- Posts: 271
- Thank you received: 8
Tires: PSI (manual, fender, or sidewall?)
- Medina
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
Seems overall it runs 60% say 'what the fender or shop manual says', while 40% say 'run sidewall pressures'.
Fender school says thats what the bike was designed for etc
sidewall crew says modern compounds, tread design etc.
I can find solid logic in both. Tires got modern, but my 30 year old chassis didn't (even with new springs etc, still 30 year old technology)
Whats the current thinking?
I got a set of Dunlop 404's to replace my still good looking but 8 years old Metzners.
With less than 150 miles on them -frankly its maddening, either these tires suck, or I haven't found the sweet spot.
thanks
1981 KZ1100 Vetter "Luminous Navy Blue" DAMN YOU COLOR CODES!
Medina, Oh
My Bike Thread
www.kzrider.com/forum/10-new-members/469298-from-ohio
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Patton
- Offline
- KZr Legend
- Posts: 18640
- Thank you received: 2098
Dunlop emphasizes that many touring bikes are found being ridden with insufficient air pressure in the rear tire.
Where the tire sidewall says MAX PSI 50#, that means the tire itself is capable of handling up to 50# psi.
But that doesn't mean the ideal normal-running tire pressure is 50#.
The ideal normal-running tire pressure may be 30#.
For example, an automobile tire may say 50# MAX PSI, and the tire information label inside the door says the normal inflation is 30#.
Another example is the FSM Supplement for 1976 KZ900-B1 LTD provides 26 psi front (original Goodyear Eagle G/T ML90-19) and 22 psi rear single rider and 24 psi with two riders (original Goodyear Eagle A/T MT90-16T). Which same pressures are also shown on the oem info label under the seat.
Imo, these pressures are too low for modern tires currently used on the same old bike.
Seat-of-the-pants judgment as to the best ride and feel may be with tire pressures less than recommended by Dunlop, but higher than the oem recommendations.
Within the bounds of safety, it's okay imo when deciding on preferred air pressures to consider butt comfort along with prospective tire mileage.
As the Vetter fairing puts more weight on the front tire, would consider a little more pressure in the front tire than used without the fairing.
Good Fortune!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- martin_csr
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 8068
- Thank you received: 1656
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- 650ed
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 15344
- Thank you received: 2829
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Rickman
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 180
- Thank you received: 1
Your owners manual / sticker tells you the MFR's suggestion on where to set it.
This is a starting point for your own tuning.
1983 KZ1100-L1 "LTD Shaft"
Wiseco 10.5:1 1171 piston kit, bored by APE
Dyna 2000, Dyna S, Dyna grey coils, WG coil power mod, CB900 starter
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- bountyhunter
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 7246
- Thank you received: 337
Sidewalls are typically MAX pressure, not recommended pressure.Medina wrote: I've searched- half a dozen forums google style search.
Seems overall it runs 60% say 'what the fender or shop manual says', while 40% say 'run sidewall pressures'.
Fender school says thats what the bike was designed for etc
sidewall crew says modern compounds, tread design etc.
I can find solid logic in both. Tires got modern, but my 30 year old chassis didn't (even with new springs etc, still 30 year old technology)
Whats the current thinking?
I got a set of Dunlop 404's to replace my still good looking but 8 years old Metzners.
With less than 150 miles on them -frankly its maddening, either these tires suck, or I haven't found the sweet spot.
thanks
I also ran Dunlop 404. Best pressure depends on rider weight, tire size and a bunch of other things. Start with 30 psi and see if it wear OK.
1979 KZ-750 Twin
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.