SHOW TIME

It doesn't take a genius to know you need new motorcycle tires. When your back end starts to feel a little loose in corners that you've blasted through a hundred times before, it's time to check your tread depth. Use the built-in tread wear indicators. When the tire is worn down to the indicators that are set at 1/32nd inch (0.8 millimeters) or when the tread groove depth is even less, it's time to change. Thin tires are penetrated by nails and shrapnel much easier than ones with healthy tread. A good way to gauge this is with a penny. Take a penny and stick it upside down in the tread groove. The space between the edge of the penny and the top of Lincoln's head is about 1/32nd of an inch. If Lincoln needs a haircut, you need a new tire. If the tire cord or fabric is exposed, the tire is dangerously worn and must be replaced immediately. It's also a good idea to inspect the conditions of your wheels periodically. Bent rims may cause wheel wobble, bead unseating and, in the case of tubeless tires, gradual air loss. Sudden wheel failure may result from the use of cracked cast wheels. Bent rims and bent or cracked cast wheels should be replaced immediately.