How fucken hard is it?

[Bassmatt]

... to pump a new tyre to at least near the correct pressure when fitting it?
I've had three tyres done recently - lowest 18psi, highest 26psi.
I'm riding away too, not like I'm just dropping the wheel in.

[R650R]

Yep its seems the IDGAF outbreak has gone endemic and now made it into skilled workplaces....

Took my wagon in for free 'lifetime' puncture repair which was duly carried out in good time and for free. Get home and check the pressure to provide a baseline to check again later and they've put 37 psi when I have all the others set to 34. The worst is they sprayed the cheapest arse tyre black on the tyres (and wheel rims)....

When the DR650 was new it came bacl from its first service with 35 F KN PSI in both tyres. I asked if this was a policy to induce cold tyre slides to sell more spare parts....

Then there's the tyre iron marks and scrapes on wheel rims....

[Akzle]

ive seen wheels put back on with a rattle gun.

Then a torque wrench, just to be sure they're at least over torque.

[Blackbird]

... to pump a new tyre to at least near the correct pressure when fitting it?
I've had three tyres done recently - lowest 18psi, highest 26psi.
I'm riding away too, not like I'm just dropping the wheel in.

What tyres did you have fitted to the GSX-S this time round? I have 55 profile PR4's on mine. They've done 3.5 k and are in great nick apart from a bit of chewing on the edges from the trackday.

[rastuscat]

A couple of years back we took a troll bike into the dealer for a new front tyre. Service contract, all that stuff.

Got it back with the front tyre fitted the wrong way round. Big arrow on the sidewall wasn't enough for the qualified tyre technician.

[JimO]

A couple of years back we took a troll bike into the dealer for a new front tyre. Service contract, all that stuff.

Got it back with the front tyre fitted the wrong way round. Big arrow on the sidewall wasn't enough for the qualified tyre technician.
perhaps the bike was facing the other way when he put it on

[MarkW]

I sorted it at the time (several years ago now) but a leading Auckland motorcycle tyre specialist sent me on my way with ALL 4 of the front caliper mounting bolts (so both left and right calipers) only spun on two or three turns on my 650 Honda. Staff went as white as when I returned (having travelled less than 100 metres) to ask who had done them up and then who had checked that they were tight. And why the job sheet had been signed off as complete by both the mechanic and the checker.

[jellywrestler]

... to pump a new tyre to at least near the correct pressure when fitting it?
I've had three tyres done recently - lowest 18psi, highest 26psi.
I'm riding away too, not like I'm just dropping the wheel in.

i had a tiff with tony tyres a few years ago, quality dude admitted ten psi difference in their own tyre guages, fucking scary considering car tyres run lower psi than bikes.

[jellywrestler]

to ask who had done them up and then who had checked that they were tight. And why the job sheet had been signed off as complete by both the mechanic and the checker. If a bike shop has to have staff that does the job, and others that double check that it's been done and sign it off for a simple wheel change, and you beleived this, who, of the three are the biggest fuckwits?

[Bassmatt]

ive seen wheels put back on with a rattle gun.

Then a torque wrench, just to be sure they're at least over torque.

Oh good point, I better check that too


What tyres did you have fitted to the GSX-S this time round? I have 55 profile PR4's on mine. They've done 3.5 k and are in great nick apart from a bit of chewing on the edges from the trackday.

Bridgestone S21's. I've gone to a 55 as well.

[Blackbird]

Bridgestone S21's. I've gone to a 55 as well.

Cool! Will be interested to see what you think of them, particularly in the colder, wet conditions. The speed of turn-in has improved significantly with the new tyres.

[T.W.R]

Have seen bike ridden 15km from a shop after having a new rear fitted with the axle nut only done up finger tight & no split pin. Rider pulled up hopped off bike saying it felt funny :facepalm:
Made me laugh that said rider was training to be & is now a riding tutor/instructor and shop that fitted the tyre was one of the more reputable shops in chch for tyres :shutup:

[AllanB]

If a bike shop has to have staff that does the job, and others that double check that it's been done and sign it off for a simple wheel change, and you beleived this, who, of the three are the biggest fuckwits?

I disagree sir.

Given the job sheet specified the work and presumably charged for it one would be safe to presume it was done?

Having said that I always check shit when I get home .....

