicks.
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Overinflating tires for winter storage.
- Thread starter Fiery254
- Start date
Even in the ancient days of nylon tires, any flat spots caused by extended cold weather parking would go away after a very short distance of driving.
redridernl
Well-known member
Agreed. 18 years of riding and it's never been an issue.
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Charles Darwin
Guest
I've been advised to top up the pressure to max. anyway over the winter - simply because it drops with cold temperature. Although if you're riding, wlll that matter?
Do flat tires wear and bend (and become more prone to damage) over the winter?
Do flat tires wear and bend (and become more prone to damage) over the winter?
Over the years I have never had any issues with flat spotting street tires or race slicks.
Having said that, tire compositions have and are changing recently. For example this summer at Mosport Race Track a Pirelli rep told us that motorcycle sport tires now have next to no rubber in them any more and as a result they will crack in cold weather such as below freezing temperature.
I saw a newish front Pirelli tire that looked like it had been cut by a razor across a tread block all the way down to the base of the tread. The tire had been on a friend's bike last winter which had been stored in an outside tin shed, unheated. The Pirelli rep said they have seen this often. The compounds in modern motorcycle tires do not like the cold.
Having said that, tire compositions have and are changing recently. For example this summer at Mosport Race Track a Pirelli rep told us that motorcycle sport tires now have next to no rubber in them any more and as a result they will crack in cold weather such as below freezing temperature.
I saw a newish front Pirelli tire that looked like it had been cut by a razor across a tread block all the way down to the base of the tread. The tire had been on a friend's bike last winter which had been stored in an outside tin shed, unheated. The Pirelli rep said they have seen this often. The compounds in modern motorcycle tires do not like the cold.
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So what does that mean for everyone else that stores motorcycle in a unheated garage ?
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Charles Darwin
Guest
I'm pretty sure that you're fine. It doesn't go below freezing in your garage, does it?
Pretty sure it does; At least in Mid Jan to Feb. It's not heated right now, although I'd love to get it done this winter.
I didn't have any tire issues last season, so I'm interested if anyone else has seen this happen!!
. Do you have Pirelli race tires on your bike?
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Charles Darwin
Guest
This is my first year with the bike, and every year before we parked a car in the garage. I know it never went below freezing because all of the ice/snow/crap that collected on the wheel wells during the day was water in the morning. This is a good thing for the bike because a) it's liquid cooled and b) it has a lead/acid battery. I don't want any of those liquids freezing.
As for the tires - I think that most of us have standard rubber tires that seem to do fine in the winter. I'll let you know in March, I guess - I've got a brand new Bridgestone Spitfire on the front.
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Charles Darwin
Guest
Me neither! Guess should ask the mods to move it?
Might not be necessary. I guess the OP put it in here since it's probably specific to race tires.
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