[Visitor Q]

What is everyone running, track or street?

Jason

 

[Desmo Duc]

what the sticker says 32.7 F 36.9 R

 

[Yossarian]

I run what Desmo Duc does on the street. At the track I drop them to 26 and 28.

 

[NewDuc]

Hey

I could use some enlightenment on how you guys set tire pressure...in other words methodology. I believe my Pilot Race say 32, at least that's what my dealer recommended...but I don't have an understanding of how and why I need to set them differently for track vs. street, aggressive vs. chill, cold vs. warm weather, etc.

I'm decent with cars but not quite "up to speed" if you will on bikes. Any insight will help a newbie. Thanks!

what the sticker says 32.7 F 36.9 R

 

[Yossarian]

On the track you can lower the pressure for several reasons. Among them are:

1. Less likely to lock up a wheel under hard braking, because your contact patch will be larger.
2. Less likely to break traction under hard acceleration, same reason.
3. You don't need the tire to act as much as part of your suspension because the track surface is much more predictable than a street.

 

[SB1098s]

You lower the pressure at the track because the tire heats up more than on the street. Whats most important is where you end up hot. For street check tire pressure cold, the owners manual offers a good starting point, but they can be adjusted for your riding style. If you use street pressures on the track your pressure will be way to high once tires are at temp.
Fran

 

[NewDuc]

Okay cool...so pump them up for the street especially our shitty roads? Thanks guys, and anyone else please feel free to chime in too, I appreciate it!

 

[MX Tuner]

I measured the tire temps with an IR temp gun, just out of curiosity. Max I got on the street (mountains) was right about 145 F. On the track (about 90 F air temp) I got the rear tire up to 185 F. That was with the starting pressure lowered accordingly for the track.

That was my first track day on any street bike so a more experienced rider could certainly get even higher temps, I'd think.

 

[SpeedDmn]

It also depends on the type of tires you have. Check with your local tire guy.

I run Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa's street and track.

Track i run it at 31 front and 28 rear when it's hot......not cold which requires some maintaining.

Street i run 31/28 cold not really concerned as much with the street pressures as I am with the track.

 

[lee]

32 front 31 rear - street

 

[JohnnyDuc]

On my 999s on the track 30.5 front and rear (michelin Pilot pro) Street about 32 .

 

[NewDuc]

I'm sensing a trend toward more pressure in the front...bear with me on the terminology etc but is that to minimize "oversteer"/spinning/lockup of the rear?

Someone talk to me like I'm a 2-year-old and give me a quick paragraph-length boot camp on bike tires and pressure if you're so inclined...educate dis foo!

 

[aviator]

just one quick clarification: with lower pressure, track or street, the tire gets hotter. not always a good thing.

cheers.

 

[Tim McKinley]

Be very careful with low pressures on the street. If you are experienced and know what you're doing, adjust to your tastes, but DO NOT run low pressures becuase you "think" you need to. This greatly effects handling, obviously more so with the front. My gage on the street has always been if a seam or imperfection pulls the tire one direction or another, I will check my pressure. 9 out of 10 times unless it's a cavernous seam, my pressure was low. I typically go 36 front and 38 rear on the street, and when racing/track day riding I go much lower depending on tire brand and track temp (28 PSI is the lowest I ever went). I started with manufacturer recommended pressures then I adjusted for feel.

Whatever you run, check them often, especially the lower you go. It would be a waste to ride these bikes with crap handling becuase racers run low pressures. By the way, if it was an expansion under temp issue we could fill them with nitrogen to greatly reduce that effect, but we don't. It is a result, but not the sole reason IMHO. At the end of the day, start high and work your way down a PSI or two at a time and then back up, and see what you like. It's your bike.

 

[NewDuc]

Good stuff...I will pump up my tires and see how I like it. The other thing I want to be aware of is that, until I get some 2CTs or SuperCorsas, I am running Pilot Race on the street. So I actually wouldn't mind if they heat up a bit more (faster). Although I am not sure I will even know the difference for some time, I want to be dialed in for those times when I do push it or God forbid absolutely need it!

Thanks peeps

Be very careful with low pressures on the street. If you are experienced and know what you're doing, adjust to your tastes, but DO NOT run low pressures becuase you "think" you need to. This greatly effects handling, obviously more so with the front. My gage on the street has always been if a seam or imperfection pulls the tire one direction or another, I will check my pressure. 9 out of 10 times unless it's a cavernous seam, my pressure was low. I typically go 36 front and 38 rear on the street, and when racing/track day riding I go much lower depending on tire brand and track temp (28 PSI is the lowest I ever went). I started with manufacturer recommended pressures then I adjusted for feel.

Whatever you run, check them often, especially the lower you go. It would be a waste to ride these bikes with crap handling becuase racers run low pressures. By the way, if it was an expansion under temp issue we could fill them with nitrogen to greatly reduce that effect, but we don't. It is a result, but not the sole reason IMHO. At the end of the day, start high and work your way down a PSI or two at a time and then back up, and see what you like. It's your bike.

 

[MX Tuner]

You may not get tires completely "up to temp" on the street. Depends on the streets and how aggressive of a rider you are.

 

[NewDuc]

I'm new and not that aggressive...working on it! And that's why I want the 2CTs or the Supercorsas so that I don't need to have that in the back of my mind when I do want to dive into a corner.