In honor of this week, I've compiled a list of tire maintenance tips to help you get the most out of your ride.

#1: Get to know your owner's manual. Yeah, it can be a bit dry to sit and read a manual, but you're going to get a lot out of it. Specifically, your manual will tell you about ideal tire pressure, how to adjust your pressure for load or environmental conditions, and more.

#2: Store it right. How you store your bike can make a big difference in the lifespan and performance of your tires. Keep them out of direct sunlight. Avoid using “cleaning” products that actually just dry tires out. Make sure you store your bike properly over the winter: check out this article I wrote for Michigan Midwest Motorcycle Magazine for winter storage tips.

#3: Check before you ride. Check your tire pressure when the tires are cold using a reliable pressure gauge. Many manufacturers recommend checking pressure only once a week, but my thinking is it takes 2 minutes to do… why not just do it before you ride, and at the same time, check your lights and brakes too. Better to find a problem before you go than while you're out riding and trying to enjoy yourself. Need a reliable tire gauge? Request one here (sorry, limited to Michigan residents only).

#4: Look at your tires. Seems obvious, but a lot of people don't. When you check your pressure, give the tires a once-over to make sure there are no cracks, flat spots, weird wear patterns, or embedded objects. Again, it could save you from wasting a bunch of time on the side of the road trying to patch a tire on the fly.

#5: Be prepared. Get yourself a portable repair kit. It should have tire plugs, a rasp, some razor blades or a box cutter, an allen wrench, and an air pump or portable canisters. You can buy these items to assemble a kit yourself, or buy one pre-assembled from a retailer. If you can, get one that also has a First Aid kit built in… just in case.

Want more information for tire maintenance and safety? Check out NHTSA's What's your PSI tip sheet! If you or someone you care about has been injured in a motorcycle accident, the number to call if you fall is 1-877-BIKER-LAW.