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If you’ve ever heard someone say, “Just let out a little air, it’s hot out,” and you took their advice, you should probably keep reading. There’s a lot of old-school thinking about tire pressure and heat, and most of it doesn’t hold up.
Truth is, tire pressure is one of the most important (and most misunderstood) factors in keeping your ride safe, smooth and predictable in warm weather. The wrong tire pressure can lead to bad habits, blown tires or worse.
Let’s clear the air, literally, and bust some of the most common misnomers.
Reality: You’re more likely to get a blowout from under-inflation than too much pressure.
Modern tires are designed to expand safely. A few extra PSI from a hot day or aggressive riding won’t cause a blowout, but starting with too little pressure just might.
Stick to the manufacturer’s recommended cold pressure spec. The tire is designed to operate safely across its full temperate range from there.
Reality: It matters even more. Heat doesn’t eliminate the importance of pressure, it amplifies it. Since most modern street bikes are tubeless and designed for higher PSI, they hold pressure well.
When you’re riding on hot pavement, your tires are working overtime. Running even a few PSI too low can change how your bike handles dramatically.
Low pressure causes more flex, which leads to heat buildup, faster wear and a higher risk of failure, including rim damage or potentially unseating the tire.
Reality: Riding warms your tires fast, often increasing pressure by 3 to 6 PSI, or more, depending on conditions. That’s expected. If you check your tire pressure after a ride, you’re not getting a true reading.
Always check the cold PSI listed in your owner’s manual before you ride. That’s the reading manufacturers use when setting the recommended PSI.
Reality: Properly inflated tires handle heat just fine. Your tires won’t explode from sitting in the sun or riding on a hot road if they’re inflated to spec.
Motorcycle tire manufacturers test their product in a wide range of temperatures and speeds. The real danger isn’t from tire pressure going up; it’s from starting out with tires that aren’t properly inflated in the first place. It’s also worth noting that excessive tire wear or purposely heating up the tire ( like doing burnouts) can seriously increase the chance of a blowout. But if you’re using the tire the way it’s meant to be used, then the risk of a blowout remains pretty low.
Reality: It’s more complicated than that. Yes, heat causes air to expand and pressure to rise, but it’s not 1:1. Pressure changes depend on tire size, riding style, road temps, tire construction and compound.
Some tires may gain 2 PSI during a ride. Others 5 or more. That’s why we always start by checking cold pressure and adjusting from there.
Most of the heat-related tire pressure myths are common in the street world, but off-road riders still should understand how temperature and terrain can impact their tire performance.
Most adventure and dual-sport dirt bikers run tubes, which are more sensitive to pressure changes and can pinch flat if too low, especially in the heat. So don’t run your tubes too soft.
Off-road riders running mousses don't worry about tire pressure, since their foam inserts simulate a consistent PSI, but they can soften as they heat up, especially during long, hard enduro riders, changing the feel of your setup mid-ride, so don't forget to maintain your mousses!
Whether you ride street, dirt or both, your tires are the first and only connection to the ground.
Don’t assume your tire feels fine!
Always check pressure cold
Use a high-quality gauge
Stick to manufacturer specs
When it comes to tire pressure, don’t rely on myths or guesswork. Rely on facts. Heat changes how your tires behave, but the answer isn’t to bleed air or ignore PSI, it’s to start with the right cold pressure and go from there. Proper tire pressure keeps your bike performing its best so you can ride worry-free.
When your tires are right, everything else rides better.
