The Patch

Let’s Talk About THE PATCH!

Now what am I referring to… not the soul patch on Shaggy’s chin…. And not the veggie patch in your garden. I’m talking about the contact patch on your tire! What is the contact patch and what does it tell us about our tires?

The contact patch is the area of your tire that (as the name implies) makes contact with the driving surface. The contact patch of your motorcycle tire can tell you a lot about your tire’s inflation. If your tire is wearing evenly across the entire width of the contact patch you probably are running pretty consistently with correct air pressure. A correct inflated tire should handle appropriately and consistently, as well as giving you the best tire life and consistent gas mileage.

If your tire has warping or an uneven surface along the contact patch or looks like it is cupped you are probably running with an underinflated tire. Under inflated tires are sluggish and responded poorly to maneuvering. They also have unpredictable grip with the road surface, tend to feel “squishy” when you’re riding on them, and are more prone to getting a flat. Under inflation also create more friction in the tire, which creates more heat in the rubber and causes premature wear, and will affect how the bike handles during braking.

If your tire is wearing a very narrow patch along the center, you are probably running with an over inflated tire. Over inflation reduces the contact patch size and that reduces the grip of the tire with the road surface, it will also create a very rough or stiff ride.

If you are a daily rider, strive to check your tire pressure weekly, and top off as necessary. If you aren’t riding quite as regularly, check it before every ride. You lose approximately 1 psi every month, and for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit ( ~5 degrees Celsius) change you lose or gain 1 psi.