Squirrely rear
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,907
Likes: 8,758
From: Galt's Gulch - MI
cvaria, exactly where are your tire pressures? With their more rounded profile the Pirelli Night Dragons are sensitive to their pressures. I've experimented with different tire pressures and found there is a definite change in handling if the pressures are too low or too high.
When the rear was too low on my 180/60-17 Night Dragons the rear did feel a bit squirrely; I found 43 - 44 PSI was the sweet spot. That may give you a good starting point for your 180/55-18.
The front is the same, don't run them too low; the handling goes out the window and tire wear increases rapidly. With my 90/90-21 Night Dragon 40 PSI was the spot. Even a 2 PSI change lower was enough to be noticeable.
If all was well beforehand and the only change you made was to your tire PSI you know right where to start looking
When the rear was too low on my 180/60-17 Night Dragons the rear did feel a bit squirrely; I found 43 - 44 PSI was the sweet spot. That may give you a good starting point for your 180/55-18.
The front is the same, don't run them too low; the handling goes out the window and tire wear increases rapidly. With my 90/90-21 Night Dragon 40 PSI was the spot. Even a 2 PSI change lower was enough to be noticeable.
If all was well beforehand and the only change you made was to your tire PSI you know right where to start looking
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 106
Likes: 12
From: NC
cvaria, exactly where are your tire pressures? With their more rounded profile the Pirelli Night Dragons are sensitive to their pressures. I've experimented with different tire pressures and found there is a definite change in handling if the pressures are too low or too high.
When the rear was too low on my 180/60-17 Night Dragons the rear did feel a bit squirrely; I found 43 - 44 PSI was the sweet spot. That may give you a good starting point for your 180/55-18.
The front is the same, don't run them too low; the handling goes out the window and tire wear increases rapidly. With my 90/90-21 Night Dragon 40 PSI was the spot. Even a 2 PSI change lower was enough to be noticeable.
If all was well beforehand and the only change you made was to your tire PSI you know right where to start looking
When the rear was too low on my 180/60-17 Night Dragons the rear did feel a bit squirrely; I found 43 - 44 PSI was the sweet spot. That may give you a good starting point for your 180/55-18.
The front is the same, don't run them too low; the handling goes out the window and tire wear increases rapidly. With my 90/90-21 Night Dragon 40 PSI was the spot. Even a 2 PSI change lower was enough to be noticeable.
If all was well beforehand and the only change you made was to your tire PSI you know right where to start looking
Last edited by NC Rob; Dec 21, 2016 at 08:25 AM. Reason: spelling
cvaria, exactly where are your tire pressures? With their more rounded profile the Pirelli Night Dragons are sensitive to their pressures. I've experimented with different tire pressures and found there is a definite change in handling if the pressures are too low or too high.
When the rear was too low on my 180/60-17 Night Dragons the rear did feel a bit squirrely; I found 43 - 44 PSI was the sweet spot. That may give you a good starting point for your 180/55-18.
The front is the same, don't run them too low; the handling goes out the window and tire wear increases rapidly. With my 90/90-21 Night Dragon 40 PSI was the spot. Even a 2 PSI change lower was enough to be noticeable.
If all was well beforehand and the only change you made was to your tire PSI you know right where to start looking
When the rear was too low on my 180/60-17 Night Dragons the rear did feel a bit squirrely; I found 43 - 44 PSI was the sweet spot. That may give you a good starting point for your 180/55-18.
The front is the same, don't run them too low; the handling goes out the window and tire wear increases rapidly. With my 90/90-21 Night Dragon 40 PSI was the spot. Even a 2 PSI change lower was enough to be noticeable.
If all was well beforehand and the only change you made was to your tire PSI you know right where to start looking
i think the cold weather mayhave had a hand in this.
@other questions:
the bearings are new (sketchy hd full metal bearings 9276b), wheels new and are cast, tires are new. ... but my hands touched them all so... they could all be fubar, lol
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,590
Likes: 8,414
From: Inland NW
I will be in the market for new tires soon and I was going to pick up Night Dragons but now I am having second thoughts if they are that sensitive. What if you go for a ride and one loses a little pressure? Bike rides like crap and potentially dangerous until you can get to somewhere you can fill it? Not trying to be a smart ***, really asking you guys that own them and have a lot more experience then I do.
The Night Dragons are solid, and I have pushed mine hard. They are no more sensitive to pressure loss than any other tire. The profile difference just lends itself to a bit more planted feeling in the corners than the typical tire found on a stock Harley. You will not be disappointed.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,448
Likes: 2,299
From: NW Ohio
I'm at 40r/38f i will try 44r/40f.
i think the cold weather mayhave had a hand in this.
@other questions:
the bearings are new (sketchy hd full metal bearings 9276b), wheels new and are cast, tires are new. ... but my hands touched them all so... they could all be fubar, lol
i think the cold weather mayhave had a hand in this.
@other questions:
the bearings are new (sketchy hd full metal bearings 9276b), wheels new and are cast, tires are new. ... but my hands touched them all so... they could all be fubar, lol
I will be in the market for new tires soon and I was going to pick up Night Dragons but now I am having second thoughts if they are that sensitive. What if you go for a ride and one loses a little pressure? Bike rides like crap and potentially dangerous until you can get to somewhere you can fill it? Not trying to be a smart ***, really asking you guys that own them and have a lot more experience then I do.
Ive been running NDs for about a year and would have put them on my sporty if it weren't for the radial/bias ply nonsense restricting me from doing the 150/70/18 & 120/70/19 pairing. Only to find out that someone else had done it. Waiting to see how long he goes with his ND Bias Rear/ Radial front before he says something. The gt502s are trash and i dont want them on my bike. I feel safer with night dragons.
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