How to maintain your motorcycle tires and battery…..You ever geared up for a ride—like full-on jacket, gloves, helmet, playlist queued, looking like a snack—only to push the starter and nothing happens?
No purr. No rumble. Just the sound of your dreams wheezing into the void.
I’ve been there. And I’d bet an entire box of gas station beef jerky that your battery or tires are behind it. Yep, the real villains in the shadows while we’re all distracted upgrading LED headlights and slapping on decals like we’re on Fast & Furious: Bike Edition.
So this post? It’s my unsolicited but heartfelt guide on how to maintain your motorcycle tires and battery for optimal performance—served up messy, honest, and with a couple embarrassing moments sprinkled in for flavor.
That Time My Battery Ruined My Sunday (And I Deserved It)
Let’s start with the battery. Because it will betray you at the worst possible time. Like mine did on a beautiful Sunday morning last April.
I’d told everyone I was going for a solo soul-searching ride (read: wanted to clear my head after arguing with my cat). Got outside, leaned over all dramatically like a biker in a movie… pressed the ignition… and nada.
Nothing but an anemic click. I even tried that weird little jiggle thing we all do, like maybe the bike just needs to be encouraged. Still nothing. My battery had straight-up ghosted me.
And the thing is—I knew it was on the way out. I just ignored it.
Battery Care: Lazy-Me-Proof Edition
Here’s how I should’ve been maintaining it (and how you should too):
✅ Keep It Charged
If your bike sits more than a few days? Use a battery tender. Seriously. Mine’s now permanently plugged into one like it’s on life support. I call it “Frankie.” Frankie keeps my baby alive through every rainy week and lazy spell.
Pro tip: If your charger doesn’t have an automatic shutoff, get one. Or risk overcooking your battery like my cousin did (RIP to that sad acid-leaking lump).
✅ Clean the Terminals
Every few months. Or when they start looking like they’ve been dipped in crusty lemon juice. I use a wire brush and a weird satisfaction I can’t explain.
If your terminals are all green and fluffy-looking? That’s corrosion. Not seasoning. Scrub that off before it eats into the cable and ruins your vibe.
✅ Know the Voltage
If your battery sits at anything lower than 12.4 volts, it’s like… whispering for help. Under 12 volts? That sucker is basically half dead. I use a multimeter I got for like $15 off Amazon. Saved me multiple panic attacks.
Tires: The Underappreciated Heroes (Until They Fail)
Tires are like that one friend who never asks for anything but would still help you move furniture at midnight. Until you ignore them too long… and suddenly they’re just not there for you anymore.
This one time? I rode 300 miles on a tire with threads showing.
I told myself it had character. Truth was, I was broke and stubborn and pretending not to notice how sketchy turns felt. That tire finally gave out halfway through a highway stretch in Jersey. I had to call a tow truck with a guy who laughed for three straight minutes when he saw it.
So. Yeah. Lesson learned.
How I Keep My Tires from Betraying Me Now
✅ Check Pressure (Even When You Don’t Wanna)
I try to do it weekly. Or at least every other weekend.
Your manual will tell you the recommended PSI. Mine’s 36 front, 42 rear, and if it’s even 5 PSI off, I feel it in every corner.
Get yourself a legit gauge. The gas station ones? About as accurate as me saying “I’ll be ready in 5 minutes.”
✅ Inspect the Tread
Run your hand over it. Look for uneven wear, bald spots, or little objects embedded (I once found a freaking key stuck in mine. Like… whose life did that tire live before me?).
Use the penny test. If you can see the top of Abe Lincoln’s head? Replace it.
✅ Check for Age (Yes, Rubber Gets Old Too)
Even if the tread looks okay, rubber breaks down over time. After 5–6 years, it’s not safe. Check the DOT code on the sidewall—the last four digits are the week and year of manufacture.
Mine once said “3217” — week 32 of 2017. That tire was older than some TikTok influencers and definitely needed to go.
Random But Weirdly Important Tips about how to maintain your motorcycle tires and battery
- Don’t overinflate to get “better mileage.” It ruins grip and wears your tires faster than TikTok trends.
- Don’t use tire shine on the tread. Seriously. Learned that one the hard way. It’s like putting butter on a dance floor.
- Park out of direct sunlight. UV rays cook rubber like bacon on a sidewalk.
Real Talk: You Don’t Need to Be a Bike Whisperer
I’m not a mechanic. I once spent 30 minutes trying to unscrew my oil cap only to realize it was a pull. And yet—I keep my battery alive and my tires fresh.
You can too. You just gotta care a little bit more than you care about how cool your exhaust sounds.
In Case You’re Still Avoiding It…
Here’s a checklist I taped to my garage wall (well, fridge first, then it got grease on it and now lives in the garage):
Monthly Maintenance Checklist
- Check tire pressure (front & rear)
- Inspect tread wear & cracks
- Look for tire debris or embedded nonsense
- Wipe down battery terminals
- Plug in battery tender overnight
- Take a photo and send to friend saying “I adulted today” (optional but satisfying)
Links That Might Actually Help
- This dude’s wild battery-replacement fail on Reddit — had me laughing and learning
- Motorcycle tire myths debunked by Revzilla — worth bookmarking when your buddy starts giving “advice” again
Final Thoughts about how to maintain your motorcycle tires and battery
Listen. Your motorcycle is more than metal and wires and grease. It’s a vibe. A friend. A stubborn, beautiful, sometimes-jerk of a machine. And it deserves a little love.
Give it fresh air in the tires and life in the battery. And it’ll give you everything—wind in your hair, freedom in your soul, and hopefully less time on the side of the road googling what went wrong.
If you’ve made it this far, go outside and just look at your tires. Give your battery a little pat. Tell it you love it. Or, y’know, plug it in.
Ride safe. Stay messy. And don’t be me in Jersey with the threadbare tire.
