Take a wild guess at ideal pressures for my inappropriate tyres

**Steam** · 21st July 2008, 22:45

I took the knobblies off my KLR250, and replaced them with Dunlop road touring tyres, a D404 on the front and an Arrowmax on the rear. I'm riding up to Auckland soon from Dunedin, and knobblies make me nervous in the wet.

I've no idea what pressures the new road tyres should be at. My owners and workshop manuals give pressures for offroading/dual-purpose knobblies only.
So waddya reckon I should run them at?

Maybe compare them to a similar weight bike, a GN250, which is supposed to be on tyres inflated to Front 25psi and Rear 33psi...?
or a Yamaha Scorpio, or something?
I'm a fat bastard at 100kg, riding with about 20kg of panniers too, so it's a heavy load for the poor wee 250.

Suggestions welcome.

**WRT** · 22nd July 2008, 12:14

I'd be trying somewhere in the mid-high 30's. Don't be scared to change pressures halfway through the trip if they don't feel right.

**007XX** · 22nd July 2008, 12:20

I've got my front at 29 and rear at 32 if that can help at all. These amounts I have found the most comfortable when touring.

I've got Avon Roadriders on and I'm about half your weight, so not sure about the specs for your tires.

**Maha** · 22nd July 2008, 12:23

I have 42psi in the rear and 36psi in the front.
But my bike is a Big bad arse, if a bike shop is fitting the new ons then get them fill them with air, its free!

**007XX** · 22nd July 2008, 12:25

Originally Posted by Maha

I have 42psi in the rear and 36psi in the front.

yeah but your zimmer frame is not exactly a 250 now, is it?

**EJK** · 22nd July 2008, 12:26

I had 200kPa front and 220kPa at rear for the Little Yamaha. Thats about what 007XX is saying... lol

Have a safe trip on your way

**Maha** · 22nd July 2008, 12:27

Originally Posted by 007XX

yeah but your zimmer frame is not exactly a 250 now, is it?

No its not...I just added to the post

**007XX** · 22nd July 2008, 12:35

Originally Posted by Maha

No its not...I just added to the post

bugger!

One thing to be weary of though with fitting shops doing the blowey uppy:

I did that a few weeks ago, and ended up with 44 in the rear and 38 at the front!

Since I didn't know any better, I rode it like that. The bike felt really funny, realy light in the rear end...well, no fucking wonder!!!

So anyway, I told hubby about the weird handling, and he checked it for me. We've tried a few settings, but since I got the latest ones, I'm as happy as Larry. Checking the Avon's website, they do recommend the higher Psi that the fitter put in my tires, but there is really no way I would have ridden with them for long.

**GaZBur** · 22nd July 2008, 12:39

I run my 650 on 28 front 32 rear usually when warm. My combined bike/load weight should be about the same as yours on the trip. Feels about right although I know some think that a bit low but thats mostly sportbike riders. Remembering you are running tyres with tubes and they warm up quicker so by the time you get to the gas station you shoud be fine to set them there. Maybe increase the rear a couple when you load it up. Don't forget to maybe wind up your rear shock a bit too for the load.
Have a good safe trip

**Quasievil** · 22nd July 2008, 12:51

Mate look up the recommendation for your actual bike, in your manual, or look at your swing arm, it will be available.
Its not a good idea asking for suggestions from people with different bikes they are all different. refer to the manuafacture they know

**xwhatsit** · 22nd July 2008, 12:56

Originally Posted by Quasievil

Mate look up the recommendation for your actual bike, in your manual, or look at your swing arm, it will be available.
Its not a good idea asking for suggestions from people with different bikes they are all different. refer to the manuafacture they know

Originally Posted by Steam

My owners and workshop manuals give pressures for offroading/dual-purpose knobblies only.

Looks like it's not quite the information he needs. Unfortunately bike manufacturers don't always foresee one using their bike in a different way they designed it. I'm not at all clued up about tyres and suspension but you'd probably want to run road tyres a little bit harder than knobs, no?