tire pressure question?
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,244
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From: castalia oh
tire pressure question?
Been riding with 36/30 as per manual.Lowered tire pressure to 30/20 and like it.Going on a 400 miler Sat. with the queen on board.Is the 30/20 good to go?
thx in advance,
T K Glider
thx in advance,
T K Glider
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,639
Likes: 2
From: Scottsboro
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,388
Likes: 1
From: Sarasota, FL
Some time ago in another thread, cubbear42 posted that her dealer had excessive pressure in all her tires on her '09 TG Ultra and it rode like crap. I tried looking for the post but the forum server went haywire. She said she inflated them by the book, 36 psi front (as in all fronts) and 26 psi in each rear tire. Apparently, the manufacture of the rear radials specifies no less than 26 psi.
My '10 TG had 38 in each rear and is too much. I dropped each to 26. Haven't ridden yet.
My '10 TG had 38 in each rear and is too much. I dropped each to 26. Haven't ridden yet.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 190
Likes: 7
From: Mentor, OH
Inflate tires to proper pressure
Riding on under-inflated tires is extremely dangerous with a number of serious (or even fatal!) consequences.
Too Much Heat = Trouble
Under-inflation causes excessive flexing of the sidewall which results in heat build-up in the tire. Heat is the number one enemy of tires. Higher temperatures expose the body of the tire to greater damage from normal road impacts, cause accelerated tread wear and can cause hidden interior separations that can result in premature tire failure.
Riding on under-inflated tires for prolonged periods greatly increases the chance of
suffering a blow out. And as any rider knows, a blowout can cause a total loss of control and result in a serious accident.
Resistance to Road Hazards Pothole Alert
Under-inflation lowers a tire's ability to handle various road hazards. For example,
hitting a pothole with an under-inflated tire can cause the tire to buckle over the rim
flange, causing extensive internal tire damage and eventual failure. In some cases, hitting a pot hole with an under-inflated tire will instantly cause the tire to rupture.
Hydroplaning Slip Sliding Away
Low tire pressure reduces the speed at which a tire maintains fullcontact with a water covered road. This situation is commonly referred to as hydroplaning and is one of the main hazards of riding on wet roads. The reason that an under-inflated tire hydroplanes is that the larger footprint area results in a lower ground contact pressure reducing the tires ability to push the water away from the contact area. Motorcycle tires are designed to provide their optimal wet weather traction when they are proper inflated.
Adverse Handling I Didnt Want To Do That!
Riding on under-inflated tires can significantly affect the handling of a motorcycle. A bike that feels stable while riding in a straight line may react unpredictably when
cornering with an under-inflated tire. As a general rule, cornering with an under-inflated rear tire will cause the bike to oversteer (turn more sharply than anticipated), whereas cornering with an under-inflated front tire will cause the bike to under-steer (turn less sharply than anticipated). Either situation is extremely dangerous for a rider not expecting this change in handling.
Reduced Tire Life & Increased Fuel Consumption Ouch!
Riding on under-inflated tires can dramatically shorten the life of a tire. 20% underinflation can reduce tire life by up to one third. For some bikes, this can mean tire life dropping from 10,000 miles to 7,000 miles. As well, a motorcycle running on underinflated tires consumes more fuel.
Too Much Heat = Trouble
Under-inflation causes excessive flexing of the sidewall which results in heat build-up in the tire. Heat is the number one enemy of tires. Higher temperatures expose the body of the tire to greater damage from normal road impacts, cause accelerated tread wear and can cause hidden interior separations that can result in premature tire failure.
Riding on under-inflated tires for prolonged periods greatly increases the chance of
suffering a blow out. And as any rider knows, a blowout can cause a total loss of control and result in a serious accident.
Resistance to Road Hazards Pothole Alert
Under-inflation lowers a tire's ability to handle various road hazards. For example,
hitting a pothole with an under-inflated tire can cause the tire to buckle over the rim
flange, causing extensive internal tire damage and eventual failure. In some cases, hitting a pot hole with an under-inflated tire will instantly cause the tire to rupture.
Hydroplaning Slip Sliding Away
Low tire pressure reduces the speed at which a tire maintains fullcontact with a water covered road. This situation is commonly referred to as hydroplaning and is one of the main hazards of riding on wet roads. The reason that an under-inflated tire hydroplanes is that the larger footprint area results in a lower ground contact pressure reducing the tires ability to push the water away from the contact area. Motorcycle tires are designed to provide their optimal wet weather traction when they are proper inflated.
Adverse Handling I Didnt Want To Do That!
Riding on under-inflated tires can significantly affect the handling of a motorcycle. A bike that feels stable while riding in a straight line may react unpredictably when
cornering with an under-inflated tire. As a general rule, cornering with an under-inflated rear tire will cause the bike to oversteer (turn more sharply than anticipated), whereas cornering with an under-inflated front tire will cause the bike to under-steer (turn less sharply than anticipated). Either situation is extremely dangerous for a rider not expecting this change in handling.
Reduced Tire Life & Increased Fuel Consumption Ouch!
Riding on under-inflated tires can dramatically shorten the life of a tire. 20% underinflation can reduce tire life by up to one third. For some bikes, this can mean tire life dropping from 10,000 miles to 7,000 miles. As well, a motorcycle running on underinflated tires consumes more fuel.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 264
Likes: 2
From: Parker, CO
30 PSI in the rear of a trike is about right. If you get much higher the tires start to
"round the tread" and you will be running only on the center of the tread. Hit the brakes hard and it will slide like you are on ice.
If you get too low the tires start to "squirm" on the road and you get poor handling, poor fuel mileage and excessive tire wear.
Lay down on the concrete and see how the "contact patch" looks where the rubber meets the road. The tire should make contact with the road 95% of the way across the tread.
Just my two cents worth.
"round the tread" and you will be running only on the center of the tread. Hit the brakes hard and it will slide like you are on ice.
If you get too low the tires start to "squirm" on the road and you get poor handling, poor fuel mileage and excessive tire wear.
Lay down on the concrete and see how the "contact patch" looks where the rubber meets the road. The tire should make contact with the road 95% of the way across the tread.
Just my two cents worth.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,926
Likes: 138
From: NE Ohio
Some time ago in another thread, cubbear42 posted that her dealer had excessive pressure in all her tires on her '09 TG Ultra and it rode like crap. I tried looking for the post but the forum server went haywire. She said she inflated them by the book, 36 psi front (as in all fronts) and 26 psi in each rear tire. Apparently, the manufacture of the rear radials specifies no less than 26 psi.
My '10 TG had 38 in each rear and is too much. I dropped each to 26. Haven't ridden yet.
My '10 TG had 38 in each rear and is too much. I dropped each to 26. Haven't ridden yet.
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