Sport touring tire recomendation

[T100]

15K miles thats what I'm talking about. Why bother wasting super sticky dot race tires putting around on the backroads.

Is that how you ride? Putting around? Then I guess it doesn't matter what you get.

I prefer stick over longevity. Any day of the week. Cracks me up, postings about 10,000 miles on MC tires, you guys are crazy.

MC tires are relatively cheap, I change mine pretty often because I like the confidence of knowing I can push them and they'll do what they're supposed to do.

Iv'e stayed with the OEM standard Hyper, Pirelli Diablo Rosso II's because they flat out work, so I stay with what works.

And I never ride in the rain either.

 

[Blankpage]

Is that how you ride? Putting around? Then I guess it doesn't matter what you get.

I prefer stick over longevity. Any day of the week. Cracks me up, postings about 10,000 miles on MC tires, you guys are crazy.

MC tires are relatively cheap, I change mine pretty often because I like the confidence of knowing I can push them and they'll do what they're supposed to do.

Iv'e stayed with the OEM standard Hyper, Pirelli Diablo Rosso II's because they flat out work, so I stay with what works.

And I never ride in the rain either.

"Putting" isn't clearly defined now is it. Are you saying you're Mr. Trackday on the street? People use sport touring tires at the track, pretty sure you don't need DOT race tires for however you ride the backroads.

I'm not interested in changing tires every 1500-2000 miles.

.

 

[davidji]

I'm not interested in changing tires every 1500-2000 miles.

My last roadtrip was longer than that. Would have sucked to have to install tires before and again during the trip. It was nice to be able to start with a well used set of ST tires, and come back without cords showing.

And commuting it's nice to only go through roughly two rear & one front tires a year rather than 10-15 of each.

 

[Blankpage]

My last roadtrip was longer than that. Would have sucked to have to install tires before and again during the trip. It was nice to be able to start with a well used set of ST tires, and come back without cords showing.

And commuting it's nice to only go through roughly two rear & one front tires a year rather than 10-15 of each.

Exactly. I can find other things to do besides running to the dealer or wherever to change tires every three or four weeks. People that think they need only the stickiest rubber for the street, yeah I'm just not buying it.
You want to spend the money and time on it sure fill your boots.

 

[WWWobble]

Exactly. I can find other things to do besides running to the dealer or wherever to change tires every three or four weeks. People that think they need only the stickiest rubber for the street, yeah I'm just not buying it.
You want to spend the money and time on it sure fill your boots.

You do have a 450 pound 120 hp sport bike?

 

[Lionel Cosgrove]

what year? My 2015 spec is 36/36.

2014 sp

 

[kuksul08]

Hypermotards are supposed to be run at 34/34.

What year? My 2015 spec is 36/36.

2014 sp

From the 2014 SP owners manual:

 

[Lionel Cosgrove]

From the 2014 SP owners manual:

That's really odd and I've never seen that. The actual sticker on my bike showed 34/34 for rider only

 

[fubar929]

From the 2014 SP owners manual:

Just remember: the recommendations in the owners manual only apply if you're running the OEM tires. If you switch to a different brand/model, you should use whatever pressures the tire manufacturer recommends.

 

[FreeRyde]

42 psi for everyone and every machine!!!!!!

Just remember: the recommendations in the owners manual only apply if you're running the OEM tires. If you switch to a different brand/model, you should use whatever pressures the tire manufacturer recommends.

When have you seen a tire manufacture list "This is the pressure you should run this tire on this bike"?

 

[fubar929]

When have you seen a tire manufacture list "This is the pressure you should run this tire on this bike"?

Did I say the tire manufacturer was going to give you a specific recommendation for your bike? No, I didn't. What I said was, the tire manufacturer will give you a recommendation for a specific tire that they make. When that recommendation differs from what your owner's manual suggests, you should follow what the tire manufacturer says.

The tire pressure recommended in the owner's manual only applies to the OEM tire. Is that really so difficult to comprehend?

 

[FreeRyde]

What if the manufacture recommends 42psi? Will you follow their recommendation if you're on a Ninja 650?
Cause Dunlop recommends 36 psi (front); 42 psi (rear) for the new Roadsmart 3's.

That's a bit insane.
Use your thinker thing.
Don't be a sheeple.

