Tires and air pressures

I know I know not again BUT got to wondering no matter what pressure YOU run in your tires do you use the same pressures no matter what the brand? One reason I ask is I've noticed different MAX pressures imprinted on the side walls of same sized tires. One of my cages lists different pressures from front to rear although they are the same tires all the way around.

Even the Honda User manual (spec'd for the Bridgestone Hoops) run the front and rear at different PSI's

Front 29, Rear 33 to 36 depending on weight of driver.

I run 29-31 on front and 36 to 38 on rear, I run Pirellis.

Based on lots of SilverWing miles-----29 psi cold----rear 33 psi. Max load on side of tire is max load capacity psi of tire.

Note: I noticed Michelin Power Pure SC max load is at 33 PSI----this 33 worked for me.


Too hard=ride not fun. I noticed Suzuki Burgman 400 24 PSI suggested in front----had 2 Burgman 400's, enjoyed softer ride, use same tires as SilverWing as I recall.

Brand of tire makes no difference in PSI for normal running, in my experience---Bridgestone, Pirelli or Michelin----rear adjusted for load.

The maximum pressure printed on the sidewall is just that, the maximum safe inflation pressure (ever) for the tire in question. It is in general unrelated to the optimal running pressure, and only VERY rarely--and only if one really knows what they are doing--should tires on any vehicle be inflated to that maximum pressure.

As long as the mounted tires (again on any vehicle) are the recommended size inflate them to the manufacturer's recommended pressures--again with the caveat; unless you know what you are doing.

Why front and rear suggested pressures differ should be obvious; they carry different loads, and on bikes are most often different sizes carrying different loads...

The only time I deviated from recommended pressures(Front 29 rear 33) was when I fitted the tyres I am running on at present Power Pure's front and rear. Front I run at 26psi and rear at 30 psi. after 5,000mls on front and 3,000mls on rear they finally feel "bedded in" and I feel confident riding with them I will NOT be using these tyres again.

OK Old Limey I HAVE to ask this. 5,000 on the front and 3,000 on the back? Is the front tire that much smaller that the miles add up quicker?

OK. OK. I just had to throw this one out there. I couldn't help myself...

Nice one Dale, I put the front on at 22,000mls, and the rear at 24,000mls now at 27, 300mls.

30 front and 35 rear seems to be the best all around way to go unless a HEAVY load is carried and this applies to any make tires I've seen..

Bringing this topic up again at this time of year when the cold weather reduces all tire pressures. So those of us who live north of the equator at this time need to check the air pressures in our cars and bikes. It's amazing how much pressure is lost when the weather drops 30+ degrees. Above is good info about the SWing's suggested tire pressures.

MAX. tire pressures are set for a cold tire. If it's 60°F at the start of ride and 90° at the end tire will get hotter and pressure will be higher how much ? But still will be okay. Measured it a few times and can be 3-4 psi higher at end of day, tires can deal with higher pressures.

Lower pressures not recommended but 2-3 PSI higher will not hurt .

I will also never be buying Mich. Power Pure again.

I run 29-30psi in my Shinko front and 33-34 in rear Michelin City Grips and so far both tires after 3000 miles look and feel great.

I hear some Swingers don't care for the Michelin Power Pure. Many people still believe Michelin are exclusively made in France -wrong. Michelin have factories in many countries. My rear City Grips were made in Serbia. I don't know if this tire plant uses really good rubber compound or what but they are wearing great and feel great. Naturally my front Shinko is made Korea. Think of Hyundai , Kia and Kymco .

Hi every one,

I ride on Metzeler Feelfree and like them ...
33/33 riding alone
33/35 with a passenger.

Cost a little more $ but I think our life worth it.

Going back to the 50's I have never has a lot of luck with Metzlers, but liked M880 on rear. May try Metzler Feel Free when tires due on my 2019 Kymco XTown 300I, which has about 9,000 miles now, stock rear tire so bad replaced with Michelin City Grip---nice tire, but no matching front available for SilverWing or Kymco----Note: SilverWing and the Kymco use the same size tires.

Using IRC tires (Honda OEM)
I run 30 PSI front and 36 PSI rear.
I check the pressure with tires cold.

Lower pressures could trash your handling. Higher just rides harder ( within a few pounds of recommended psi.) When I picked up my Swing (1st Swing 12th + bike) it really handled bad. I almost didn't buy it. When I checked tire pressure I had about 15 in back and 18 up front. I now run 33 rear cause I weigh 265# and 26 front. Handles great with Pirellis f&r.

It all depends where you ride and how many extra pounds you add to the bike.
Normally I under inflate a bit since I ride in a warm area and with the riding the tire pressure increases a bit. Also sometimes the roads are not that smooth that the tires need to take up part of the suspension.
A simple check if you are underinflated, check the temperature with the hand after a highway ride. One tire warmer than the other (mostly the rear) it needs a bit more air.

In my trunk is an automatic puncture sealer and tire inflator can and on occasion if I might encounter roads what require slow riding and soft tires I carry a handheld compressor what adjusts the pressure in a few seconds (acu powered).

tire Check
All of this is well and good, but most gauges are only accurate to a couple of lbs's. Better than that, in a test per Motorcycle Consumer News the cheapest crappie (y) gauge was the most accurate! So my method is to stay within factory parameters and check wear. Handling is #1 then ride and of course total weight of machine.

The harder the tire compound the better for hot weather riding generally speaking. You could look up how compounds are rated.

It's almost always a compromise in the 2 wheeled world. Staying home and staying in bed is the answer other than that.

Michel Vachon wrote:

Hi every one,

I ride on Metzeler Feelfree and like them ...
33/33 riding alone
33/35 with a passenger.

Cost a little more $ but I think our life worth it.

Installed FeelFree last week...it rides like a charm!!!!
Also the guy that did the installation mentioned 33F/36R at least for the 200 initial km of the Tyre.

Was doing 29/35 with the old michelin I had, but I am liking the 33/36 more.