The manufacturers suggested inflation pressure goes out the window if im running a tire that didn't come on the bike from the factory. The fact Harley used the same shocks on the rear of a touring bike pre-08 weenie rear tire then 09 up with the 180 rear tire with considerably more unsprung weight tells me the chassis isn't highly tuned and variations in tire pressures and brands isn't going to upset anything except the rider apparently.

 

Right, which is taken into account when the manufacturer recommends a particular pressure for a particular tire size. That doesn't change when you replace that tire with another one of the same size/volume.

First, I've never bought a tire where the tire manufacturer recommended a tire pressure. On my motorcycles, I've only had Dunlops on street bikes of different designs, OEM and the American Elite. But I've also bought tires for dirt bikes and cars/trucks and to date, never had them "recommend" a pressure. That includes B.F. Goodrich, Interco, Michelin, Goodyear, Nitto, and probably a few others. All have given me a max pressure for max loading. None have ever given me advice as to what pressure to use. I have used tires at 25 psi that have a max of 65. Hell my factory vehicle tells me to use 40 psi in an 80 psi max tire at low load.

Additionally, it is not a "completely different" tire to replace one tire with another brand of the same size and volume. The two tires have the same amount of air in them and thus the same carrying capacity. Obviously that's not true if there's a drastic difference in the load range/carcass construction of the tire. But I also don't alter that from factory--I shop for tires in the same load range/construction as the ones that came off.

So I think you're mistaken as to both claims you're trying to make. I didn't disregard a recommendation for pressure because there hasn't been one with any tire I've ever bought. And I don't regard it as a "completely different" tire. It's the same in all relevant respects and it gets the same pressure to support the same load, even if it's a different brand or tread pattern.

If the tire manufacturer is telling me to do something other than what the factory that designed my vehicle has recommended for the same use/circumstances, that makes me skeptical of both their opinion and their product.

Wrong. The recommendation is for a size, load range, and pressure, not for a particular brand of tire.

 

I'm running the inexpensive Shinko's on my 1977 XLH 1000. Review- AWESOME. Would I put Shinko's on my Wife's 04 1200 Custom or my 07 Dyna? HELL NO.

 

Exactly. It's a different tire, made differently with different components. The manufacturers suggested tire pressure is for the tire that came with the bike. There's no way HD can make a recommendation for a completely different tire they don't know anything about.

It's like if you did a stage 1 and used a Power Vision tuner. If you were looking for suggestions on how to use the PV, would you call up HD?

Or put another way: Would you ask Metzeler for a recommendation on HD OEM Dunlops?

 

i replaced my tires before taking a 3,000 mile roadtrip earlier this month. i had been trying for over a year to get a set of avons, but no luck. at the time, ae, bridgestone, pirelli, etc. were all on backorder. i wasn't sure when i would be at the limit, so i had to buy a set of shinko 777's to at least have something on hand. those tires made the roadtrip just fine. sustained speeds of 80 mph, no problem. didn't run into any rain, so no data there, but otherwise, they performed well. now just have to see how well they hold up, but if i can get at least 2 seasons out of them, i'll be fine with that.

 

That is incorrect. As Downzero states, tire pressure is based on tire size and load, and application. Some bike manufacturers use the exact same tire as a competitor, with the exact same specs, yet recommend different pressures than each other. There is a reason for that.

100% this. I have attended engineering classes for FoMoCo and this was a topic of conversation.

See my comments above. I'll also point out that Shinko is not an OEM tire for any manufacturer, at least none that I am aware of. Why is that?

 

Apparently you're wrong too because the Shinko engineer (are you a tire engineer?) said to inflate to max which contradicts HD's suggestions on a tire of the same volume.

We're not dealing with Nascar racing or F1 here, it's an antiquated motorcycle that can't get out of its own way so take a chill pill.

 

Not according to Shinko. I think you and big zero are making a mountain out of a mole hill.

One of my sport bikes came from the factory with two different tire brands front and rear and today I can't get the same size rear or brands front and rear (170 rear so now run a 180 and run a pressure that the tire and I are happy with). Something people on this site say you can't but for what reason? Honda engineers must be stupid for fitting two different brands but we all know better. What are we apparently fretting about because I have no idea. Certain death or tire failure or?

I inflate my tires and watch the wear to decide if Im too high or too low regardless of the suggested settings. Hard tail bikes depending on circumstances you run in the 20's for the rear despite the inflation spec because the bike has no suspension and its makes the rider happy. .

 

Ahhhh nothing brings out a spirited discussion like Air Pressure or Oil brand/viscosity in bike and car forums. Lol

I've only had one experience with Shinko tires (705s) on my KTM Adventure bike, and will not be using them again, They had great reviews but for me they did not feel stable at speed for my bike.
With so many choices in quality brands (Dunlop, Metzler, Avon, Pirelli, Michelin, etc) I stick with what Harley uses or a quality alternative. Shinko does fills a need for lower cost tires.

For what it's worth, I recently installed Metzler Cruistecs on my Fat Bob and I will be installing them on my Low Rider ST soon. Really great tire for aggressive handling on these big bikes.

 

Oh boy, you're gonna open a whole new can of worms with that one!