Tyre Pressures

I have a Bandit 600s and the Haynes Manual says front tyre 33psi and rear
tyre 36psi when cold. Obviously the pressure increases when the tyre warms,
so should I stick exactly to these settings when cold?

I have noticed that depending on the type of riding i.e. in wet weather that
the tyre pressure increase differs as the tyre warms up.

I suppose I'm just being a little over cautious as I am a new rider and want
the tyres to have the best grip possible to build my confidence when
cornering.

Thanks

Colin

 

just stick to bike manufacturers recommended tyre pressures (usually there
a label stuck on the bike ) and you wont go far wrong

Tyre pressures do vary dependant on air temp , road temp weather etc that's
why they state cold tyre pressures

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, colinblake amazed us all with this pearl of
wisdom:

If you're that worried I'd stick to what the manual says.

BTW, garage forecourt tyre blower uppers can vary wildly in their
readings. Take a decent pressure gauge with you.

Of course, you can ignore this if you want because I think I only check
my pressures two or three times over the life of the tyre.

 

Whinging Courier secured a place in history by writing:

It think this very trusting. I always seem to have one tyre that
inexplicably loses pressure when the bike's parked up in freezing weather.

Could be local scroty kids mind...

 

I'll stick to the ones recommended by the tyre manufacturer, if that's okay.



--
Dnc

B1200 - +30bhp ~|~ VS800 - borked
TS150 - squatting ~|~ V2300 - flat cap and rug

MIB#26 two#54(soiled) UKRMMA#26 BOTAFOT#153 X-FOT#003

 

Whinging Courier wrote

Well said Sir.

I check mine when I start falling off the sides of cats eyes. Not quite
as often as you I think.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Ferger amazed us all with this pearl of wisdom:

I tend to do mine just after having them replaced and (maybe) a random
time or two after that.

One that likes the cold

 

Nope - stick to the *tyre* people's figures, which for my b600 are 41/36 on
D207's.

 

And then find yourself miles from anywhere with only 6psi in the tyre,
thinking bugger, I wish I'd checked. Me myself, I just prod the tyre with my
finger before riding away, you just know what feels right.

 

Bear emerged from their own little world to say

I'm glad I decided to check the GS tyre pressures last weekend. I almost
didn't bother as they rarely change. I found the rear to be 10psi too low.
Thinking, "oh shit I have a puncture," I pumped it up with my compressor
that runs off a 12v accessory socket. I did a lap around the bypass and
rechecked the pressure. All fine so I went for a bimble through the B roads
of Monmouthsire.

I haven't seen any woodpeckers but we do have a suspicious looking carrion
crow.

 

Same here.

 

Bear emerged from their own little world to say

'cos it was fine when I checked it Easter weekend - which was the last time
I rode it

 

Nay, nay & thrice nay - unless you know it's fitted with the OE tyres.
Different makes of tyres have different construction, different
compounds etc & therefore need different pressures on the same bike. In
other words, use what the tyre manufacturer recommends for your tyres
on your bike.

This much is very true. A 35psi cold tyre in summer can easily become a
25psi cold tyre in winter.

 

Bear emerged from their own little world to say

I would imagine that there is a HSE regulation that says that a
customer, paying to use such a machine, has to be covered by a safety
certificate which would involve some sort of calibration.

Never use them unless I have to. I have a £12 compressor/light unit in
the car which has a pretty accurate dial guage. I also have an Avon
branded pencil guage that my dad acquired when he was a HGV driver.
Ideal for popping in a pocket or tankbag.

 

Bear emerged from their own little world to say

 

How do you know that a particular gauge is accurate then?

 

All tyre inflators used in garages should meet bs/eu standards however once
installed there doesn't seem to be any legislation as to how often they are
recalibrated

 

rb emerged from their own little world to say

"pretty accurate" - it's a question of my guages reading very close to the
guages used by several different tyre fitters over a number of decades

I doubt any of them are ever calibrated. I doubt a couple of psi is going
to make any real difference unless you are racing. Pressures vary so much
depending on weather that we adapt to variations in grip & handling as we
ride.

 

problem I came across though is whilst many tyre manufactures specify
maximum pressures for each tyre
many are not bike specific at least the bike manufacturers can give you a
starting point from which to safely work from if you have no other
information

if you know the type of tyre on the bike and the tyre makers do specified
a pressure for your bike then that is the better figure to work to on that
point I stand corrected

 

Fair enough, I was just wondering what you were basing your statement
on.

This I fully agree with.