Your tyres are the only part of your bike that actually touches the road, so getting them wrong isn’t just inconvenient, it can be genuinely dangerous. Whether you’ve just completed your CBT or you’re still working towards it, understanding tread depth, tyre pressure, and what to look out for is one of the most practical things you can learn early on.

Tread depth is your first check. The legal minimum in the UK is 1mm across three-quarters of the tyre’s width, but most experienced riders wouldn’t let it get anywhere near that low, especially in spring when roads can still throw up wet patches and debris. Tyre pressure matters just as much. Under-inflated tyres affect handling, braking distance, and fuel efficiency, while over-inflated tyres reduce your contact patch and make the ride unpredictable. Always check pressure when the tyres are cold, and refer to your bike’s manual for the correct figures. Also get into the habit of doing a quick visual check before every ride, looking for cracks, bulges, or anything embedded in the rubber. 🔍 At Betta Biker, we cover this kind of practical, real-world knowledge as part of our CBT training in Warrington, because knowing your bike is just as important as riding it. What’s the one pre-ride check you always do (or know you should be doing more often)? Drop it in the comments below.