Also I have witnesses on many occasions a local tyre shop that does exactly that - couple staff - every bike that leaves is given a quick check of the bolts being tight by the non fitter between the two before it leaves the workshop.

Rightly so - buggers could get in serious shit nowdays if ya wheel falls off!

CARS - if you are at Tonys getting a tyre watch the abuse the tyre gauge gets - picked up, used and generally dropped down. Be they are never regularly calibrated either.

Bike tyres - I think the issue may be they often need serious psi to seat the tyre on the rim. Then it is quickly dropped to the 'correct' pressure. I think if allow to set for ten minutes and re-checked it would need an adjustment.

[Big Dog]

Red Baron used to fully deflate the tyre after beading then re inflate.
I can't vouch for now.
Every time I have bought tyres elsewhere my pressure had needed adjustment by at least 6psi following day.
I have not observed anywhere else except kforce in NP in the 90s do the deflate thing


Sent via tapatalk.

[jellywrestler]

Red Baron used to fully deflate the tyre after beading then re inflate.
I can't vouch for now.
Every time I have bought tyres elsewhere my pressure had needed adjustment by at least 6psi following day.
I have not observed anywhere else except kforce in NP in the 90s do the deflate thing


Sent via tapatalk.

that's natural i would have thought, i always leave the valve out when beading, faster more efficiaent that way, then pop valve in.

[jellywrestler]

I disagree sir.

Given the job sheet specified the work and presumably charged for it one would be safe to presume it was done?

. my point is how many shops actually do a job, then have someone else check it over, maybe in a tyre shop where the average work takes an hour and a half to watch sixty minutes but a bike shop that employs tradesmen? surely not, and who is the sucker that beleived this?

[pritch]

My bike usually comes back from the shop with mildly incorrect pressures. Usually one under and one over so it's not the difference in gauges. No problem I check them before I go anywhere.

Most incorrect pressures ever experienced was a set of new car tyres way over inflated. I assumed this was done to provide superlight steering and convince me of what a great job they'd done.

[nodrog]

how does the shop know what pressure you would like in your tyres?

And don't say "what the manual says" because the Suzuki GSXR 1000 manual sates 42 psi for the rear tyre, and all that is fucken good for is leaving black lines all the way to the chiropractors.

[pritch]

how does the shop know what pressure you would like in your tyres?

And don't say "what the manual says" because the Suzuki GSXR 1000 manual sates 42 psi for the rear tyre, and all that is fucken good for is leaving black lines all the way to the chiropractors.

They don't. But then their pressures have appeared entirely random.

Advice in manuals can vary. My Triumph manual says 34 for the front. The tyre manufacturers say 36.

My Ducati manual said 32 for the front. Unless you live where there are rough roads when a higher pressure was recommended to protect the rims. And we do live in such a place. Again the tyre manufacturer said 36.

All things considered if I was in a bike shop I'd use the tyre manufacturers spec 36 & 42. Just to avoid an expensive subsequent argument with OSH.
The owners could perform their own adjustments while waiting for the chiropractor. :whistle:

[nodrog]

They don't. But then their pressures have appeared entirely random.

Advice in manuals can vary. My Triumph manual says 34 for the front. The tyre manufacturers say 36.

My Ducati manual said 32 for the front. Unless you live where there are rough roads when a higher pressure was recommended to protect the rims. And we do live in such a place. Again the tyre manufacturer said 36.

All things considered if I was in a bike shop I'd use the tyre manufacturers spec 36 & 42. Just to avoid an expensive subsequent argument with OSH.
The owners could perform their own adjustments while waiting for the chiropractor. :whistle:

or maybe, here's a silly idea, people could actually specify what pressure they would like, or ask afterwards what the pressure is to see if it is to their liking?

[nzspokes]

or maybe, here's a silly idea, people could actually specify what pressure they would like, or ask afterwards what the pressure is to see if it is to their liking?

You would think the poor guy fitting the tyre has to be a mind reader. Agree with what you say.

[nzspokes]

that's natural i would have thought, i always leave the valve out when beading, faster more efficiaent that way, then pop valve in.

Well yeah, how else would you do it?

[Maha]

Job Vacancy- Tyre Fitter Required- Rhodes Scholarship not Essential. :rolleyes:

[nodrog]

Job Vacancy- Tyre Fitter Required- Rhodes Scholarship not Essential. :rolleyes:

Rhodes? where we're going we don't need Rhodes.

