Tyre pressures? Yes I know it's been done to death

**v8s&2wheels** · 29th April 2010, 17:12

Just tested my tyres today (cold) since its been a good couple of months since i checked them and inflated.

Front was 29.5 and rear was 27. I noticed and felt the rear has been a bit low. But is this dangerously low or bad at all for the tyre?

Obviously im going to go pump them up. Since tyres will be warm thinking 36 front and 40 rear.

Should probably say this is on my gsxr1000k7 with 120/70 and 190/50 with pilot road 2's.

I know all about the 3 degrees from cold to hot but not really too interest if im only 2.5-3.5 degrees warming up.

Should also mention bike is used mainly for going to work and little rides by myself. But also starting to ride 2 up on little rides maybe once a week. So trying to get a good compromise on tyre pressures for single and 2 up riding.. without having to change pressures for each type of ride.

Perhaps 38/42 warm pressures? Whats your views on all this.

Cheers
Anyone have any recommendations for what sort of pressures i should stick around.

**YellowDog** · 29th April 2010, 17:20

Published tyre ratings are based upon what the manufacturer's lawyers tell them to quote.

My PR2s state 42 Rear and 34 Front. After a lot of testing I find that 39 Rear and 34 Front suits me best.

If you run with too low pressure you will get excessive wear.

Cornering's not too much fun either

**MSTRS:Me** · 29th April 2010, 17:25

Different tyres 'like' different pressures, too.
I'm running PR2s at 38/35. Last set I ran at 37/33, but the front was getting very triangulated. After 17,000kms. So, knowing that firmer lasts longer...

**v8s&2wheels** · 29th April 2010, 17:27

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Different tyres 'like' different pressures, too.
I'm running PR2s at 38/35. Last set I ran at 37/33, but the front was getting very triangulated. After 17,000kms. So, knowing that firmer lasts longer...

Is that 38 rear 35 front? Yeah might just go with 36 front 42 rear warm pressures since theres going to be 2 up involved.. the higher pressure in the rear should help

**The Stranger:Me** · 29th April 2010, 17:48

Originally Posted by v8s&2wheels

Front was 29.5 and rear was 27. I noticed and felt the rear has been a bit low. But is this dangerously low or bad at all for the tyre?

What works for you on your bike?
I ran 33 front and 27 rear (too hard I know, but was going to take SH1) on the weekend.
SH22 was too appealing in the end but rear was slipping and sliding. Dropped a couple of pound out and the rear came right, wasn't until a dropped a couple on the front though that it all came together.

**MSTRS:Me** · 29th April 2010, 18:17

Originally Posted by v8s&2wheels

Is that 38 rear 35 front? Yeah might just go with 36 front 42 rear warm pressures since theres going to be 2 up involved.. the higher pressure in the rear should help

Rear should always be a bit harder than the front. I know 'they' say you should, but I never bother upping for pillion...don't have any issues.

**sil3nt** · 29th April 2010, 18:47

This is obviously going to vary a lot but how much pressure is gained through heat? Are we talking 1 or 2 PSI or a bit more?

**Mudfart** · 29th April 2010, 19:12

holy shit, a couple of months? I check mine all the time, on my 250!. at least check em every second gas fill.

**jtzzr** · 29th April 2010, 19:35

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Different tyres 'like' different pressures, too.
I'm running PR2s at 38/35. Last set I ran at 37/33, but the front was getting very triangulated. After 17,000kms. So, knowing that firmer lasts longer...

I had a front changed and it was somewhat triangular, so I asked the guy why that was and he said it was because i had over-inflated the tyre , but his boss said that was`nt the reason, he said it was because of the camber on the road , which makes sense I suppose so the right hand side of the tyre wears more.

Oh I run 42 front and rear on Pilot powers , factory recommendation.

**cheshirecat** · 29th April 2010, 20:08

Running Conti road attacks - 2nd set and now using 42 rear as per spec and 39 front (spec is 36). Find it sensitive, a couple of psi either way makes a big diference but the higher front presure helps roll in and wear especially mid life. This is on an elderly VFR. If the rear drops to mid 30's it's all over the place! I check tyres every fill up or at least two days.

**pritch** · 29th April 2010, 20:34

My Honda manuals said 36 F, 42 R. So that was mostly what I did, unless there was a reason to do something different.

The Ducati metric figures convert to about 31 and 32psi which I found a bit startling. There is however a warning that at these pressures you can damage your nice rims if you ride on rough roads, and we definitely do have rough roads. So I'm running 34 and 36. These lower pressures will probably reward more regular checks.

**peasea** · 29th April 2010, 21:14

Originally Posted by v8s&2wheels

Just tested my tyres today (cold) since its been a good couple of months since i checked them .

Ya fuckin' what??
If I haven't checked my tyres come Sunday evening I get paranoid.

I ride every day most weeks, five for work and at least one for rec'. Fucksake. Seriously; I check my tyres more often than my oil level. The only thing I do more often is clean my visor.

Kuppla months? Come on, with the varying temperatures in NZ it should be at least fortnightly, if not weekly like my good (saintly) self.

Unless you've filled your tyres with nitrogen I guess.

**v8s&2wheels** · 29th April 2010, 22:21

Originally Posted by peasea

Ya fuckin' what??
If I haven't checked my tyres come Sunday evening I get paranoid.

I ride every day most weeks, five for work and at least one for rec'. Fucksake. Seriously; I check my tyres more often than my oil level. The only thing I do more often is clean my visor.

Kuppla months? Come on, with the varying temperatures in NZ it should be at least fortnightly, if not weekly like my good (saintly) self.

Unless you've filled your tyres with nitrogen I guess.

Yeah ive been really slack lately eh.

Ive only been getting on it maybe twice a week at the moment - sometimes 3 times a week. Normally every time i fill her up i pull out my tyre gauge and do the business on the tyres while im at the servo. Only filled up maybe 3 times in the last 2 months, but each time its been in a rush just to get the gas and get to where i need to be.

Just noticed about 2 weeks ago the rear was feeling too soft and especially with the pillion on. But have only ridden it 2 times since then.

Had a day off today so got a lot of things done i needed and then sparked in my head i should check my tyres, thats when the shock came.

Anyways tyres are still low as didnt get a chance to leave the house today. So will ride to work tomorrow and fill it up and do the tyres at lunch time.

Used to pump the tyres upto 36 front and 39 rear when stopped at gas station (warm tyres) and that really worked a treat. So might just add a couple psi to the rear for the passenger since she rides a bit now.

**onearmedbandit** · 29th April 2010, 23:20

I check mine every ride. But then I am running dunlop ntec's that run 34 front and 24 rear. Very very sticky tyres but lose pressure quickly, hence the regular checking. But even when I'm running 'normal' tyres like PP's or similar I check them before every ride. Amazing the difference 1-2psi can make to the way the bike feels.

**peasea** · 30th April 2010, 06:33

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

I check mine every ride. But then I am running dunlop ntec's that run 34 front and 24 rear. Very very sticky tyres but lose pressure quickly, hence the regular checking. But even when I'm running 'normal' tyres like PP's or similar I check them before every ride. Amazing the difference 1-2psi can make to the way the bike feels.

Have you looked into nitrogen? Talk to your tyre shop, it holds the pressure for ages.