Rain riding
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 34,625
Likes: 36,195
From: outskirts of ba habba
Wished I'd read the bold print and looked at the pictures first .... it's damn trickery I tell'ya, damn trickery 
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Northwest OH
Wow, really? Whomever mentioned letting out some air in there tires is not the sharpest pencil in the box. When you have more of a contact patch you have more of a chance of sliding and hydro planing. In the rain the least contact the better, you want to cut though it not plow it and allow water to get under the tires and create a hydroplane.
And if your bike never leaves the garage, the chance of riding it in the rain is slim.
Me? Hell I rode my '14 FLHTK home from the dealer in the rain the day I bought it. I've been caught in hailstorms, SNOWstorms... it happens.
Letting air out of your tires is asinine. Period.
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Last edited by SafetyMan; Oct 5, 2013 at 07:39 AM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,331
Likes: 56
From: north of Daytona
I saw this on a different site and wondered why? I have asked the poster to explain but no answer yet. They stated when it starts to rain, they let some air out of their tires. Now I have not been riding too long (2007) but have been driving all sorts of other vehicles for more years than I can remember. Can someone explain why you would let air of tires when it rains? I cannot think of one good reason to ride on under inflated tires.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
I finally found out the rest of the story. Owner was on a Nija250 on a RACE track. Totally not the same conditions as the roads we ride on. He crashed on the WET race track, duh.... let 10psi out and ran the fastest lap of the day. I still say DUH !!!!! and don't do it.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 2
From: Rhode Island
For those that "don't do rain", you don't know what your missing. Meaning it's obvious that you don't travel very far. I have been on several multi state trips and sometimes rain is unavoidable. When you plan a trip months out you cannot predict the weather. Once plans are made, vacation is approved and your on the way, "rain happens". You have to ride the plan or sit in a hotel or campground and wait it out, blowing the plan.
With that said, I have rode many a day in the rain on those trips and have NEVER adjusted the tire pressure. I have rode the Dragon in the rain with the factory recommended air pressure. There is a reason for the recommended pressure, it has been tested. I don't claim to be smarter than the engineers that designed the tires so I'll stick with the book.
With that said, I have rode many a day in the rain on those trips and have NEVER adjusted the tire pressure. I have rode the Dragon in the rain with the factory recommended air pressure. There is a reason for the recommended pressure, it has been tested. I don't claim to be smarter than the engineers that designed the tires so I'll stick with the book.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,432
Likes: 0
From: Central Florida, USA
Less air pressure equals a larger contact patch. Larger contact patch equals increased traction (although hydroplaning becomes more of an issue with a wider the contact patch). I've never done it nor do I plan to, but I'm sure that would be his rationale.
Same thing can be done if you plan to ride aggressively through some turns.
And just because you let a few psi out of the tires does not necessarily mean they are underinflated. Recommended pressures are a compromise to cover various conditions.
Same thing can be done if you plan to ride aggressively through some turns.
And just because you let a few psi out of the tires does not necessarily mean they are underinflated. Recommended pressures are a compromise to cover various conditions.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 132
From: Deep South, Louisiana
I have hydro planned in vehicles with wider tires. The tire has grooves in it, these groves are to channel water from under the tire so you do not hydro plain. The bike will hydro plain when the weight of the vehicle is less Than the water can lift before it squirts out. Letting air out your tire mean that the water will be under the tire longer because of the larger contact patch. Let me put it this way, with my Cajun engineering degree. If I want to go mud riding I need tires with a larger contact patch, balloon tires and let air out if I'm just mudding to increase area. This is called floatation. The ATV did not loose or gain weight but with a larger contact area it will remain on the surface at slow speeds. On a motorcycle I want my rubber touching asphalt or concrete not floating on top the water at speed. Also if you think the grooves give you grip then why doeas Nascar and top fuel dragsters run slicks? Because they not running in the rain that's why!