[Bassmatt]

how does the shop know what pressure you would like in your tyres?

They could always ask.


or maybe, here's a silly idea, people could actually specify what pressure they would like, or ask afterwards what the pressure is to see if it is to their liking?

I actually meant to check before I left this time but we got chatting and I forgot. :facepalm:

[pritch]

or maybe, here's a silly idea, people could actually specify what pressure they would like, or ask afterwards what the pressure is to see if it is to their liking?

Nah that is a silly idea. Just adjust it at home like always. Easy. If the pressures aren't to your liking then you have a problem.

[awa355]

New front tyre fitted on Friday, I said the pressure is 29psi. they said they put 34psi in because it was a new tyre and it should be higher to start with and I would not notice the difference. I did.

[MarkH]

I have a cheap air compressor (bought on special from Supercheap Auto) that I've had for about a decade, makes it easy to change the pressure to whatever I want.
I'd always check the pressure at home and change it as desired, I don't really care what a workshop thinks it should be.

[Tazz]

You would think the poor guy fitting the tyre has to be a mind reader. Agree with what you say.

Pfffft, poor guy my ass, considering they put air in every time they have to change/repair/lick a tyre, and they have a job sheet, you'd think they'd maybe fuckin ASK the customer if they'd like a specific pressure.
Customer service/attention to detail/doing the fucking job their being paid to do and all that.....

And tyre manufactures pressure or your own preference. They are the ones making them, not your potentially decades old owners manual.

[Katman]

Whenever the customer is there I ask if they have a preferred pressure.

The answer is more often than not - "whatever you think is best".

[sidecar bob]

The problem seems to stem from bike riders being fucking experts at something that they can't seem to do themselves.
I would have about one client a month make the slightest enquiry as to the pressure I set their car tyres too. Most correctly assume that I have a couple of clues about what I'm up too & don't give it a second thought.
Having said that, I am anal about correct pressure & also that all valves are fitted with caps, I usually fill my cap jar at the local tyre shop with used caps every few months.

[Akzle]

had bridgestone whg replace one or two tyres on some kind of cage (cant remember which)
young fulla measured what was in the others and filled to same. i was impressed enough to plug them right now.

[mulletman]

Maybe at a pinch whatever the sticker on the swingarm or under the seat recommends for pressure.

[Owl]

Got it back with the front tyre fitted the wrong way round.

Had the same, only when I spoke to the foreman, he said his guy wouldn't have done that. Then when I went back and handed it to him, his guy said the last tyre must've been fitted back to front. They chose not to argue when I said "Like fuck it was".

[Katman]

I sincerely hope that everyone here is absolutely perfect at their job.

[nodrog]

I sincerely hope that everyone here is absolutely perfect at their job.

Well to be fair I've never had a bad burger from McDonald's.

[Katman]

Well to be fair I've never had a bad burger from McDonald's.

That could change over night if word of this thread gets out.

[AllanB]

Whenever the customer is there I ask if they have a preferred pressure.

The answer is more often than not - "whatever you think is best".

Tyre chap I've used for many years changes them - tells you what he has set at. Up to you to adjust to suit yourself from there.

Good system to me.

[Asher]

When i used to get shops to fit my tyres (do it myself now) they would always ask what pressure i wanted, also i would only drop my wheels in so when i put them back on the bike i would always double check the pressures.
I also think wrong pressures is less of an issue now than when new tyres where super slippery to start with.

That said if someone was paying me to change their tyres i would write on the new tyre the pressure they wanted, that way everything is clear.

[nodrog]

When i used to get shops to fit my tyres (do it myself now) they would always ask what pressure i wanted, also i would only drop my wheels in so when i put them back on the bike i would always double check the pressures.
I also think wrong pressures is less of an issue now than when new tyres where super slippery to start with.

That said if someone was paying me to change their tyres i would write on the new tyre the pressure they wanted, that way everything is clear.

then some cunt would moan about you writing on their tyre.

[Asher]

then some cunt would moan about you writing on their tyre.

I write on the chicken strips of all my mates tyres anyway.

[Woodman]

Yep its seems the IDGAF outbreak has gone endemic and now made it into skilled workplaces....

