Tire Pressure and Tire Life: The Overlooked Secrets That Save Your Ride (and Your Butt)

Look, we get it. Checking your tire pressure isn’t as cool as slapping on a new exhaust or posting your bike at golden hour for your socials. But you know what’s even less cool? Low-siding in a corner because your front tire folded, or shredding your wallet on a new set of tires you didn’t need to kill so fast.

Here’s the deal: underinflated tires cook themselves. Like, literally. Every mile you ride on low PSI, your tire’s sidewall flexes like your buddy trying to impress at the gym, and all that flexing makes heat. That heat destroys your tire from the inside out, shortens its life, and robs you of grip right when you need it most.

Think you’re immune? Cool, let’s chat about your handling. Ever wrestle your bike through a corner and think, “Man, this thing feels like pudding”? Low tire pressure. Slow, vague steering? Low tire pressure. Sketchy mid-corner adjustments? You guessed it—low tire pressure.

And for the “it’s fine, bro” crowd, let’s talk tire replacement. Your tires have wear indicators (those little bumps in your tread grooves). If your tread is flush with those, it’s time. No “just one more ride.” Also, your tires have a born-on date stamped on the side (last four digits of the DOT code). “2319” means week 23 of 2019, which means your tire is aging faster than your liver at Bike Week.

Most tires should retire at 5 years, max, no matter how “good they look.” Rubber hardens with age, and those tiny cracks you’re ignoring are dry rot begging to spit you off mid-ride.

Don’t want to eat ramen for a month because you torched your tire budget? Check your pressure weekly. Use a real gauge, not your thumb or that gas station stick that hasn’t been accurate since 1998. Check when cold. Adjust for heavy loads. Replace when bald, cracked, or old.

It’s not glamorous, but it’s the cheapest, easiest maintenance you can do to ride better, safer, and longer. Plus, it keeps your skin on your body, which is nice.

Ready to stop skipping the basics? Hit up Schmidt Motos if you need gear recommendations or a sanity check before your next ride. We’re here to help you ride smarter, not harder—and keep you off the pavement, unless it’s on purpose.