The freedom of getting onto two wheels for the first time is hard to beat. The independence, the confidence and the opportunity to get where you need to go on your own terms. But with that freedom comes a responsibility that many young riders may not yet fully understand.
Because learning to ride isn’t just about mastering the throttle, brakes or balance. It’s also about knowing whether the motorcycle beneath you is safe to ride in the first place.
And that starts with the tyres.
Recognising the importance of building these habits early, TyreSafe joined forces with the National Young Riders Forum (NYRF) to launch a dedicated National Young Rider campaign, putting essential tyre safety knowledge directly into the hands of 16–24-year-olds.
Supported by a dedicated campaign video and free educational resources, the initiative is designed to make tyre checks a natural part of riding, helping a new generation understand that safety begins long before the wheels start turning.
A Small Contact Patch. A Big Responsibility.
For many young people, a motorcycle, scooter or moped is their first vehicle. It might be the quickest way to get to college, the most affordable option for commuting or simply the beginning of a lifelong passion for riding.
But while developing riding skills is an obvious priority, understanding tyre maintenance can be overlooked.
And on two wheels, there’s little room for complacency.
Every turn, every stop and every change of direction relies on two relatively small areas of rubber maintaining contact with the road. Tyres are fundamental to how a motorcycle responds, particularly when braking, cornering or navigating wet and unpredictable conditions.
Incorrect pressures, damage or worn tread can all compromise that performance, sometimes before a rider notices anything unusual.
For someone still building their experience, recognising those risks and knowing how to prevent them is especially important.
It’s why TyreSafe’s campaign, launched alongside the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Two-Wheel Operation, focuses on reaching young riders at a crucial stage in their riding journey.
Rather than waiting for poor maintenance to become a problem, the ambition is to make preventative checks part of the habits they develop from day one.
As TyreSafe Chair Stuart Lovatt explains:
“This campaign is about giving young riders the best possible start. With the right tyre safety habits, they can stay in control and avoid preventable risks.”
Know Your ACT: The Checks That Matter Before Every Ride
At the heart of the campaign is a message that’s deliberately simple: ACT.
Air pressure. Condition. Tread.
Three essential checks that help riders understand what their tyres are telling them and identify potential problems before they take to the road.
A – Air pressure: Get the balance right
Tyre pressure has a direct influence on how a motorcycle handles, brakes and responds to the road.
Too little or too much air can affect grip, stability and tyre wear, making it harder for the motorcycle to perform as intended.
Check both tyres regularly, ideally before every ride, using an accurate pressure gauge while the tyres are cold. Always use the motorcycle manufacturer’s recommended pressures, remembering that these may change when carrying a passenger or luggage.
And don’t rely on appearance alone. A tyre can look perfectly normal while being incorrectly inflated.
C – Condition: Look beyond the surface
A quick visual inspection can reveal problems that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Check the tread and sidewalls for cuts, cracks, bulges, embedded objects or unusual wear. Pay attention to anything that looks out of place, particularly after riding over potholes, debris or damaged road surfaces.
If a tyre shows signs of damage, don’t assume it’s safe simply because it still holds air. Have it assessed by a qualified professional before riding.
T – Tread: Know what’s legal and what’s safe
Motorcycle tread isn’t simply a legal requirement. Its grooves help disperse water, supporting grip when roads are wet.
For motorcycles over 50cc, the UK legal minimum tread depth is 1mm across a continuous band covering at least three-quarters of the tread width, around the entire circumference. The original tread pattern must remain visible across the remaining quarter.
For motorcycles up to 50cc, the original tread pattern must be clearly visible.
But legal compliance is only the starting point. As tread wears, wet-weather performance can deteriorate, making regular inspections and appropriate riding speeds essential.
For young riders, understanding these differences is particularly important, especially when moving between mopeds, scooters and larger motorcycles.
The checks themselves are straightforward. Making them routine is what makes the difference.
Bringing Tyre Safety into Focus
Knowing that young riders need information is one thing. Making that information accessible, relevant and easy to act on is another.
That’s where the National Young Rider campaign takes an important step forward.
Through its partnership with NYRF, TyreSafe has developed dedicated educational materials designed to reach young riders through the channels and organisations they already engage with.
From social media content and downloadable graphics to posters and resources for motorcycle training centres, the campaign gives road safety professionals, instructors and local organisations practical tools to reinforce the message.
A dedicated campaign video brings the core advice together, offering a clear introduction to the importance of tyre maintenance and the checks every young rider should understand.
Crucially, the message isn’t about adding another complicated task to an already demanding learning experience.
It’s about showing riders that a few moments spent checking their tyres can help prevent far more serious consequences.
Heidi Duffy MBE, Facilitator of the National Young Riders Forum, explains:
“We’re reaching out with safety messages that resonate, so young riders gain the knowledge they need to stay safe on two wheels.”
By making the guidance accessible and relevant to everyday riding, the campaign aims to close the gap between knowing tyre safety matters and actually doing something about it.
From First Ride to Lifelong Habit
The early stages of learning to ride are full of new information.
There’s Compulsory Basic Training (CBT), road positioning, hazard awareness, protective equipment and the challenge of developing confidence in traffic.
But while these skills help riders navigate the road, tyre maintenance helps ensure the motorcycle itself is prepared for the journey.
And unlike some aspects of riding that take years to master, the fundamentals of tyre safety can be learned from the outset.
Knowing the correct pressure. Recognising the signs of damage. Understanding legal tread requirements. Taking action when something isn’t right.
These aren’t advanced mechanical skills. They’re basic responsibilities that every rider can develop.
For TyreSafe, the opportunity is to make those responsibilities second nature before poor habits have a chance to form.
Because a young rider who learns to check their tyres today is better equipped to recognise potential problems tomorrow, next year and throughout their riding life.
A Safer Future Starts Before the Ride
The National Young Rider campaign is about more than encouraging young people to check their tyres. It’s about helping them develop the knowledge, confidence and personal responsibility that underpin safer riding.
Through its partnership with NYRF, its alignment with national policing activity and its growing collection of educational resources, TyreSafe is working to ensure tyre safety has a place in the conversations that shape the next generation of motorcyclists.
And the message extends beyond young riders themselves.
Parents, instructors, training centres, colleges and road safety professionals all have an opportunity to reinforce these habits and help make tyre checks an expected part of preparing to ride.
The campaign video provides a practical starting point for those conversations, bringing essential advice into a format that can be shared, discussed and put into practice.
Because the freedom of two wheels should come with the knowledge to look after them.
Watch TyreSafe’s National Young Rider campaign video and explore the free resources available to help young riders build safer habits from day one.
Explore the National Young Rider campaign
ACT before you ride. Always.