Took my wagon in for free 'lifetime' puncture repair which was duly carried out in good time and for free. Get home and check the pressure to provide a baseline to check again later and they've put 37 psi when I have all the others set to 34. The worst is they sprayed the cheapest arse tyre black on the tyres (and wheel rims)....

When the DR650 was new it came bacl from its first service with 35 F KN PSI in both tyres. I asked if this was a policy to induce cold tyre slides to sell more spare parts....

Then there's the tyre iron marks and scrapes on wheel rims....


A few years ago I sold a guy a tyre gauge. He came back in a wee while later complaining that it was reading 2 psi too high compared to his old one. I suggested that it could be his old one that was reading 2 psi too low.

[Daffyd]

I always had a Dymo label with the recommended pressures on all my vehicles for the last 40 years. Inside the driver's A pillar on the cars and on the swingarm on the bikes, eg, F-34, R-29.

[Kickaha]

Red Baron used to fully deflate the tyre after beading then re inflate
That's best practice for fitting any tyre to seat the bead


Whenever the customer is there I ask if they have a preferred pressure.

The answer is more often than not - "whatever you think is best".
We always ask, the answer is normally, I don't know


And tyre manufactures pressure or your own preference. They are the ones making them, not your potentially decades old owners manual.
Own preference works for me, it's normally vehicle manufacturers pressure not tyre manufacturer

[Tazz]

That's best practice for fitting any tyre to seat the bead


We always ask, the answer is normally, I don't know


Own preference works for me, it's normally vehicle manufacturers pressure not tyre manufacturer

I use own preference too, but if you're putting tyres manufactured in 2015 on a bike that was manufactured in 2005, 1995, 1985 etc the manufactures recommendation are a bit redundant by default, then there is the fact they come with a specific brand and model that no doubt the manual recommended pressure is for so even a 2015 with 2015 tyres of a different brand let alone flavour might warrant different pressures.

If it's working for you though it's working, just doesn't seem logical :shrug: So long as the bike is handling how whoever is riding it likes and they're getting KM's they're happy with from the doughnuts it's the correct pressure I guess.

It is a big deal though. Those who doubt it should spend a weekend messing about with their tyre pressures. The differences between a few PSI can be huge and you don't need to be a MotoGP rider, or even on a bike (or should we say Powered Two Wheeler now?) for that matter (maybe a Powered Four Wheeler instead :shutup:), to notice the differences.

[AllanB]

I sincerely hope that everyone here is absolutely perfect at their job.

While a fair point. I do have an issue with a stop fitting tires rotating the incorrect direction. That shit should be double checked.

Heard of that happening in CHCH recently - new tyre fitted by a shop - handling poorly guy went to tyre shop for comment - front was on backwards ....

[Kickaha]

Heard of that happening in CHCH recently - new tyre fitted by a shop - handling poorly guy went to tyre shop for comment - front was on backwards ....

Can't see why it would make that much difference in handling

Not a new thing though, when Cycletreads were at 50 Tuam street they did the same on my flatmates XS750

[rastuscat]

My Triumph manual says 34 for the front. The tyre manufacturers say 36.

My Ducati manual said 32 for the front. Unless you live where there are rough roads when a higher pressure was recommended to protect the rims. And we do live in such a place. Again the tyre manufacturer said 36.

All things considered if I was in a bike shop I'd use the tyre manufacturers spec 36 & 42. Just to avoid an expensive subsequent argument with OSH.
The owners could perform their own adjustments while waiting for the chiropractor. :whistle:

The conflict with tyre makers pressures is fairly obvious.

When he made the tyre he had no idea what bike it was going on, 180 kg bike or 140 kg bike, for example.

It's a very general guide.

Go with the bike makers guide.

[Bass]

Go with the bike makers guide.

I wonder how the new workplace safety laws will affect this. It seems to me that the tyre shops may may be in the crap if they do anything else.

[Hobbyhorse]

I had wear problems on a set of Metzler Lasertecs on my 1988 BMW R80RT, the front of which I had been running at 32psi as per the BMW recommendations. At replacement time Drury Tires advised the pressure should be at 36psi and they pushed the rear tire up from 36 to 40psi which has overcome the problems and the wear is now even. The odd thing is that the previous two set of Lasertecs did not have any problems at all at the lower pressures.

[jasonu]

Whenever the customer is there I ask if they have a preferred pressure.

The answer is more often than not - "whatever you think is best".

Well at least you bothered to ask.