I am a proud owner of a 650cc sportsbike and I have a few questions regarding my Pirelli tires. There is no doubt that the tires offer superior grip, but I am afraid they are too soft for Thai road conditions. My motorcycle has done 12,000 kilometers and I had to replace the tires once, after 2,500 kilometers, because there was a nasty puncture that could not be repaired. I haven't changed the tires since then.

Every day I face problems such low air-pressure and even punctures. What would you advise me to do? Should I shift to other brand tires? Or should I stick to Pirelli?

Hi I own a 650 Ninja and run Pirelli Angels .I have just bought my second set which I clocked up 18,ooo kms. Tyre pressures I run are front 32psi and rear 36 psi. I have never had a problem with punctures etc. Hope this is helpful.

We would like to clarify a few things. First of all, soft-compound tires have a more limited life. The soft compound ensures that the tire provides the best possible grip on varying terrain. Given the condition of most of our roads, such tires tend to wear out quickly. It also depends on the road surface you ride on everyday.

The best solution for you would be to go for a bit harder compound tires, which will still provide acceptable grip. If, on the other hand, your priority is grip, then you may want to stick with Pirelli or try Michelin tires.

You have to check often if your tires are at the right pressure, riding your motorcycle with the tires are the wrong pressure can serious shorten the life of tires.

My advice is to buy a personal tire pressure gauge, one which you can trust and test your tires once every week. Tire pressure gauges at the petrol stations are extremely inaccurate.