Tyre Pressures

[hightower]

I was fitting my disc lock to my front wheel tonight at the library, and thought I'd press the tyre to check pressure. It was soft as a pudding, strange I thought, so went to the garage on my way home 20 psi! 20!


What's the lowest you've let yours get to?

[DekF]

FFS! How many of these inane posts do we have to endure before the site implodes!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The answer to your question will obviously be zero. How can it be anything else?  It's usually caused by a puncture

[Grahamm]

Things to check regularly when you ride:

POWDERS

Petrol
Oil
Water
Damage / Drive (chain)
Electrics (lights)
Rubber (tyre pressures) / Reflectors (mirrors)
Suspension / Stopping (brakes)

[hightower]

FFS! How many of these inane posts do we have to endure before the site implodes!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The answer to your question will obviously be zero. How can it be anything else?  It's usually caused by a puncture

Well, I was more posting to tell the story, and the fact that I was quite shocked by it. But thanks for your fantastic input to this site, it's nearly (but not quite) as useful as a broken rubber.

[hightower]

Things to check regularly when you ride:

POWDERS

Petrol
Oil
Water
Damage / Drive (chain)
Electrics (lights)
Rubber (tyre pressures) / Reflectors (mirrors)
Suspension / Stopping (brakes)

Cheers mate, appreciate the sensible answer, at least there's one or two about huh...
On a car it's easier to spot a low pressure tyre because it's constantly under pressure of weight. On the bike, I didn't really give it a thought until yesterday. Something I will be paying closer attention to.

[rustyrider]

But I can feel if either of my tyres are down more than a couple of psi just by the way the bike handles, can't you?

[hightower]

I've been on a bike for about a month, so still getting used to "the normal feeling". Yeah, the bike handles differently now we're back up to pressure, and now I know for future

[stevierst]

Depending how much riding you do, (new biker will be constantly in the saddle no doubt!!) I'd do a full 'walkround check' at LEAST once a week. (Thats my name for the POWDERS check btw .)
 I must admit I do the tyre squeeze every time I roll her out of the garage which is every day for work just incase there was a puncture from the day before, and glance under the bike to see if any fluids have spewed out. It's all dependant on what you trust, know about your bike, and how much your life means to you.

[jonesthesteam]

I check mine before every ride (saying that I only go out when the weathers nice!), I had two new tyres fitted this year and usually find the front is down a couple of PSI whilst the rear is always the same, not sure why this is? - I have a good foot pump with a fitted gauge in the garage so its easy to do


Jonesy

[hightower]

Cheers guys, some real good advice. I love working on the bike and fiddling about, but it's finding the time. Still, there should always be time for a few quick safety checks so will take it all on board

[Razgruff]

I rarely check mine 
If it feels good it must be good
 When I do start playing with things, I use the high speed (fully loaded) and normal settings given as a guide until I fine something in between I'm happy with.

A 9 stone rider may find a lower pressure suits them better, than a 20 stone rider who may find a higher pressure better.
Remember tyres don't just provide grip they are also part of the suspension.

[clanadam]

I use similar to these on my FZ6 - quick glance every time before you ride indicates if pressure is good (green) to bad (red).


I think I remember someone once saying they can be a bit dodgy for some reason but 3 yrs commuting on the Fazer and no issues yet....

[Hedgetrimmer]

I check mine before every ride (saying that I only go out when the weathers nice!), I had two new tyres fitted this year and usually find the front is down a couple of PSI whilst the rear is always the same, not sure why this is? - I have a good foot pump with a fitted gauge in the garage so its easy to do


Jonesy

It could be that the inside of your rims have collected dirt/corrosion, so the tyres aren't seating 100%. Next time you change your front tyre, check and clean up the rim.

[taylor]

ignore him hightower, he must have life problems. there are a lot of decent people on here.

[chaz]

I bought a bike some years ago, there was 15 lbs in the front tyre I rode it home 15 miles. I don't check mine as often as I should, plus now there's a few lbs difference between the gauge on my compressor (which is new) and the digital pressure gauge (which isn't new) what I must do is inflate a tyre at the garage then test my gauges, that's assuming the garage one will be right?

