Optimum tire pressure?

[Douglas]

Hey all, I've been reading around on the net and thinking about tire pressure because i never can find out what is this best Kpa to pump my tires to.. So i was wondering if anybody knows how to calculate or got a best Kpa to pump my 100/80 and 90/80 tires to...heard Kpa is way more accurate than PSI.

[crazydj]

Bro i think it really depends on your bike, riding style, you weight etc. For me, i am 1.82m, 80kg, i pump 180kpa front 260kpa back. I am quite big sized and carry alot of stuff. Max tyre pressure for me is 280kpa but at that pressure, the tyre is too hard and i can feel every single bump. I think it really requires trial and error to find the optimum for your bike.

[scubasimon]

wouldn't your owner's manual tell you the correct pressure for your bike plus the weight you are intended to carry? if you got the bike without a manual, you can look for one on the internet.

[antartica]

check the side wall of your tyres?

[stsoh]

yes, check your tyre wall for max pressure.

difference brand/made/type have difference max pressure.

not all tyres have the same max pressure.

 

there is a print for max pressure at cold, do not pump more than max.

cold means do not ride until u can feel the tyre is warm.

short ride to your nearest pump station or wait 10mins till tyre cools down.

 

preference guide for type pressure:

front 80% of max.

rear 90% of max.

 

under/over pressure will cause irregular wears on tyres.

[Aalex82]

yes, check your tyre wall for max pressure.

difference brand/made/type have difference max pressure.

not all tyres have the same max pressure.

 

there is a print for max pressure at cold, do not pump more than max.

cold means do not ride until u can feel the tyre is warm.

short ride to your nearest pump station or wait 10mins till tyre cools down.

 

preference guide for type pressure:

front 80% of max.

rear 90% of max.

 

under/over pressure will cause irregular wears on tyres.

 

all the brands with the same tyre size hav the same pressure stated at the side wall.. cos in the past, rider got confused wif the diff pressure..

u can even pump more than max by 5% more..

is up to the condition and riding habit..

if u going for long distance touring, pump more abit to avoid overheating and pump less for wet weather..

[scubasimon]

folks, please do not use the max pressure as your guide because that just tells you what the tires can withstand safely. it does not take into account the load you are putting on it. the best thing to do is to check your bike manual. of course if don't have manual than terok lah. because if you pump too much and you don't have enough load, you lose traction and it is dangerous. if you pump too little and have a lot of load, you suffer handling and high fc. either way it isn't safe.

[crazydj]

So bro scubasimon. Am i right to say that the optimum tyre pressure differs from one bike and rider to another?

[Douglas]

Thank you all very much for all your info. My tires are Dunlop TT9000, they dont have to pressure ratings printed on the sides, i think its an older model because my friends newer one has the printing, i was just wondering how to achieve optimum tire pressure because im sure what is stated is just the max not the best, thanks all : )

[scubasimon]

very obviously, you do not have a manual for your bike. what is your bike model? any modifications that add/subtract significant amount of weight? how heavy are you? this will all help to figure out the pressure. what tires you use do not really factor much into this discussion.

[scubasimon]

So bro scubasimon. Am i right to say that the optimum tyre pressure differs from one bike and rider to another?

 

this is correct. it is also similar for cars. the tire's maximum pressure capability is just that - what it can handle safely. used on a different car, with a different load, the ideal pressure will be different. that is why the same tires, used in different vehicles experiencing different loads will need different pressures to perform well.

[guwakzai]

try not to pump to the max...ever happen b4 hot hot day i pump to recommended by "manual" PSI. after that park bike suddenly become rainy weather. i go back bike tyre punctured..

[crazydj]

Dude. Tyres should pump cold. I never ever pump my tires during the day. Always at night when its cold.

[Aalex82]

try not to pump to the max...ever happen b4 hot hot day i pump to recommended by "manual" PSI. after that park bike suddenly become rainy weather. i go back bike tyre punctured..

 

that can oso cause by various reasons..

like harden of compound cause cracking.. sudden increase of pressure or max pressure will burst it..

can oso be u kena nails..

i always pump full and even more when i go up north wif load of my 2 saddle bags, one tank bag and a pillion.. nv encounter that problem..

[scubasimon]

actually you can pump anytime of the day as long as your tires are cold :-)