Author Topic: Tire Pressure (Read 3357 times)

ricklee4570 · « **on:** June 07, 2007, 05:32:53 AM »

I just put a set of Pirelli Diablo Strada'a on my 1200 Bandit. Any recomendations as to the proper air pressure? Manual says 33 front and back for solo, 36 front and back with passenger. I riding solo with 36 rightnow and all seems fine, however I do want my tires wearing properly for long lasting mileage.

smooth operator · « **Reply #1 on:** June 07, 2007, 07:12:56 AM »

I run 38 front and back on mine for the street.We have alot of potholes here in Pa. Try to avoid them, but the roads are often ruff in general from all the freeze / thaw going on in the spring. If I'm riding 2 up, I'll go to 40-42 psi. Then if I go to a track I run 32 front and back.

ricklee4570 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 07, 2007, 09:18:34 AM »

I asked some mechanics at the local shop, they all said to run 32 pounds front and back even with a passenger.

I have no confidence at all in my local shop mechanics here! Pirelli doesnt say what they recommend, leaving it to the manufacture of the bike.

33 just sounds too low to me.

Why run at 32 for the track? Does that improve handling?

orionburn · « **Reply #3 on:** June 07, 2007, 09:23:02 AM »

Tire pressure is a tricky thing. Try some different combinations and go with what feels right. When taking on a passenger put a few extra psi in and see how that works.

Lower pressure (for the track) usually helps with gaining better grip. There's a million factors into setups between tires, pressure, and suspension. All a matter of fine tuning it until you get what you like.

Red01 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 07, 2007, 09:30:52 AM »

Rick, you must have a 1G, right? Suzuki recommends different pressures for different conditions on the 1G. On the 2G, they recommend 36 front and rear for all conditions. That's what I've always run and been perfectly happy with it... and my tires are lasting ~10K miles or more.

Like orion says though, experiment around a little and find what works for you.

ricklee4570 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2007, 11:25:23 AM »

Yes, First generation here, mine is a 97. To be honest, I couldnt tell the difference when I was running 33 in front and back, or when I ran 36. maybe it is just these new tires, but handling and feel was very similar.

Would there be any benfit to running 36 all the time, that way I dont have to adjust the pressure for a passenger (when I have one)? Or would that shorten tire life?

Red01 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 07, 2007, 09:13:53 PM »

Tire life will be more conditional on how you ride rather than if you run 33 or 36. 36 would give you a smaller contact patch, better mileage and wear would be more centralized, but the differences would me minimal - maybe completely unnoticeable..

Personally, if you can't tell the difference, and since 36 is good all the time for a 2G, it ought to be the same for a 1G. The differences in weight and steering geometry are minimal. There was a bigger difference in the standard issue tires between generations.

smooth operator · « **Reply #7 on:** June 08, 2007, 07:13:19 AM »

Quote from: "ricklee4570"

I asked some mechanics at the local shop, they all said to run 32 pounds front and back even with a passenger.

I have no confidence at all in my local shop mechanics here! Pirelli doesnt say what they recommend, leaving it to the manufacture of the bike.

33 just sounds too low to me.

Why run at 32 for the track? Does that improve handling?

The tires heat up,and the preasure builds up. It doesn't take long,about 2 laps befor you notice if you forget to adjust your preasure. You'll start sliding.
Same with too low preasure in your tires on the street,if you don't check them (like you should) and presure is down, it will wash on you.You want handling to be quick.And if you were to hit a pothole,too low is hard on the rims. I help change tires @ my buddy's shop when I'm there and they come in. Most bike tires have 42psi on the side.I'll put in 40 unless they ask for different. Dan

interfuse · « **Reply #8 on:** June 08, 2007, 10:59:25 AM »

The number on the side is MAX cold pressure -- not optimal tire pressure...

DaveG · « **Reply #9 on:** June 08, 2007, 03:29:18 PM »

for me 38 front and rear works best

metzler Z4's

Red01 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 09, 2007, 09:51:26 PM »

Quote from: "interfuse"

The number on the side is MAX cold pressure -- not optimal tire pressure...

+1

It's the cold pressure you'd use if you were to run the tire at its max gross weight load rating, also stamped on the sidewall next to that pressure.

aussiebandit · « **Reply #11 on:** June 21, 2007, 06:27:36 AM »

I run 40 on the rear and 36 on the front - as recommended to me by a number of different mechanics and tyre specialits.

B6mick · « **Reply #12 on:** June 21, 2007, 08:04:02 AM »

On the B6 I run 40 rear 36 front, the REX 42 rear 36 front