2008 - Safety Reminder - Tire Pressure

[hootmon]

... I think I know the culprit of my tire issue.
Low on air.  WAY low on air actually.  Barely over 10 pounds.

DG on another Subject reminded me that if you do NOT check your tires often, it is VERY important to check it with the change of seasons... With the air getting colder, take the time to go out and check those tire and bring them up to appropriate levels...

I checked previous posts, but it's been just over a year since this has been discussed.

DG's post leads me to pose a question for all the experts on this board (Not looking for scientific explainations here), what tire pressure do you choose to run on your bike and what are the factors involved?

For me..
'94 -
~10K per year
Run Solo almost exclusively (Wife has her own bike)
Metz 880 on the front
Avon Venom on the rear
I usually run ~30# front and ~35 in the rear
I usually get 20+K out of my tires although I am not easy on them..

I'm interested in what you all consider and set your tires to... Who's going to change my mind on my tire pressure choice...

[dgc67]

10lbs front/28lbs rear.  oh, wait!  Not NOW!
Usually 32 front and 30 rear.

[hootmon]

DG;
  So long as you remember that you were doing the ribbing and not me... 

[Greg Cothern]

For Metzelers or Avons they recommend 40 front and 42 rear....  Its been my experience that they last MUCH longer at these pressures as well.  MUCH less with lesser pressures, folks at MOOTMag 3 in Kerrville will remember my rear tire coming apart with only 7K on it running a Metz at 36psi.

[dgc67]

So long as you remember that you were doing the ribbing and not me... 

LOL.  Understood!  I figured I would beat everyone to it!!   

[lragan]

I run the Dunlops, and keep 37 psi front and rear.  One sage old instructor at the advanced MSF course advised to read the "maximum pressure" lettering on the side of the tire, subtract 10% and run it at that point.  When I run mine that firm, I get a bit more bounce in my eyeballs on rough pavement, so I backed off just a bit from that.

Actually, when I was using the stock seat, 40-41 psi worked for me.  While the Mustang I bought from Slydnbye is more comfortable on long rides, it is much harder, so I get more road shock to the eyeballs..

[Greg Cothern]

NOW on the Dunlops they recommend 36 if memory serves me, but the Metz and Avons run higher.  FOLLOW what the tire manufactuer states NOT the bike manual (unless you are still running OEM equip tires).

[ezrydr]

42 rear, 34 front.  (Dunlops.)  I like a hard-blown tire.  It gives me a much better feel of what's going on down there on the road and it gives me stiffer cornering.  It makes the ride a little rougher but I'm willing to accept that in return for the improved feedback and control.  Besides, the tires last longer when you keep them up to specs.

[kwale86]

Now don't forget, since the weather is getting cooler, you MUST drain your summer air out and replace it with winter air.  This would also be a good time to top off your blinker fluid.

[lragan]

Now don't forget, since the weather is getting cooler, you MUST drain your summer air out and replace it with winter air.  This would also be a good time to top off your blinker fluid.

Right after you replace the muffler bearings!!

[MagnaDaddy]

Muffler bearings?   Man I forgot to get those when I was changing the oil in the headlight!

[Charles S Otwell]

Man I'm glad I'm not drinking out of the same water supply as you guys !!