Be safe, keep optimum bike tyre pressure and avoid oil spills on roads - Part 13

Keeping optimum tyre pressure in your motorcycle tyres contributes to its stability. Both high and low tyre pressure affect riding dynamics, therefore your safety. Talking about tyres, going over oil spill

1. Tyre pressure

Tyre pressure is probably one of the most overlooked aspects of motorcycle safety. Most people I know do not check their bike's tyre pressure regularly. Some don't do it at all until the tyre is too flat to ride. And, there are some who inflate their bike's tyres basis a strict timetable once in two weeks or a month. But, very few check the pressure regularly or even care to look at the tyres before each ride.

Why check tyre pressure regularly? A bike's tyre pressure affects how well the motorcycle runs, brakes and remains stable. You want to keep the tyre pressure at the recommended level, neither high or too low. Both high and low tyre pressure have certain effects on the bike, here are some I have personally observed:

• High air pressure means less tyre contact with the road as the rubber becomes stiff and less flexible. This leads to the following effects:
  

  • The ride becomes very bumpy and jerky

  • You can feel lots of vibrations on your handlebar and seat

  • Less planted feel on the road especially at high speeds

  • Road grip of the tyre reduces especially in wet and off-road conditions

  • Higher chances of tyre slippage on wet road and while turning sharply

  • Sharp braking becomes less effective due to tyre stiffness and less rubber contact

  • Higher chances of tyre burst especially (on old tyres and) on concrete roads at high temperature

  • Tyres will be worn-out unevenly, the middle part will get bald faster than the sides
    

The only upside (of keeping high tyre pressure) I can think of is the mileage increasing very marginally over a long distance.

• Low air pressure can lead to the following effects:
  

  • Imprecise handling especially while turning

  • More wear and tear of the tyre (rubber)

  • Slow acceleration: Reduced performance due to more friction between tyre and the road

  • Chances of the bike tipping over and falling while leaning and cornering

  • Bending of the alloy wheel frames after going over sharp and deep potholes

I always check my bike tyres for low air pressure or puncture before each ride. When I start riding, I always get a feel of how my bike is behaving over the first bump and turn. Also, in my experience, when the tyre is properly filled, the acceleration is crisp.

• Air temperature and altitude affects tyre pressure: Another overlooked factor is the varying tyre pressure according to outside temperature and altitude:

  • Tyre pressure reduces with lower outside temperature

  • Tyre pressure increases with higher outside temperature

  • Tyre pressure increases with increasing altitude (due to decrease in outside atmospheric pressure) when moving up from sea level

  • Tyre pressure drops with decreasing altitude when moving down to sea level from high altitude areas

So, in a way, each time I ride to a mountain from plains or vice versa, tyre pressure changes. But, the increase in tyre pressure at higher altitudes could be compensated by the low temperature outside (assuming that the outside temperature is colder than the plains where the air pressure was checked).

Keep in mind that the actual amount of air inside the tyre does not change but the relative pressure inside versus outside changes when checked with a gauge. Personally, I have not noticed too much difference in air pressure to refill or release air from the tyres. But, it is good to keep these factors in mind while riding with older tyres or going to extreme off-road conditions at higher elevations and back.

Also, beware that some bikes, especially adventure and touring bikes have different recommended tyre pressure levels for a single rider and fully loaded touring setup.

The lesson to learn here: Always visually check your bike's tyre pressure before each ride. Get a good feel of the bike when you start riding, you can easily notice when the tyre pressure is low or about to go flat. Check your bike's tyre pressure regularly. Always keep the tyre pressure in the recommended range for both front and back tyres. The best solution for monitoring tyre pressure is to get and install a TPMS.

2. Spotting oil spills and loose gravel on the road

Back in the 1990s in New Delhi, oil spill on roads was a common scene. The manufacturing of older scooter and motorcycle models were not tight enough and engine oil leakage was pretty frequent. Every now and then a rider would go over these oil spills and slide away to a hospital bed. Few weeks of pain and misfortune. Fast forward to 2024, motorcycles are more solidly built but their speeds have gone up crazily high too. So, any chance of fall from riding over oil spill or loose gravel has greater consequences including death.

I have been in a few situations where I spotted oil spill and gravel and gone over them. So, here are a few things I do to avoid both:

• In a city with high traffic density, you can simply ride behind other two-wheelers and look for clues. If they are moving fine, you can be sure that you will be fine too.
  

• When you are riding with a distant view of the road ahead, always look for color differences. Usually, places with oil spills will have darker patches just like a wet road looks but a bit darker and shinier.
  

• Same goes for loose gravel, whenever there is loose gravel or loose stones on the road, the color will be less dark with grayish appearance. Be careful of this color difference especially before you lean around a corner.
  

• If I spot an oil spill or gravel too late, I don't brake in panic or lean over it. I simply straighten the bike, let go off the throttle and hold both handlebars firmly and wait for the bike to pass the affected patch and let the tyres get the grip back. Both front and rear tyres are likely to fishtail for a bit, if the spill isn't too bad. So far, it has worked for me.
  

• Be careful around areas where old trucks and buses are usually parked. For example, while descending from Shimla to Chandigarh, there is a section of winding roads, where many trucks halt on the left side shoulder (truck lay-by) for repairs and rest. I always noticed multiple small patches of oil or diesel spill near that area. So, whenever I pass that spot, I am extra careful and I avoid leaning too much.
  

• Be extra careful on hills and mountains where frequent rain and landslides leave small rubbles and loose gravel on the road side. In some instances, they are not even clearly visible even during the day. Leaning the bike in such terrains is too risky as one mistake and you'll end up down the hill thousands of feet below.

The lesson to learn here: In cities and towns with heavy traffic, oil spill on the road is easy to spot as others would slide and fall right before you. On longer stretches, always be cautious when you suddenly notice the road color changing and becoming darker. It could be oil or diesel spill. If the color becomes lighter, it could be loose gravel.