what tire pressure do you guys use for canyon rides?

Message

VermilionX · #1 Post by **VermilionX** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 6:00 pm

i checked my manual and saw that the recommended psi for both solo and 2up is the same... so now i know it's just a pre-caution in case you take passengers.

so i've been experimenting.

i lowered it after i've experienced some sliding... i've ran 30F-35R, and so far it's better than before, haven't experienced a slide so far.

but i saw that it's even better to keep both the front and rear the same psi, but i think i'll raise the front a little for the bumps on the road, so i'll try 33-33 next time.

how about you guys... how much psi do you guys run for canyon rides?

PS. i know lowering psi causes faster tire wear. i will adjust it back to recommended when i foresee long freeway rides.

jmillheiser · #2 Post by **jmillheiser** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 6:14 pm

I run 32F 36R and the bike is dead stable. this is the recommended pressures for the bandit.

when the front tire gets hot it will jump up to about 37-38 and the front end starts getting squirrley, back tire may jump to 38 when it gets hot but I have noticed no difference between hot and cold with the rear tire. The front only gets this hot after about 45+ minutes of canyon riding. The dunlop on the front does not getting hot.

Mintbread · #3 Post by **Mintbread** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 6:28 pm

Try reading the manufacturers recommended pressure on the side of the tyre. They seem to know what they are talking about.

Sev · #4 Post by **Sev** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 6:32 pm

33/36 because that's what my swing arm says, and I'm running stock tires.

VermilionX · #5 Post by **VermilionX** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 3:25 am

the tire itself says the same as the manual. it's cool for commuting but that's too hard for canyon rides.

so i guess most people here stick to the reccommended psi.

CNF2002 · #6 Post by **CNF2002** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 3:28 am

Check your owners manual, not necessarily the tire (especially if it is a nonstock tire).

I do not know alot in this area but, does anyone see a benefit of changing tire pressure for twisty roads?

shane-o · #7 Post by **shane-o** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 3:33 am

CNF2002 wrote:Check your owners manual, not necessarily the tire (especially if it is a nonstock tire).

I do not know alot in this area but, does anyone see a benefit of changing tire pressure for twisty roads?

nope

not for the kinda riding thats being discussed here

VermilionX · #8 Post by **VermilionX** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 3:35 am

CNF2002 wrote:Check your owners manual, not necessarily the tire (especially if it is a nonstock tire).

I do not know alot in this area but, does anyone see a benefit of changing tire pressure for twisty roads?

running a lower psi will make your tires warm up faster and have better grip.

tires get harder after warm up... so if your pressure is high already even at cold, it's gonna be even higher when it warms up. too hard tires doesn't grip the road as good as softer tire.

the only bad effect is see running a lower psi is faster wear on tires.

but if you wanna try something a little more aggressive in the canyons, it's better to run a lower psi.

CNF2002 · #9 Post by **CNF2002** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 3:40 am

VermilionX wrote:
CNF2002 wrote:Check your owners manual, not necessarily the tire (especially if it is a nonstock tire).

I do not know alot in this area but, does anyone see a benefit of changing tire pressure for twisty roads?
running a lower psi will make your tires warm up faster and have better grip.

tires get harder after warm up... so if your pressure high already even at cold, it's gonna be even higher when it warms up. too hard tires doesn't grip the road as good as softer tire.

the only bad effect is see running a lower psi is faster wear on tires.

but if you wanna try something a little more aggressive in the canyons, it's better to run a lower psi.

Hmm...makes sense from a grip point of view. I always dropped the pressure on my jeep tires when doing any serious rockcrawling. But, at the same time, running with lower psi in the tires would be a big no-no at high speed.

The 'heats faster' thing doesn't strike logic to me...unless you live at the entrance to the road you are taking your tires will already be heated by the time you get there.

Sev · #10 Post by **Sev** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 3:42 am

Verm wants to trailer his bike to the twisty roads.