Tyre pressure

[hobs]

Reading through the numerous topics on tyres for the ST1100 and ST1300, their seems to be quite some variance in tyre pressure people are running on their bikes. The manual says 36psi front and 41psi rear.
The various pressures other riders use seem to make logic sense for running that particular pressure. I have always maintained the manual advice pressures, but am being swayed to consider additional pressures, especially since my wear problem on the rear tyre.
My question is, what is the ideal and safe pressure to run the ST1100 tyres on?

[Icor]

I’m currently running 42 front and 44 year without to much problem. Have consider slightly lower when hot summer days.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CallMeSteve]

The consensus I've found among both car and bike mechanics is that the recommendations in the manuals are skewed towards comfort rather than performance, economy or tyre life.  For example my 4-wheeled G6ET recommends about 30psi but I've always been advised to run something like 36.

For myself, I have settled on 42/44 for STrudel. I have considered going higher on the rear when two-up but in reality I'm too lazy to keep messing with the tyres whenever I take Ruth out.  Lower pressure tends to accelerate wear, especially at the rear.

[StinkyPete]

I ran 42 and 44 in my PR4's when I had the ST1300, and often got over 20,000km from a set.

[Wild Rose]

I run 42 and 42 but when loaded I increase to 44 in rear
So most run about the same

[alans1100]

Have consider slightly lower when hot summer days.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I would not advise that. Lowering the air pressure below 42 can cause the tyre to overheat and wear quicker; especially on the softer side compounds

[alans1100]

For the 1100 I use 38F/45R as I ride two up most of the time.

With the 1300 I set to 42F/45R though I do wonder why such a dramatic difference between 1100 and 1300 fronts considering they weigh about the same

[CallMeSteve]

I would not advise that. Lowering the air pressure below 42 can cause the tyre to overheat and wear quicker; especially on the softer side compounds

Yeah, what he said. It’s counter-intuitive but there is at least one thread around here where a rider with TPM was able to measure in-flight tyre pressures and found that on long trips a higher starting (cold) pressure resulted in less heating and actually resulted in a lower eventual (hot) temperature and pressure.

Low pressures result in hot tyres and accelerated wear. 

[STeveo]

I ran 40F/45R (solo) in my 1100 with Dunlop Roadsmart and got around 16,000 from a rear.

[Yorkie]

i read an article a few years ago which suggested pressure from cold should increase by 10% when hot, I have been living by this and find it works well however pressures differ with ambient temps especially summer and winter

[STroppy]

I set mine at 42 psi front and rear and they rise to around 47, 48 once warmed up.

After reading this post, I am thinking of running 42 front, but upping the rear to 44 psi cold to compensate for my delicate frame.

I was told by one of the Honda reps at a Ulysses demo ride, that their recommended pressure was a compromise between wear and safety and provided the best footprint during hard breaking, so erring onto the safety side. I guess if you are not going to ever have to brake hard, you could up the pressure with a biase to better wear.

[Williamson]

I set mine at 42 psi front and rear and they rise to around 47, 48 once warmed up.

After reading this post, I am thinking of running 42 front, but upping the rear to 44 psi cold to compensate for my delicate frame.

I was told by one of the Honda reps at a Ulysses demo ride, that their recommended pressure was a compromise between wear and safety and provided the best footprint during hard breaking, so erring onto the safety side. I guess if you are not going to ever have to brake hard, you could up the pressure with a biase to better wear.

My first ride on an ST1300 was at the Ulysses AGM at Maryborough, I liked the ST - a lot, but that much over the CB1300 (I had at the time) that I was prepared the $25K plus they were asking at the time, as I would have been looking at a $20K plus change over.

Being the devil's advocate, I mentioned to the Honda rep that the ST's ride was not as comfortable ride as the CB's, he said the tyre pressures were set high for test rides, but I could drop the pressures if comfort was important to me.

I've concluded over the years that some of the reps / sales persons will tell you whatever they think you want to hear.   

[STroppy]

This is an interesting and informative article on tyre pressures.

https://motorbikewriter.com/correct-motorcycle-tyre-pressures/

[Skip]

After reading an informative post from tremarg, I think, I have been running 45 in both front and rear on my 1300. Last set of PR4's, I got just over 28,000 out of them. I'm will continue with higher than recommended pressures.  . A tyre guy once told me, he has never seen a tyre's life shortened by over inflation. That's not to say that excessive over inflation won't shorten their life, but most tyre life is shortened by under inflation, or at least, failure to maintain proper pressures. I always inflate according to my own digital gauge for consistency.