Tires & Tubes - Honda 450X 2005 Owner's Manual & Competition Handbook

Tires & Tubes
Refer to Safety Precautions on page 25.
To safely operate your CRF, the tires must be the
proper type (off-road) and size, in good condition
with adequate tread, and correctly inflated.
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 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
CRF ride more harshly, are more prone to
damage from surface hazards, and wear unevenly.
Make sure the valve stem caps are secure. If
necessary, install a new cap.
92
Servicing Your Honda
Always check air pressure when your tires are
"cold." If you check air pressure when your tires
are "warm" — even if your CRF 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 15 psi (100 kPa, 1.0 kgf/cm
Rear 15 psi (100 kPa, 1.0 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.
(1)
(1) tire tread depth
• 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.
• Measure tread depth (1). Replace the tire
before depth at the center reaches 0.12 in (3
2 )
mm), or any time you notice a reduction in
2 )
traction.
• 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.
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.