[axelwik]

imported post

Don't ever go by the tire manuracturer's rating for max tire pressure...the tire pressure printed on the sidewall is the maximum rating for the tire, not the bike.

Tire pressure is dependant on what the engineers who designed the motorcycle recommend!It's calculated in accordance with the weight of the bike and what the bike is carrying.

For example, the manual (as well as the sticker on the rear fender) for my '77 GL1000 recommends 28PSI for the front, and 32PSI for the rear with a light load, and 40PSI for the rear with a heavy load. I'm running Bridgestone Spitfire S11's, and with these pressures the bike handles like a dream... the way it's supposed to.

Check the owner's manual for correct tire pressure... the pressures I see on this post seem too high for a GL1000. High tire pressure might save a little in gas mileage, but will sacrifice safety. An overinflated tire is far too hard, and will not corner or brake very well... and is your only connectionwith the road.It can also cause the tire to bounce and overwhelm the suspension system, further reducing it's contact with the road. Motorcycle tires also need to warm up to the correct operating temperature for proper traction. With too much air in the tires this might never happen, leading you further downa slippery slope.

The bottom line is; overinflated tires can quickly land you in the ditch! You're tempting fate by not following the MOTORCYCLE manufacturer's recommendation for tire pressure.

 

[axelwik]

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Goldwinger1984 wrote:

Axelwik, using original inflation pressures that were good for a bike that was built over 25 years ago may not apply if you are using modern day tires. I my humble opinion it's best to use the tire manufacturer's recommended inflation pressure for the specific application and loading, although I do fully agree that maximum indicated tire inflation is not always the best choice, but, it usually does give better load carrying ability, performance, fuel economy and safety margin than running a tire slightly underinflated..

Itcertainly is akward when mixing modern technology with old technology and really needs the touch of the factory engineers and the expert rider's who can take the bikes to the limits and come up with overall safety inflation averages for everyday blokes like us.

Vic

Vic,

You can gamble if you want, butI willalways stick with the motorcycle manufacturer's recommendations. Tires might have changed a bit (different tread patterns and rubber compounds), but the weight and loading of the bike have not. Any tire manufacturer will tell you to inflate according to what the motorcycle manufacturer recommends. One size tire will fit on many makes and models of bikes, and to inflate to the maximum sidewall rating is foolish.

 

[axelwik]

imported post

mag wrote:

Axelwik,

I tend to agree with you. However, going by honda's specs puts the rear tire at 40psi, to the max recommended 41psi by the tire manufacturer!

Yes, that's fine.

The max for my bike is also 40PSI for the rear, for a load >200 pounds. For a light load (ie. riding solo, <200 pounds) the recommended pressure for the rear is 32PSI. The front stays at 28PSI.

 

[axelwik]

imported post

There sure seems to be a lot of confusion about sidewall maximum pressure rating for a tireversus tire pressure based on the motorcycle's weight. I'm willing to bet that the OEM, original, tires that the GL1000 left the factory with said something like, "max pressure 41PSI" or something close to that. The proper pressure is 28PSI front, and 32 or 40PSI for the rear, depending on load.

Same thing with cars... too many people, including some of the mechanics who change tires, still don't get it. A tire's maximum pressure rating stamped on the side of the tire has nothing to do with the pressure that's supposed to be in the tire for your specific car. Almost all car tires will say something like maximum 32 to maybe 45 PSI on the sidewall. Look at the owner's manual or inside the driver side door jam for the proper pressure. The owner's manual and door jam on my new Toyota says to inflate the tires to 30PSI even though the tires (It still has the original factory tires) say "maximum pressure 44 PSI."

Putting too much (or too little) pressure in your motorcycle tires is dangerous.

Too much pressure reduces the size of the contact patch with the road. This results in less traction for braking and cornering. The bike will slide out easier and will skid easier, both of which can cause an accident.

Too much air will not allow the tires to properly warm up. Cold tires don't corner or brake as well as tires that are properly warmed up, and could result in a crash.

Overinflation could also cause the tire to bounce, overwhelming the suspension system and reducing the time that the tire is supporting the full weight of the motorcycle, further reducing traction for cornering and braking. This can land you in the ditch.

Wet weather amplifies this.

It also results in a rough ride. Do you like being jolted with every crack in the road?

Underinflation also has it's issues.

Underinflated tires can heat up and cause premature wear, tire failure, and also cause poor handling and braking.

The key is to maintain the pressure at the MOTORCYCLE manufacturer's recommendation.Check the pressure often.

The tire manufacturerdoesn't have a clue as to what motorcycle you are putting their tires on. All they know is how much weight their tire can handle and the maximum tire pressure for that tire... period.