Tire Pressures

[mr hunt]

Was that recommendation for the racetrack, where you'd obviously be pushing your tires hard, or for everyday riding?

I've tried such lower pressures for my normal riding (fairly aggressive, lots of twisties and graded roads - moderate amount of stop & go) and the bike felt somewhat squirrelly (less stable), especially in hard turns.. running hard on a less inflated tire also seems to accelerate the further loss of pressure in the tires.

Also, your report of "lighter" or easier turn-in with lower pressures seems counter-intuitive as the lower pressure creates greater rolling resistance (friction) and increases sidewall flex which should serve to diminish lateral stability???

@mr hunt the tyre guy was more than likely allowing for pressure build up after a few laps, did you check them hot after a run?

yep...meant to qualify my post with that info..warm day and hot track temp etc

only checked pressure after 1st 2 runs and there was minimal changein rear and a one or two psi in the front.

Phil, I expected her to feel exactly as you've described with lower front pressure but that just wasn't the case. Agree that its counter-intuitive and have thought since that I was carrying a bit more corner speed with the lower pressure so maybe that was influencing the feel as she flipped side to side

 

[IMFASTTOO]

sure you could pump up the tires to 50 psi and get more gas mileage what concerns me is the front tire and how fast i can stop. i run 36 psi and at that pressure it has a fair contact to the road if you pump it up to 40 psi it will have less contact and might make a small difference in stopping distance. imho

back in my sports bike days we would drop our tyres a couple of psi for track days cos the heat build up on track where the tyres don't really get to cool down between corners and the lower pressure actually enhances grip by causing extra heat to build up in the first place, but I wouldn't do it for road I run 40psi in front and 42-45 psi depending on whether I am towing while running a bike tyre or 28-30psi with DS tyre

iM SURE you can feel the rolling resitance pushing the bike with 28 psi in a DS tire

 

[HansO]

iM SURE you can feel the rolling resitance pushing the bike with 28 psi in a DS tire

Nope ........ tyre designed to carry a lot more weight than our lil' ol bikes

 

[IMFASTTOO]

Nope ........ tyre designed to carry a lot more weight than our lil' ol bikes

Nope ........ tyre designed to carry a lot more weight than our lil' ol bikes

MY CF wheels came with a DS rear and I replaced it with a SHINKO MC tire and I noticed a dramatic difference turning the bike around in my garage

 

[cusso ken]

Another factor is how accurate are tyre pressure gauges ,never trust a service station gauge or an El Cheapo Auto accessory parts store some of these cheap gauges can be 10lb out either way,I use a Schrader 0 to 120 lb gauge that has been tested as accurate and years ago threw out my other POS gauges that were between 5 and 6lb out,

 

[HansO]

MY CF wheels came with a DS rear and I replaced it with a SHINKO MC tire and I noticed a dramatic difference turning the bike around in my garage

maybe ya hadn't been having your "wheaties" in morning's before that

 

[IMFASTTOO]

maybe ya hadn't been having your "wheaties" in morning's before that

LOL yep I needed an extra cup of coffee to just turn the bike around

 

[HansO]

LOL yep I needed an extra cup of coffee to just turn the bike around

Showing your Age ... mmmm might be time to trade in on a Gold Wing, with reverse as well

 

[HansO]

That or a Scooter ... he he
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[cusso ken]

I am lucky I can do a slow U turn in my shed without stopping , dodging all my other toys