Tire Pressure

[GOduc]

have looked everywhere, but has anyone ever seen any recommendations for air pressure while riding aggressive per the weight of the rider??

or what does anyone run while in the twisties?

[TooFst]

Same as a car tire. 35psi is a safe medium. A little more or less per preference

[nitto12ss]

Anywhere from 30 to 32 psi for me.

[TooFst]

A little less will give u more traction

[hdstn]

I was just re-thinking this subject. I have Pirelli Angels and have been running the 34/36 factory pressure. Would love to hear some more thoughts.

[Stevenc150]

Agressive (Race) Suspension settings by weight (http://www.steveturnbull.co.uk/buell/thexbpages/xbhandling.htm)

[Yukidjesus]

Hello,

I have buell xb12r 2006. What's the right PSI for front and rear tire?

Thank you

[go cytocis]

It's standard practice to air-down to the mid-high 20s at the track. The risk of running pressures this low on the street is damage to sidewalls & rims from potholes, as well as poor tire life & fuel economy.

[stamen]

I think 34-36 is good for all-around street riding. 30-32 for weekend twisties. and 28 ish at the rear for track days

[konarider94]

I run 36 front 38 rear which is actually what my manual says(04 xb12s). I'm curious if your manual says 34/36 hdstn. What manual are you looking at? When the front gets any lower than 32 I can notice the difference and I don't care for it. It requires more turn in effort and doesn't lean over as well for me with some loss in stability.


It's standard practice to air-down to the mid-high 20s at the track.Â* The risk of running pressures this low on the street is damage to sidewalls & rims from potholes, as well as poor tire life & fuel economy.

If you were new to a specific track Id talk to some vet riders and see what they are running.

[Tbone]

I am not an expert and never ridden a track before so please consider that when I ask this ?:
Is lowering the tire pressure to meet a driving environment/requirement compensating for an improperly or poorly set up suspension? I imagine the priority is to keep the tire patch on the pavement, if you are lowering the tire pressure to maintain or increase contact you can possibly cause some stability issues? I imagine if you use the same bike for the road and track, and ride your bike to the track, then you can just let air out of the tires and ride the track as opposed to tweaking the suspension to handle the track? Or is this kind of like driving a rental car on the beach, if you want to get traction in the sand you have to let almost half the air out of the tires. So is it more of a traction issue no matter how your suspension is set up, you just get more traction?

[go cytocis]

Is lowering the tire pressure to meet a driving environment/requirement compensating for an improperly or poorly set up suspension?No, the pressures specified by the manufacturer are driven by EPA requirements for fuel economy (achieved in part by lowering rolling-resistance which is in turn achieved by increasing pressure in the tires). The ability of a tire to grab the road with a larger contact patch results from lower pressure.

Proper track suspension set-up takes into account the lower tire pressure.

[Cooter]

Firstly, you should not be running your track tires on the street and vice-versa. Sorry. Track days are not cheap.
Lots of reasons. Heat cycles, unknown objects in the tread, greasy chicken strips... Even once-a-month track days will have a tire changer on hand. Crap tires will cost you bike parts and leathers[sad]

With lower tire pressure, you get a larger contact patch, but you also get a less-stiff tire carcass and a bunch of extra heat. You'll also need completely different suspension settings.
Personally I'd rather have a tire that squished predictably and even let it slide a bit, than trying to get max traction with an under inflated tire.

Asking the old guys (and instructors) at the track is a great way to learn a lot and meet friends. Just like the internet... take it all with the proverbial grain of salt until you get a consensus.

[konarider94]

http://www.sportrider.com/tire-pressure-not-lot-hot-air

[Cooter]

Good article^^^

Remember also to note whether the recommended pressure is for compressed air or Nitrogen. Some of the pressures quoted on the Mfg sites don't specify which and I'm surprised by that!

Nitrogen doesn't have a pressure/temp differential so you'll have the same pressure cold or hot. Compressed air will rise in pressure as race temps go up.

[go cytocis]

Firstly, you should not be running your track tires on the street and vice-versa. Agreed!

Good article^^^ Agreed again!
I think we've gotten off the OP's question tho. I only brought up track pressures to assure him that there's reason to lower pressures from the mfrs recommendations when "riding aggressive per the weight of the rider".

I'd certainly not advocate using take-offs on the street, or running street tires on the track (not that us SuMo guys see anything wrong with that!). ;)