Tire pressure
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Hi from the UK and welcome to HDF. Your owners manual should show you the factory figures:
Solo Rider:
Front: 36 psi
Rear: 36 psi
Rider and Passenger:
Front: 36 psi
Rear: 40 psi
I increase mine a little over those. I have three sets of pressures I use: solo, 2-up, fully loaded. I would increase the R&P above by a couple of pounds in both tyres and when bags and tourpak are loaded add a couple more in the rear.
If you are heavy, or both of you are heavy, add a couple more pounds both ends.
You will read from some who claim to know that the maximum pressure we can use is 40psi, because it is written on the sidewall. They have it wrong! The words on the sidewall tell us the maximum load we can put on that tyre, when it is at 40psi.
I use Avon Venoms and put 50psi in the rear tyre when fully loaded, which is the maximum Avon recommend. I reckon our rolling weight on tour is close to 1200lbs.
Hope that helps!
Solo Rider:
Front: 36 psi
Rear: 36 psi
Rider and Passenger:
Front: 36 psi
Rear: 40 psi
I increase mine a little over those. I have three sets of pressures I use: solo, 2-up, fully loaded. I would increase the R&P above by a couple of pounds in both tyres and when bags and tourpak are loaded add a couple more in the rear.
If you are heavy, or both of you are heavy, add a couple more pounds both ends.
You will read from some who claim to know that the maximum pressure we can use is 40psi, because it is written on the sidewall. They have it wrong! The words on the sidewall tell us the maximum load we can put on that tyre, when it is at 40psi.
I use Avon Venoms and put 50psi in the rear tyre when fully loaded, which is the maximum Avon recommend. I reckon our rolling weight on tour is close to 1200lbs.
Hope that helps!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
What did I write above? Please go and read what it actually says on your tyres. Read it carefully, because it is badly worded. 
It says what the maximum weight is we can use at 40 psi, not that 40 psi is the maximum pressure!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
Actually I read this on Dunlop's web page, its says to never exceed the load on the sidewall or the owners manual whichever is lower. It also states to never inflate past the max inflation on the sidewall. I looked, I swear!!!
Advanced
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 70
Likes: 2
From: Slidell, La.
I've heard it mentioned that you should start off with the psi in the manual then, after riding with normal load and temp, check hot pressure. If pressure has raised by over 4lbs, tyre was under inflated for the current load and temp, causing increased tyre temp which caused the over 4lb gain. Anyone use this for finding "ideal" pressure?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
