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How To Inflate Motorcycle Tires & The 3 Best Ways To Do It

Tire pressure is one of the most important yet most overlooked aspects of motorcycle maintenance.

Under-inflated tires can lead to a number of problems, such as decreased fuel mileage and making the bike slow to lean over. On the other hand, over-inflated tires can also cause problems, such as a harsh ride and decreased traction.

Suffice to say, motorcycle tire pressure is extremely important – but how do you ensure that your tires are properly inflated?

In this article, we’ll go over how to inflate motorcycle tires, the optimal tire pressure, and the best way to measure it.

Also Read: How To Prevent Flat Spots on Motorcycle Tires

How to Inflate Motorcycle Tires

Inflating motorcycle tires is a pretty simple process – all you need is a good air compressor, either your own or one at a gas station, and a tire gauge (if the compressor is not already equipped with one).

The whole process for both tires should take only a minute or two, and you’ll be back on the road again.

Inflating Motorcycle Tires With a 12V mini Compressor

One of the best ways to inflate motorcycle tires is by using a portable 12V mini air compressor.

We love this option because it’s small and light enough to take with you on the road, but powerful enough to get the job done quickly.

1. Check the Swingarm for the Recommended Tire Pressure

Nobody knows your motorcycle better than the engineers who designed it in the first place, and this certainly applies to tire pressure.

On most motorcycles, you can find the recommended tire air pressure either on the swingarm or the frame.

If you can’t find it there, consult your owner’s manual.

Remember – the PSI rating on the sidewall of the tires is not the recommended pressure. It’s actually the maximum pressure that the tire can handle before it blows up.

2. Connect the 12V Compressor to Your Bike’s Battery

Getting access to the battery is very easy – simply remove the seat.

Now, connect the positive clamp (red) of the 12V mini air compressor to the battery positive (red), and the negative clamp (black) to the battery negative (black).

If there’s not a lot of space in the battery bay, then you can also connect the negative clamp of the air compressor to any bare metal part of the frame or the engine. They all are connected to battery negative.

3. Attach the Compressor Nozzle to the Valve Stem

Simply unscrew the dust cap and attach the compressor nozzle to the valve.

Make sure to push the compressor nozzle to the valve all the way – this will ensure that there’s a good seal.

Start inflating the tire

Now, turn on the air compressor by pressing the power button. The compressor will start automatically inflating the tire.

Keep an eye on the tire pressure gauge, and stop inflating the tire when it reaches the recommended pressure.

Once the tire is inflated, remove the pump nozzle from the valve and screw the dust cap back on. That’s it!

Inflating Motorcycle Tires With a Gas Station Air Compressor

If there’s a gas station nearby and your motorcycle’s tires have enough air left to ride to it, then you can use the air compressor there.

Gas station air compressor nozzles can sometimes be difficult to fit on the front tire, but you can squeeze them in through the gaps in the front wheel brake discs.

The whole process is nearly identical, except that you won’t need to fiddle around by connecting a mini 12V air compressor to the battery.

  1. Find out whether the gas station offers free or paid compressed air.
  2. Remove the dust cap and attach the air compressor nozzle to the valve.
  3. Start inflating the tire.
  4. Stop inflating when the tire reaches the recommended pressure.
  5. Remove the air compressor nozzle and screw the dust cap back on.

That’s it! You’ve successfully inflated your motorcycle tires using a gas station air compressor.

How To Inflate A Bike Tire Without A Pump

We’ve covered how to inflate a motorcycle tire using a 12V mini air compressor and how to inflate a motorcycle tire using a gas station air compressor, but what if you don’t have access to either of those?

Luckily, it’s still possible to inflate a motorcycle tire without a pump. All you need is a bunch of CO2 cartridges.

Sure, it’s expensive and not practical, but CO2 cartridges can save your bacon if you fixed a puncture and need to fill your tires up in the middle of nowhere.

1. Screw the CO2 Cartridge Into the Inflator

Most CO2 cartridges come as a kit and include an inflator.

The CO2 cartridge is sealed, therefore you have to screw the inflator onto the CO2 cartridge in order to puncture the seal.

Once the inflator is screwed all the way into the CO2 cartridge, the cartridge becomes ready to be used.

2. Attach the Inflator to the Valve Stem

Now, take the inflator and attach it to the valve stem.

Make sure to push it all the way onto the valve stem – this will ensure a good seal.

CO2 cartridges are tough to use and you will likely waste a lot of the CO2 if you’re not careful.

3. Inflate the Tire With Short Bursts

Since CO2 cartridges do not have a built-in pressure gauge, you’ll have to estimate when the tire is full.

We recommend inflating the tire in short bursts and checking the pressure with a separate gauge after each burst.

As a general rule of thumb, 6 CO2 cartridges should be enough to inflate a tire from 0 to 30 PSI.

Optimal Motorcycle Tire Pressure Front And Rear

The optimal motorcycle tire pressure is 33 PSI front and 31 PSI for sportbikes, especially on track days.

However, each motorcycle is different, and the best and the most optimal tire pressure for your motorcycle can be found in the owner’s manual.

Make sure to check the tire pressure regularly, as even a slight change in temperature can have a noticeable effect on the tire pressure.

Optimal Motorcycle Tire Pressure For Hot Weather

Tire air pressure does change with temperature – that’s why motorcycle tire manufacturers tell riders to check the tire pressure only when the tires are cold (as in haven’t been ridden recently).

Now, in order to find the optimal tire hot weather tire pressure for your specific motorcycle, you need to use the 5-10% rule.

With the 5-10% rule, you should first measure the pressure of the tires when they are cold, then warm them up by riding and checking the pressure again. If the tire pressure didn’t increase by 5%, then you should let some air out, but if the pressure increased by 10%, then you should add more air.

Final Thoughts

That’s all there is to it!

Now you know how to inflate motorcycle tires in three different ways – using a 12V mini air compressor, gas station air compressor, and CO2 cartridges.

You also now know what the optimal motorcycle tire pressure is for both front and rear tires, as well as how to find the optimal tire pressure for hot weather conditions.

So get out there and enjoy the open road!

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