Author: Joe Greene      Ride: VN1500D1
Submitted: 1998 Apr 19
   Rating: n/a

TIRE PRESSURE:

Because all the technology, design, talent and money in the world won`t add up to race wins if the tires are not performing properly. Tire pressure will affect the temperature the tires run at, and excessive tire heat is the number one killer of tire performance.

Riding a motorcycle on the street is of course not the same type of riding, but if a tire is going to deliver acceptable tire mileage, perform well in corners and accept braking loads properly it therefore must be run at the proper inflation pressure. Now that I have your attention focused on how important inflation is, I will move on to finding the right pressure for your motorcycle.

The information found in your owners manual will only be valid for the tires that came as original equipment on your motorcycle. If you have up graded from stock equipment and have installed a pair of high mileage tires for example, then the tire pressure indicated on an application guide is the best starting point. There is a way to determine the perfect tire pressure for any given load configuration.

First check your tire pressure when the tire is cold, load the motorcycle to the same weight regime that you are solving for and ride the motorcycle approximately one hour at the typical speed encountered when loaded in this manner. Check the tire pressure again. Since the tire surface has now heated, so has the air pressure within, and air pressure will naturally increase with temperature. There should be an increase of 4 to 6 pounds or 10%. If the increase is less than that you are over inflated. If the increase is more than that you are under inflated, and the tire is flexing to much causing the to tire overheat. Overheating will destroy mileage expectations and most importantly (due to overload) can cause a blow out situation.

The maximum load a tire can carry lowers as the tire pressure lowers. The maximum load found on tire side walls is valid only when the tire is inflated to it`s maximum tire pressure. The tire pressure you choose should always be somewhere between what is shown in your owners manual and what is marked on the tire side wall. Under no circumstance should the tire pressure exceed the maximum pressure (cold) marked on the side wall. Over-inflation will distort the profile of a tire and diminish tire performance.