Your safety comes first: Check your tires
Worn tires can ruin your vehicle's performance and even endanger you or your loved ones. It is recommended that you do a weekly inspection to check:
The state of the tires
The depth of the treads
Any damage due to impacts or any sign of unusual wear.
You are also advised to check your tire pressure twice a month.
If in doubt, always ask for expert advice!
Six reasons to change your tires
1. The tire has a puncture
Tires are durable and designed to withstand impacts, but they sometimes puncture. If you get a flat tire, it should be replaced by a professional mechanic.
2. The legal tread wear limit has been reached
A Michelin Man symbol on the upper side of your tires means that they feature a tread wear indicator. Similar to little bumps, these can be found at the bottom of the main grooves.
When the rubber has worn down to this level, the tire has reached its legal wear limit of 2/32nds. Michelin strongly advises you to change your tires before reaching this point. Past this point, there is no guarantee that your tires will keep you safe or deliver grip and performance, particularly on wet surfaces.
3. Tires show signs of aging
It is difficult to predict a tire's lifespan because it bears no relation to its manufacturing date. Tires that have never been used, or have only been used infrequently, may still show signs of aging. Many factors can affect their lifespan: weather conditions, storage and usage conditions, load, speed, tire pressure, maintenance, riding style, and so on.
Michelin recommends that all riders regularly spend some time inspecting their tires to pick up on any external signs of aging or wear, such as deformations or cracks in the tread, on the shoulders or sides.
You should also have your tires checked by a professional who can assess if they should be replaced or not.
The 5 year test… before it's too late!
After 5 years or more of use, tires should be examined every year by a professional mechanic. If the tires need to be changed, follow the manufacturer's recommendations with regard to replacing original components. As a precaution, all tires that have not been replaced after ten years should be changed, even if they appear to be in a generally good condition and have not reached their tread wear limit.
4. The tire is damaged
Pavements, holes or blunt objects can seriously damage tires. All tears, cuts or deformations should be carefully examined by a professional mechanic.
As a general rule, don't ride on damaged or flat tires. If the tire contains a puncture, it should be replaced.
When is a tire damaged beyond repair?
Punctures to the sides of the tire
Deformed or visible beads
Tread rubber becoming unstuck or deformed
Wear leading to a visible breaker or carcass under the treads or on the side
Damage due to oils or corrosive substances
Marbling or scratches to the inside faces as a result of riding with insufficient tire pressure.
5. The tire shows an unusual pattern of wear
Unusual wear of the tire treads – localized in certain places, in the center or on the shoulders – is often a sign of a mechanical problem (worn shock absorbers, transmission, fixings, etc.) or a balance issue. It can also occur as a result of incorrect tire pressure.
To prevent unusual wear, check your wheel balance every six months. This will prolong tire life and ensure a more comfortable ride. Aside from this, your tires may seem excessively worn for their mileage compared with other motorcycles ridden in the exact same conditions.
If this happens, contact your specialist.
6. You have the wrong tires for your vehicle
Choose your tires in accordance with legal requirements and the kind of equipment recommended for your vehicle. For optimal performance, use tires with the same tread pattern for the front and back. Tires that have different designs, treads and wear patterns might affect the vehicle's balance and stability. Never fit a vehicle with one radial tire and one non-radial tire unless specified by the manufacturer.
When the time comes to change your tires, check out our tire selector or consult one of our specialists to be sure you make the right choice.
FAQ
Read our Frequently Asked Questions.
Replace without delay if any of these are present:
Tread has reached the wear indicator bars
Any cut or tear deep enough to expose the cord layer beneath the rubber
A bulge or bubble in the sidewall or tread area — indicates internal structural failure
Any delamination or separation between tread and carcass
Damage from running the tire flat, even a short distance
Chemical damage visible as softening, swelling, or discoloration from oil or solvent contact
A professional inspection assesses both the internal and external condition of the tire — not just what's visible from outside. The technician checks for aging signs including cracks, surface degradation, and sidewall condition, and can assess whether the rubber has degraded in ways that visual inspection alone doesn't catch. After five years, the aging process can have progressed significantly even in tires that look acceptable from the outside.
Not necessarily at the same mileage — rear tires typically wear faster than fronts. Replace each tire when it reaches its wear limit. However, when replacing a tire, consider the condition and age of the other tire. If the remaining tire is close to the wear limit or has been in service for several years, replacing both at once provides a known starting point for the next service interval and ensures matched performance characteristics.
Michelin recommends against it. Front and rear motorcycle tires from the same line are designed as a matched system. Introducing a different brand or model for one tire creates handling characteristics that may be unpredictable because the two tires were not engineered to work together. Where possible, replace with the same brand and model as the remaining tire, or replace both as a matched set.
Rubber ages through chemical processes that occur regardless of use — ozone exposure, UV light, and heat cycling all degrade the compound over time. A tire that has seen minimal riding may still have aged significantly if it was stored in poor conditions or simply because of the years elapsed since manufacture. The ten-year guideline reflects the maximum time Michelin considers rubber compounds to remain reliable, regardless of how little the tire was used.
The DOT code on the sidewall ends with a four-digit sequence. The first two digits are the week of manufacture; the last two are the year. A code ending in 1922 means the tire was made in the 19th week of 2022. Apply the five-year professional inspection guideline from that date, not from when you purchased or fitted the tire. A tire can sit on a shelf for a year or two before purchase, which counts toward its age.
Related articles
-
Tire wear and tear
The rear tire wears fastest in the center from straight-line riding. As that center flattens, the transition into corners becomes noticeably less smooth: a change in feel that signals significant wear even if depth still looks adequate in the center groove. Check tread depth at multiple points across the full width of both tires, not just in the center, and use wear indicators and a depth gauge together to get an accurate picture.View more -
How to Check Your Tire Pressure
Check pressure before every ride, with the tires cold (not ridden in the last few hours). Use the cold pressure from your owner's manual or the vehicle information plate, not the maximum on the tire sidewall. Never bleed air from a hot tire to reach the cold pressure target: when the tire cools, it will be underinflated. Replace the valve cap securely after every check as it forms a secondary seal on the valve assembly.View more -
Track Tires Recommended Pressure
Start a track session at the manufacturer's recommended cold road pressure. As the tires warm through the first laps, pressure rises naturally: do not release air mid-session based on a hot reading. Allow a deliberate warm-up period for the first two to three laps, keeping lean angles moderate and braking forces gentle until the tires reach their operating temperature. Only then are the tires delivering the grip they were designed for.View more -
Off-Road
Correct inflation is essential for the safety and longevity of your tires. A tire gradually loses air over time. It is therefore essential to check its 'cold' pressure before each ride. If the pressure is checked when out on a ride (or soon after), be aware that the air in the tire is 'hot' - In fact, when riding, the pressure increases, so you should never deflate a tire that has just been ridden on.
If the pressure (when tested cold) is lower than the recommended 'cold' pressure, it is essential to replace the missing air. After checking, do not forget to replace the valve cap which is a core part of the seal (along with the valve itself). It is recommended to change the valve assembly and cap each time you remove/replace the tire, as it is key to ensuring the integrity of the whole assembly.View more