tyre pressures, whose figures to trust?

[rockmeister]

so

My new motorbike has new tyres.

For a start, Triumph say NO TUBELESS tyres on wire wheeled scramblers.

But the dealer says it's fine. I assume that the current wires have welded inner plates so it's a fake wire wheel thing and tubeless is ok. Anyway....

Pirelli list the pressures for the Scrambler at one figure, Triumph at another and the dealer has inflated them to a third (2.1/2.3; 2.2/2.8; 2.2/2.6)

WTF?

It feels over inflated to be honest, a bit 'on tiptoe, tho grip is secure wet and dry.

Who would you trust to be giving me the right figures???? :?

 

[Valvebloke]

Anyone but Pirelli, given what happened yesterday ...

VB

 

[meninblack]

AFAIK Triumph spoked wheels are sealed, so OK with tubeless. You'll soon find out if not! With pressures I would go with the tyre manufacturer and fine-tune from there if it feels too stiff or too squidgy.

 

[Gromit]

Tyre manufacturer every time.

 

[meninblack]

You may need a bit of fine-tuning. The MX-5 on Toyos feels just right at 1 psi under the recommended pressure. At full pressure it's skittish; at 2 psi under it squirms a bit.

 

[rockmeister]

cheers chaps...it always worries me if they are too far out, but I'll use the Pirelli figures as a start point and go from there.

Bloody Triumph didn't even know their wheels could take tubeless tyres

 

[Injector]

Yeah I'd inflate to what the manufacturer of my tyres suggest. In the car however, 30psi all 'round has served me well for decades.

 

[peterh]

I would recommend you get yourself a decent tyre pressure gauge rather than rely on the gauge on the airline at the petrol station or those cheap pencil type things. Well worth the investment.

I have something like this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/PG99-Tyre-Pressure-Gauge-Approved/dp/B000R9XPVU/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1372713814&sr=8-15&keywords=tyre+pressure+gauge

 

[eastsoutheast]

I would go with what feels best as long as the variance VS the manufacturer is no more or less than 20% or so. I have no technical knowledge but have raced bikes in a previous life and done many track days on bikes and in cars. I have always experimented with TP and never had any issues.

 

[rockmeister]

thanks chaps...advice noted.

:^

 

[awkwardbydesign]

I always prefer to err on the soft side rather than too hard. And I believe motorbike rear pressures are safe pillion pressures, as they don't trust us to change them if we go from solo to pillion!

My SV650 says 33/36, but a little less can give more grip at the expense of a little squirm. Except on motorways. On trackdays I usually have 30/29, depending on temp. etc.

Of course, I have just crashed on a trackday, but that wasn't down to tyre pressures.

 

[rockmeister]

hahahah

if you think I'm taking YOUR advice on tyre pressures, oh purple and yellow man, you have another think coming:nup:

 

[awkwardbydesign]

hahahahif you think I'm taking YOUR advice on tyre pressures, oh purple and yellow man, you have another think coming:nup:

:TheBird: :zip:

 

[taff]

The higher pressure on the rear is to control heat for pillions. I'd say the pirelli pressures are Ok for solo, and the trumpy ones for pillion/ touring.

When we used to race, pressures had a massive effect on life. approaching 40 psi is fine for high speed or pillion work - less will just overheat the tyre when it's under load. I tend to keep fronts around 32-34 for grip.. but then I run basically road legal slicks on the front of the bike so I'm quite keen on them being warmed up!

 

[Biff]

Spare a thought for the Tour riders, descending at 50mph+ on tyres 2cm wide with 120psi in them. Wearing nowt but lycra. No ta :nerves:

 

[rockmeister]

a motorbike with 2cm tyres??????

bloody ell.