Tire Pressures
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,586
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From: Honah Lee
See your owners manual. If you don't have one, go the Harley.com. With your vin, they will loan you one.
Brand should not matter. Harley tested it best for overall average, wear, braking and handling. ECT..
On most Harleys, two up from the base pressure usually is 4 more pounds in rear. But CHECK that
Same for your car except it's printed on driver door jam. Doubt where you are but in areas that get really cold and with tire pressure monitors, (TPMS) I run 2 over come fall.
That way, I don't get a light. Your system could be different on modern stuff if it has it.
Brand should not matter. Harley tested it best for overall average, wear, braking and handling. ECT..
On most Harleys, two up from the base pressure usually is 4 more pounds in rear. But CHECK that
Same for your car except it's printed on driver door jam. Doubt where you are but in areas that get really cold and with tire pressure monitors, (TPMS) I run 2 over come fall.
That way, I don't get a light. Your system could be different on modern stuff if it has it.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jan 29, 2023 at 11:03 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,032
From: Carlsbad, CA
Tire pressure is what displaces the weight of the bike via the size of the contact patch. If you measure the size of the contact patch with the recommended tire pressure and the bike empty, then compare it to the contact patch with your bike loaded it probably doesn’t change much.
I’ve never had an issue using the HD recommended tire pressure even when we were fully loaded for touring.
I’ve never had an issue using the HD recommended tire pressure even when we were fully loaded for touring.
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Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 78
Likes: 37
From: Roseville,CA & Grangeville,ID
I'm a dumb @ss when it comes to HD cycles. Riden sport bikes for 50+ years and know factory recommended Pressures are not optimal. My new Fat Boy will be here at the end of Feb
and would like have an idea for a starting point on the air pressures. Thank you
Domenic
and would like have an idea for a starting point on the air pressures. Thank you
Domenic
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,117
Likes: 1,193
From: Maryland
I did a search and the search function sucks so I creating a new one.
So Im on the dunlop website and it states
Max load front tire 130/80B17 693 lbs @41 psi
Max load rear tire 180/65B16 1019 lbs @ 42 psi
So it got me thinking that is 1712 lbs of weight it can hold including passenger. The bike itself weights over 800lbs for my 2015 road king. Being 150 lbs plus whatever extra crap I carry, let say 180lbs. Thats 950-1000 lbs total weight. My thinking is to adjust the pressure to match my weight.
How would you go to adjust these pressures? Im thinking 33-34psi front and 35 rear. Using stupid logic 34/42psi * 1019 = the weight rating (825lbs rear) and 30/41psi *693 = (507lbs front) . These numbers factor approximately 20-25% drop. About 6psi below what the psi is set on the frame.
Anyone would like to chime in? I dont set it to 36front/40rear cause that is max load which Im not maxing it out.
So Im on the dunlop website and it states
Max load front tire 130/80B17 693 lbs @41 psi
Max load rear tire 180/65B16 1019 lbs @ 42 psi
So it got me thinking that is 1712 lbs of weight it can hold including passenger. The bike itself weights over 800lbs for my 2015 road king. Being 150 lbs plus whatever extra crap I carry, let say 180lbs. Thats 950-1000 lbs total weight. My thinking is to adjust the pressure to match my weight.
How would you go to adjust these pressures? Im thinking 33-34psi front and 35 rear. Using stupid logic 34/42psi * 1019 = the weight rating (825lbs rear) and 30/41psi *693 = (507lbs front) . These numbers factor approximately 20-25% drop. About 6psi below what the psi is set on the frame.
Anyone would like to chime in? I dont set it to 36front/40rear cause that is max load which Im not maxing it out.
You don't determine any of this by looking at what is on the sidewall of the tire. You determine what the running weight, maximum added weight allowed, GVWR, GAWR rear, and GAWR front are buy looking in the owners manual. You will often find that GVWR differs from the arithmetic did here on the sidewall numbers. It's based on what HD designed the bike to be capable of, not what the tire manufacturer designed the tire to be capable of (any tire can be used on a multitude of vehicles).
Running weight, GVWR, etc. are all already factored into recommended tire pressures that the manufacturer gives you in the specification.
This also goes for operating temperature induced pressure variations. This is already factored into the recommendations. They tell you to measure "cold" for a reason.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23,000
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Max pressure is just that. Max tire can take.
What you set tires at is on frame tube and in owners manual . Do your self a favor and do not over think it and makes this in to another never end oil thread of what ifs.
What you set tires at is on frame tube and in owners manual . Do your self a favor and do not over think it and makes this in to another never end oil thread of what ifs.
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