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Hot Day Tyre Pressure.
In the 2023 Softail Owners Manual Page 48 table 24 it states front tyre at 20c 36PSI at 26C add 1PSI at 31C add 2 PSI. The way I read this page in the middle of a ride on a hot day I should stop and check the tyre pressure and adjust it to the recommended hot day temp pressure setting?
Or does it mean before I set out on a 31C day I should pump the tyres up to 38 PSI? That absolutely makes no sense either.
Who would mess around trying to get the pressure right on a hot day in the middle of a ride? There has got to be a better way.
My Sportster supposed to have 40 in the rear, 30 in the skinny front. Being rather large I keep the rear about 38 (softer ride) and the front about 32/33 (to keep it round).
1 or 2 PSI variation? No big deal. Welcome to the forum and Happy Trails!
Looks like you got enough advice. So just a few suggestions.
Hope you continue to enjoy your ride here with us on the HDFORUM.
Only as a suggestion, but very important, create a signature line similar to mine with your year, model, and all the letters Harley assigned to your bike. It will appear at bottom of your post.
You can also add a favorite picture to the signature line.
Doing this will be helpful if you ask a question or someone asking a question. All Harleys aren't the same with many changes and variations over the years.
You can also add a favorite picture for an Aviator postage stamp you see at the top left of your post.
Get a chance, and only as a suggestion too, make your next new post over in the new member welcome area to say hello.
Peter, after reading down the last post added, I reread you first post to see what I missed. I didn't catch your 20C understanding it as centigrade. I thought they were clerical errors.
Now I realize your referring to temperature. I have never seen a call out like that.
I just checked tires cold and go from there. However, I have discovered with the wife's car with TPMS (tire pressure monitor system) it can be OK in the summer set to what it says on door post with cold tires.
By winter on a 20 degree Fahrenheit day, the TPMS will pop the yellow triangle on the dash.
When did they start putting that fancy tire pressure call out in the manuals?
My interpretation would be to adjust what you put in with cold tires always. However, obviously if you catch a low tire after driving or even if tire has had the hot sun shining on the black tire, you need to add air.
I would do that to what the book says or if out, at least to what it says on side wall of tire.
I would proceed driving cautiously. I would inspect tire ASAP for leaks and reset tire when cold correctly to your fancy book.
Do you normally use Centigrade scale? Does your Harley have TPMS?
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jan 22, 2024 at 09:36 AM.
Recent (2020+) owner's manuals have included the following tire pressure adjustment table. Prior to 2020, the owner's manuals made no mention of a "motorcycle recently ridden".
I interpret the above table as adding the indicated psi numbers to the numbers in the "specified tires tables". In other words, you're not physically adding pressure with an inflator.
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Tyre Pressure
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