Tires & Tubes; Air Pressure; Inspection; Tube Replacement - Honda CRF450L 2019 Owner's Manual & Off-Road Handbook

Refer to Important Safety Precautions on page 33.
To safely operate your motorcycle, your tires must
be the proper type and size, in good condition with
adequate tread, and correctly inflated for the load
you are carrying.
WARNING
Using tires that are excessively worn or
improperly inflated can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this owner's
manual regarding tire inflation and
maintenance.
The following pages give detailed information on
how and when to check your air pressure, how to
inspect your tires for wear and damage, and our
recommendations on tire repair and replacement.

Air Pressure

Properly inflated tires provide the best
combination of handling, tread life, and riding
comfort. Generally, underinflated tires wear
unevenly, adversely affect handling, and are more
likely to fail from being overheated.
Underinflated tires can also cause wheel damage
on hard terrain. Overinflated tires make your
motorcycle ride harshly, are more prone to damage
from surface hazards, and wear unevenly.
Make sure the valve stem caps are secure. If
necessary, install new caps.
Use an accurate gauge to measure the air pressure
in your tires before each off-road ride and
whenever you return to pavement after riding off-
road. If you only ride on pavement, check the
pressure at least once a month and at any other time
you think the tires might be low.
Always check air pressure when your tires are
"cold." If you check air pressure when your tires
are "warm" — even if your motorcycle has only
been ridden for a few miles — the readings will be
higher. If you let air out of warm tires to match the
recommended cold pressures, the tires will be
underinflated.
The correct "cold" tire pressures are:
Front 22 psi (150 kPa, 1.50 kgf/cm
Rear 22 psi (150 kPa, 1.50 kgf/cm
If you decide to adjust tire pressures for a
particular riding condition, make changes a little at
a time.

Inspection

Take time to inspect your tires and wheels before
you ride.
• Inspect carefully for bumps or bulges in the
side of the tire or the tread. Replace any tire
that has a bump or bulge.
• Look closely for cuts, slits, or cracks in the
tires. Replace a tire if you can see fabric or
cord.
• Check for rocks or other objects embedded in
the tire or tread. Remove any objects.
• Check the position of both valve stems. A
tilted valve stem indicates the tube is slipping
inside the tire or the tire is slipping on the rim.
Tread Wear
(1)
2
)
2
)
(1) wear indicator
(2) wear indicator location mark
Also, if you hit a pothole or hard object while
riding, pull to the side of the road as soon as you
safely can and carefully inspect the tires for
damage.
For the best performance, you should replace a tire
before the tread depth at the center reaches the
following limits:
Front 0.12 in (3.0 mm)
Rear 0.12 in (3.0 mm)
If the wear indicators are visible, replace the tire
immediately as it is no longer safe.

Tube Replacement

If a tube is punctured or damaged, you should
replace it as soon as possible. A repaired tube may
not have the same reliability as a new one, and it
may fail while you are riding.
Use a replacement tube equivalent to the original.
Tires & Tubes
(2)
127
Servicing Your Honda