Vroomr, with the flat bottom profile a car tire has it is easier to see when the tire is inflated properly because it wears evenly across the whole, flat tread section. Assuming the wheels are properly aligned, if the car tire is overinflated it wears more in the middle. If it is underinflated it wears towards the inside and outside edges of the tread.
That said, a motorcycle tire, with its rounded tread profile is not as easy to read. Motorcycle racers, running mostly curves on race tracks wear the edges out first, but for most of us street riders the bottom wears out first, often creating a 2" to 3" flat wear track.
A common trick with both motorcycle and car tires is for the vehicle manufacturer to specify less tire pressure than what the manufacturer would recommend because it makes the ride smoother, with less jolts as bumps in the road are encountered. Unfortunately, with both motorcycle and car tires, running less pressure allows the tires to flex more thereby allowing the plys of kevlar/steel, etc. to wear against each other creating more heat which also breaks down the rubber more quickly. In other words, a hot tire wears faster than a warm tire. So, despite having a smaller contact patch, when the tire is inflated to a higher pressure, if it runs cooler it can wear less quickly and last longer.
Fred
That said, a motorcycle tire, with its rounded tread profile is not as easy to read. Motorcycle racers, running mostly curves on race tracks wear the edges out first, but for most of us street riders the bottom wears out first, often creating a 2" to 3" flat wear track.
A common trick with both motorcycle and car tires is for the vehicle manufacturer to specify less tire pressure than what the manufacturer would recommend because it makes the ride smoother, with less jolts as bumps in the road are encountered. Unfortunately, with both motorcycle and car tires, running less pressure allows the tires to flex more thereby allowing the plys of kevlar/steel, etc. to wear against each other creating more heat which also breaks down the rubber more quickly. In other words, a hot tire wears faster than a warm tire. So, despite having a smaller contact patch, when the tire is inflated to a higher pressure, if it runs cooler it can wear less quickly and last longer.
Fred
