Car Tire Pressures

[Walküre]

Hi, all...

...if I'm going to my flaming death, at least I'd like to do it with the best pressure in the car tire!

I've seen a lot of different pressures. I'm running a General Altimax 205/60-R16 tire. I currently have it at 41 psi, but want to know what others have found, what difference adding/losing pressure made, and what kind of tire, if you have time. I also allowed two votes, for those running several Valks, with car tires. Since it's not a contest, it won't pay to vote twice, if you only have one bike - but, if you've run different car tires, and found different pressures better, by all means, I'd like to know...

Now, before I get all the "just try it, and see what works for you!" remarks, I intend to, but I am basically trying to see the different feels, and the different opinions. I'll be following R J's advice"

In my Triple Tread, I run 36#.

The wiggle you described, is too low of pressure,

I'm not familiar with your tire so don't know to tell to go higher than mine or not.

Start @ 45, let about 3# out & ride it again in the same roadway.

Once it feels good, drop it again, if uncomfortable, put those 3# back in & that is your pressure to run..........

I've only ridden around the block a couple times - it IS different, but so far, no flames - not even a little spark...

Thanks,

R

[Michvalk]

I've run at all pressures between 32 and 45. My tire feels the best at 35. I have a cooper tire so not the same tire. Even if you run the same tire as someone else, you may feel more comfortable at a different pressure. Took me a week to find my pressure, but, works good for me

[Jess from VA]

Many believe it best to start out at 40 psi (on any car tire), and leave it there while you get used to riding with the tire, and the tire breaks in (sidewalls) to the bike.  After 1-2K, many begin to let a little air out and experiment for best handling for them.  Me I got two Interstates each with a GATT, always at 40 PSI, one with 26K, the other 4K.  38's OK but less begins to feel mushy to me.  I like hard tires. 

[MP]

I have two Valks with the General Altimax.  Run the 26-28 pounds solo, and 32# two up.  Seems like the higher I run the pressure, they more it wants to follow the ruts.

MP

[X Ring]

I ran 40psi in my Toyo for the first thousand miles then started dropping it 2psi until I was satisfied at 32psi.

Marty

[tybme]

I have two Valks with the General Altimax.  Run the 26-28 pounds solo, and 32# two up.  Seems like the higher I run the pressure, they more it wants to follow the ruts.

MP

I run the Goodyear TT at 32lbs - I agree that the more pressure the more it follows the ruts.

[wizard -vrccds#125]

You are going to get as many answers as people you ask. The two bigest ones will be what brand tire and what PSI. The biggest question that no one take in to account is what PSI were you running in your MC tire ? That will be the biggest factor for finding what is right for you !                             

[Valker]

I almost always ran 42-45 psi in my rear motorcycle tire and like 26 psi best on my Michelin HydroEdge.

[Tropic traveler]

Bought the '99 with a 205/65/16 Michelin HydroEdge already on it. Started with 38psi & hated it. Horrible low speed handling, LOTS of effort to "tip in" to turn at parking lot speeds, followed every little rut in the road, & tried to hit the ditches on our highly crowned Florida roads. Dropped it to 34psi, not much better. Took somebody's advice from right here on this forum {thank you however you are } & dropped the psi to 28. Bingo! MUCH better..... Still not proper handling like a MC tire however 75% better in low speed handling, excessive "tip in" steering pressure no longer needed & it doesn't hunt the ditches on the crowned roads anymore. The better braking is still there along with the great wet road performance. Only thing I'm not satisfied with is the gain of approx. 100-200 rpm at cruise speeds due to the slightly smaller rollout of the CT vs. the MC tire. Also had to do the "nutcage mod" to be able to ride 2 up on it.
Until I dropped the psi I was ready to rip that damn tire off & put ANY brand MC tire I could find on it but now I will take my time before taking the CT off. I still prefer a MC tire but I'll keep the CT for now. It is kind of fun to watch & listen to some peoples reaction to the big fat CT on the Valk.
No flaming death, no panacea either.
As usual, it's the little things that can make a big difference!

[Michvalk]

One last comment from me. I have about 5000 miles on my CT and it will be my last CT. I have no real complaints about the tire, just don't really feel happy with the handling. I think that the tire will work OK for the time that it lasts,(should be about 25000 miles at the rate of wear) but just want my bike tire back. I noticed that the front tire pressure did have an effect on the overall handling of the CT and pay special attention to the combo pressure as you make changes. I have an Avon Cobra on the front. Getting both pressures to work togeather has made the combo a bit better for me.Good luck with your setup

[fudgie]

Started the K-106 at 32. To soft. Tried 34. To soft. I would get those little rear end bounces going around a curve on a bridge on the interstate. Tried 38 and its great holds the road. I do this 1 up or 2 up. When I travel loaded I may go 40. I did have it up to 52 psi once on accident. Looked low out west so I put some air in it. Checked with the gauge and blew it apart. Thought it was faulty but no it was over the recremended psi by alot. Rode it like that for 250 miles. It was the best ride ever tho.

[Gear Jammer]

Running at 40 psi  Two up, and loaded

[valkmc]

I am a fan of my car tire. I run it any where from 34 to 38 psi depending on what I am doing. I do not mind the handling however I do not believe it handles as good as the bike tires I have had. I do think everytime I buy a bike tire, we have another bike and I would never put a car tire on it, l am getting screwed. The tires made for bikes today do not seem much better than ones I bought when I first started riding (1975/76). At least as far as lasting goes. As far as whether to go darkside and if so what tire and tire pressure, it seems to be a personal decision, give it a try and make the decision for yourself. My 98 STD (72,000 total-26,000 darkside) will never (I know never say never) see a bike tire again on the rear.

[Oss]

Tried running everything from 32 to 40 on the Toyo Proxes T1R for the year I had it,

liked the wet weather handling, the terrific braking power and pothole handling but not the ruts in the road which are abundant here in NY.   I just missed the handling of a MC and  ended up giving it to BigD with around 7500 miles on it. last I heard he loves the tire.

If I was to take a long vacation pulling the trailer and with my wife on the back I would consider another CT though maybe an altimax

Running a Cobra now, Battleaxe in the basement waiting for the Cobra to wear out