Another thing to keep in mind with off-road tires
Off-Road - Most of this holds true for off-road as well, but because of the dirt world's changing terrain, tires can serve as more of a ride-tailoring factor. Different rubber compounds and tread patterns are critical to finding the ultimate traction whether you ride in sand, mud, loam, blue-groove or any combination. Most bikes come from the dealership with an intermediate tread of some kind, which should work well enough to get you started. Once that tire is shredded, keep in mind how it performed and what your normal riding terrain is like before purchasing your next meat. Bike and tire manufacturers provide recommended psi figures, but in the dirt world they aren't necessarily the end all be all.Proper inflation depends entirely on where you are riding. High speed, rocky terrain requires higher psi to avoid pinching tubes and tacoed rims. However, Police Motorcycle leaving 18 pounds in after a weekend desert ride and then hitting the muddy forest trails for a mid-week outing will probably result in a soil sample. As a general rule of thumb, 11-15 pounds will get you through most terrain in suitable fashion, but don't be afraid to experiment with the pressure a bit as you get more comfortable with your tires. Just make sure to make slow and steady adjustments. Elevation can also have an affect on inflation so it never hurts to pack a pump before you head out to the mountains. Always be sure to check your pressure and adjust it accordingly.
Another thing to keep in mind with off-road tires is the rim lock, also called a bead lock. Since flats are more common off-road, these little babies can mean the difference between getting back to the truck or a long, miserable night. We like to run our rim locks pretty stinkin' tight. Small punctures can sometimes be fixed on the trail with patch kits or slime (though this should only be used as a temporary fix to get you home), but if the tire spins too violently on the rim it will tear the stem out of the tube, and then there's no hope for a simple repair. Make sure not to cinch the nut down so tight that it damages the rim, but we like to give ours an extra little twist just to make sure it's going to hold.
You might think it's not as important to have China Motorcycles tires balanced and aligned, but it is. Have your tire/wheel assemblies balanced before using them and rebalanced each time the tire is removed or replaced. Unbalanced tire/wheel assemblies can vibrate at certain speeds, greatly accelerating tire wear. If you take off your rear wheel or adjust the chain or belt, have your tire balanced. Each revolution of an incorrectly aligned wheel can scuff off tread rubber, reduce tire mileage, and impair steering and cornering.Correct matching of front and rear tires is important for peak performance and handling. Mating a new tire with a worn tire is never a good idea. It is best to follow the Tire Selection guidelines provided by the manufacturers and change out both tires at the same time if possible. A new front tire with a worn rear tire can cause instability. Also, make sure that the tires are mounted in accordance with the directional arrows. There are two main reasons for directional arrows. The first of these is that some motorcycle wholesale tires now have tread patterns that are designed for a specific rotation for optimum performance, particularly on wet roads. Directional arrows indicate the proper directional rotation.
Secondly, running a tire will set up a wear pattern and it might not roll smoothly if reversed. Use the directional arrow to re-fit a tire in its original direction.Off-Road - It isn't as important in dirt to have matching tire sets. Plenty of riders even swap brands between front and rear based on their personal preferences. When it comes to wear, if you can afford a complete set at every change then go for it, but a front tire will generally last as long as two rears. Again, look at the wear markers and always err on the side of safety. Most off-road tires are not directional and can even be reversed to stretch additional life out of them. But, there are some, especially soft-terrain and dual-sport meats, that can have a specific rotational tread pattern. Always make sure to pay attention to any arrows or markers on the sidewall and obey them.