[lew600fazer]

Cheers guys, some real good advice. I love working on the bike and fiddling about, but it's finding the time. Still, there should always be time for a few quick safety checks so will take it all on board

Hightower, try this routine, I start my bike up while getting my gear on , jacket, helmet ,gloves etc! while doing this I walk around the bike looking for leaks ,odd noises , kick the tyres so to speak check indicators are all okay quick look at the brake fluid levels, by the time you have done that the engine should have settled down to correct idle speed and you are ready to ride.
Lew

[BBROWN1664]

Chaz, garage gauges are rarely accurate. Especially as you will arrive there with a warm tyre and get a higher pressure reading as a result.

On my CBF the front/rear pressures are meant to be 36/42psi. I don't check them as often as I should but I can tell when the bike doesn't feel right and check them. Often, the pressures have only dropped by a few psi but it makes a big difference to how it feels when you ride it.
If the bike hasn't been ridden for a few weeks, they get checked before a ride out. Alternatively, it is if there is a change in the weather. Cold weather results in lower pressures in the tyre.

[Dave48]

Don't tyre pressures/condition get mentioned as part of the "training process"? I have to agree with Dek here-surely to goodness when you trust your life(& others) to 2 small areas of rubber contact which transmit all your cornering/braking/accelerating effort-any rider worthy of the name would check tyre pressures along with the other items in "POWDERS" at least weekly! This is the sort of thing you expect from oblivious cocooned cage drivers-not motorcylists
Im not having a go at you personally,hightower-just assumed this was "Basic Training" stuff. Useful tip: Fit alloy dust caps with o-ring seal inside instead of usual plastic ones-they help keep air in tyre. Secont tip: Buy a tyre pressure gauge-Ive had mine 20 years & its still accurate!

[JZS 600]

I ride mine on 32/36, feels more comfy than 36/42, reading the Yamaha manual I think this is allowed if you are under 90Kgs!

[hightower]

Don't tyre pressures/condition get mentioned as part of the "training process"? I have to agree with Dek here-surely to goodness when you trust your life(& others) to 2 small areas of rubber contact which transmit all your cornering/braking/accelerating effort-any rider worthy of the name would check tyre pressures along with the other items in "POWDERS" at least weekly! This is the sort of thing you expect from oblivious cocooned cage drivers-not motorcylists
Im not having a go at you personally,hightower-just assumed this was "Basic Training" stuff. Useful tip: Fit alloy dust caps with o-ring seal inside instead of usual plastic ones-they help keep air in tyre. Secont tip: Buy a tyre pressure gauge-Ive had mine 20 years & its still accurate!

It is indeed part of the training. I guess it comes down to time a lot of the time. For instance, I use bike for work. The last thing I want to do on a morning is go prodding dirty parts of the bike, and finding out my clean white shirt is now ready for the bin. My nights are so busy, and I don't have a weekend at the minute. I haven't even washed the bike for a month.
 
I know it's 'my life in the lines', but when time is of the essence it's very easy (for me at least) to overlook these simple checks.

[AdieR]

I'm OCD about tyres - pressure and condition - the thought of one failing at speed doesn't bear thinking about, and it only needs 2 minutes to check.
I'm running mine at 33F / 36R; any different and I'll notice it straight away.
Over inflated tyres won't heat up properly (thus won't grip properly either) and under inflation leads to excess flex in the tyre, which leads to overheating, and increases risk of a potential blow-out. Not only that, but even if pressures are only slightly out, it'll definitely have and effect on fuel economy too. 

[dBfazer600]

Some check more often than others and that is their preference. I always do a visual before riding but I know that this can be misleading as rubber can go hard with age and UV degradation so therefor even with a kick or squeeze could lead to a false sense of security. Tyres can go at any time and you did the right thing on noticing it as all the checks in the world do not make us immune of the unforeseen.
 
Daz