Correct Tyre PSI?

General Bike chat
Post Reply
User avatar
Image
Posts: 703
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2011 2:27 pm
Location: Hyde, Cheshire (near Glossop)
Contact:

Correct Tyre PSI?

Post by Image »

I've been recommended two different combinations of tyre psi.

36 psi front 41 psi rear

and

35 psi front 35 psi rear

Which one is correct?
User avatar
seb421
Posts: 4840
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:06 am
Location: Bolton Lancs

Re: Correct Tyre PSI?

Post by seb421 »

36 - 42 I run, do you not have a hand book mate?
ヨシムラ

MOT - 10/04/2015
TAX - 30/11/14
INSURANCE - MCE - Expires 12/04/2015 (Midnight)
ACCIDENT CALL - 0871 2227910
RAC - 0800 1977830 - 03_MCECAB90013033
User avatar
seb421
Posts: 4840
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:06 am
Location: Bolton Lancs

Re: Correct Tyre PSI?

Post by seb421 »

Image wrote:I've been recommended two different combinations of tyre psi.

36 psi front 41 psi rear

and

35 psi front 35 psi rear

Which one is correct?
35 on the back is very low, at that psi i can see the tyre deform when i get on it, I'm 14 stone, 15 with gear and backpack on
ヨシムラ

MOT - 10/04/2015
TAX - 30/11/14
INSURANCE - MCE - Expires 12/04/2015 (Midnight)
ACCIDENT CALL - 0871 2227910
RAC - 0800 1977830 - 03_MCECAB90013033
User avatar
Image
Posts: 703
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2011 2:27 pm
Location: Hyde, Cheshire (near Glossop)
Contact:

Re: Correct Tyre PSI?

Post by Image »

Yep, thought so :) 40 on the rear is what I'm on.
Ref handbook, nope, had a Haynes but lost it.
User avatar
seb421
Posts: 4840
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:06 am
Location: Bolton Lancs

Re: Correct Tyre PSI?

Post by seb421 »

in winter i do drop the the rear tyre pressure a little as im not hitting speeds and its mostly slow riding, ive found the fatter tyre spread works better and stops its from stepping sideways so easy, my dad was like baldrocks etc made me up the pressure to 42, i got 500 yards from my house before loosing the rear on icy roads i had been riding over for weeks.
ヨシムラ

MOT - 10/04/2015
TAX - 30/11/14
INSURANCE - MCE - Expires 12/04/2015 (Midnight)
ACCIDENT CALL - 0871 2227910
RAC - 0800 1977830 - 03_MCECAB90013033
User avatar
Image
Posts: 703
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2011 2:27 pm
Location: Hyde, Cheshire (near Glossop)
Contact:

Re: Correct Tyre PSI?

Post by Image »

Yeah, ditto about winter.
edds11
Posts: 550
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:19 pm
Location: Scunthorpe

Re: Correct Tyre PSI?

Post by edds11 »

new tyres today claim to have a design feature that allows you to change pressure depending upon how much grip you want,(Michelin, Dunlop, etc)so which one? tyre manufacturer or bike manufacturer. when the bikes are built they ask a tyre manufacturer to make a tyre to certain parameters, mainly cost!!!. they then come back and tell the bike builder what pressures to run and print in the booklets. I would say that if you change tyres then do as the tyre manufacturer says as it is their product that you are using which has been designed to fit your bike, different tyre manufacturers run different pressures for the same machine because of the way the tyre is designed and made......Just an opinion...... never proved in a laboratory.....would you ask a dentist about a bad back?
User avatar
scott02464
Posts: 796
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2011 2:04 pm
Location: Tadcaster- Near York

Re: Correct Tyre PSI?

Post by scott02464 »

Have a look on your chain guard mate, it should be printed on there.

As mentioned before it 36psi and 42psi ;-)
User avatar
VTRDark
Posts: 20010
Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2012 9:24 pm

Re: Correct Tyre PSI?

Post by VTRDark »

I tend to stick to the average guide of 36psi and 42psi (when I haven't a slow puncture that is :lol: ) But if you want to get more exact and technical then edds11 is spot on.
The thing is there is no harm in deviating from recommended settings. You need to find the pressures that work for you according to your weight, the way you ride, temperatures, track or road etc etc. I sometimes inflate or deflate a tyre slightly according to the tread wear.

(:-})
==============================Enter the Darkside
mangocrazy
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2012 7:04 pm

Re: Correct Tyre PSI?

Post by mangocrazy »

It seems to me that 36psi Front and 42psi Rear is a pretty universal recommendation. Certainly it's what's recommended on my VFR and my Falco. I'm guessing the tyre and bike manufacturers have settled on a standard value to avoid confusion.

This is for road use, of course. Track use is another thing entirely.
playerone
Posts: 1177
Joined: Sun May 02, 2010 11:46 pm
Location: Bristol

Re: Correct Tyre PSI?

Post by playerone »

I really need to check mine on a more regular basis, had to buy 12v inflator as knew front was a bit soft and couldn't get the garage one on...........upon checking I had 25 in front and 22 in rear :oops: :oops: thought the spirited ride from Abergavenny to Weston didn't feel right,
User avatar
seb421
Posts: 4840
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:06 am
Location: Bolton Lancs

Re: Correct Tyre PSI?

Post by seb421 »

playerone wrote:I really need to check mine on a more regular basis, had to buy 12v inflator as knew front was a bit soft and couldn't get the garage one on...........upon checking I had 25 in front and 22 in rear :oops: :oops: thought the spirited ride from Abergavenny to Weston didn't feel right,
My god that's dangerous lol

Sent from the Bat Cave via Cup and String
ヨシムラ

MOT - 10/04/2015
TAX - 30/11/14
INSURANCE - MCE - Expires 12/04/2015 (Midnight)
ACCIDENT CALL - 0871 2227910
RAC - 0800 1977830 - 03_MCECAB90013033
playerone
Posts: 1177
Joined: Sun May 02, 2010 11:46 pm
Location: Bristol

Re: Correct Tyre PSI?

Post by playerone »

back didn't half feel planted tho, it took some serious stick coming off roundabouts....lesson learned fortunately not the hard way - check before every ride now
User avatar
aces-high
Posts: 106
Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 11:52 pm
Location: Glossop

Re: Correct Tyre PSI?

Post by aces-high »

The 36-42 is just an average guide according to the guys on a cornering course I went on. It gives you a starting point to work from, by making small alterations at a time you can test and see what works best for you.
I stick to the 36-42 as I don't ride anywhere near aggressive enough to find the tyres limits.
On tracks you can set for every occasion and weather condition, but with such variables on the road you just need to get a middle ground to cope with any changes.
Post Reply