 

[fubar929]

What if the manufacture recommends 42psi? Will you follow their recommendation if you're on a Ninja 650?
Cause Dunlop recommends 36 psi (front); 42 psi (rear) for the new Roadsmart 3's.

So you're a better tire engineer than the people who work for Dunlop?

 

[3B43]

Tire cost IS an issue if you ride 15,000 to 18,000 miles/year. I ran a set of Q3's and loved them!......but they lasted 2400 miles! Do that math. As I stated, the S/T tires I like best last around 4000 miles, which mean 4 sets/year.

 

[FreeRyde]

So you're a better tire engineer than the people who work for Dunlop?

 

[WWWobble]

a specific tire that they make. When that recommendation differs from what your owner's manual suggests, you should follow what the tire manufacturer says.

Seems to me the tire manufacturers I've looked at recommend only one psi range for the 120/70-17 / 180/55-17 tires I looked at, typically 36psi front, 42psi rear.

Fine. In my experience, that's pretty much a max load spec.

So on a cool winter day, no pax, no freight... I find those recommendations on the high side. I'm sure they work, but a bit lower psi works better.

I find it best to use some judgment.

On a slightly different tangent, I've had bike/tire combinations that really are sensitive to tire pressure changes, and other bike/tire combos where it just doesn't seem to matter much. I've personally never figured out exactly why that is, but it certainly does happen.

Fubar, really nice write up on the brake thread, btw.

 

[fubar929]

Seems to me the tire manufacturers I've looked at recommend only one psi range for the 120/70-17 / 180/55-17 tires I looked at, typically 36psi front, 42psi rear.

Fine. In my experience, that's pretty much a max load spec.

I'm not talking about the maximum pressures printed on the side of the tire. You need to know that too, but most manufacturers also have a recommended pressure for an "average" rider using the tire under "normal" conditions which works better as a baseline. You should be able to get this number from your tire shop or, if they seem clueless, ping your local distributor. If you're buying a supersport or DOT race tire for use at the track find whoever is doing trackside support for the brand of tire you're using.

 

[moto-rama]

.....
And a corollary is... once you find something you REALLY like, the
manufacturer will change it. So we'll always be on the hunt for the "best" tires.

You got that right ....Won't see BT010 ever again.

 

[WWWobble]

I'm not talking about the maximum pressures printed on the side of the tire. You need to know that too, but most manufacturers also have a recommended pressure for an "average" rider using the tire under "normal" conditions which works better as a baseline. You should be able to get this number from your tire shop or, if they seem clueless, ping your local distributor. If you're buying a supersport or DOT race tire for use at the track find whoever is doing trackside support for the brand of tire you're using.

I'm not talking about the printed max psi on the sidewall either.

My data has come from looking at current online publications from Avon, Bridgestone, and Dunlop websites. Manufacturer websites are where a growing majority of people get their information. Data published there is public, and they are accountable.

I haven't found a written "recommended pressure for an "average" rider using the tire under "normal" conditions which works better as a baseline..." from any manufacturer. Ping my local distributor is NOT where I would bank on tech info.

There are A LOT of variables to street riding. More than track riding as regards tire pressure, and certainly a lot more compromises. So, to suggest that there's one setting for everything?...the compromise is it errs on the side of safety, probably for liability reasons, hence the higher psi settings are recommended. This doesn't make them ideal for every street riding situation.

 

[fubar929]

There are A LOT of variables to street riding. More than track riding as regards tire pressure, and certainly a lot more compromises. So, to suggest that there's one setting for everything?...the compromise is it errs on the side of safety, probably for liability reasons, hence the higher psi settings are recommended. This doesn't make them ideal for every street riding situation.

I'm not suggesting there's one setting for everything. Rather that you're more likely to get a usable baseline setting from the tire manufacturer than from your owner's manual. This is, again, because every tire is different and the pressures that work for the OEM tire won't always work for other tire brands and models. And that's assuming the owner's manual is accurate to begin with...

Here's an example: the owner's manual for my 2015 KTM 1290 Super Duke R recommends 36psi for the front tire and 42psi for the rear tire. What do you think happens when I mount a set of Dunlop D211 tires, go to the track, and inflate them to 36 and 42psi? Here's a hint:

http://www.dunlopracing.com/Pressures.pdf

Which source do you think has the best baseline setting? KTM or Dunlop? I know where I'd put my money...