Front Tire Pressure Question

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Two days ago I had the Dunlop Elite 3 150-80-16 installed and am not sure of how much air pressure to use. On the side of the tire it states maximum weight 791 pounds at 41 psi. I ride solo 99% of the time so should I run it with 41 psi or at a lower psi?

All help is greatly appreciated.

Gene

[Jared]

I believe 40-42 is what most put in their front tires.

[drno]

I run tires at what ever the max psi is on the tire.

[05nomader]

I always run the Max maybe even and pound or two more as front tires tend to cup out if you run at a lower pressure.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Thanks guys, I put 39 in it for the time being. I keep 41 in the back guess I will do the same for the front.

[thedude]

I put whatever the owners manual states. I think mine stated 32 psi front. I figure Kawasaki engineers know more than I do, so I trust them.

[macmac]

I don't believe any 32 is listed for this type tires anywhere. I think you should either bump that up to closer to 40 or read up.

On the other hand 32 isn't all that too much too low, but will eat the contact surface quickly on the outter most extremes, where ever that is.

Too much air eats the center contact area as quickly.

PSI is a compound calculation to get the best wear possible, combined with the most economical roll (free wheeling) and many other criteria, dependant on rubber compounds used, the expected use, touring, racing, etc etc.

Heat developed in the uses, etc etc.

If someone were going to really race a Nomad with the borads off, the saddle bags and frames off, and strip any other hard parts OFF, for just track racing, the first things changed would be tires, and then those tires migh run as hard as 60 psi minimum, no matter what it says on the side wall.

[Jared]

I put whatever the owners manual states. I think mine stated 32 psi front. I figure Kawasaki engineers know more than I do, so I trust them.

I wouldn't trust the manual when it's not tire specific. Wouldn't the recommended psi be based on what tire you're running?

[usranger74]

I don't believe any 32 is listed for this type tires anywhere. I think you should either bump that up to closer to 40 or read up.

On the other hand 32 isn't all that too much too low, but will eat the contact surface quickly on the outter most extremes, where ever that is.

Too much air eats the center contact area as quickly.

PSI is a compound calculation to get the best wear possible, combined with the most economical roll (free wheeling) and many other criteria, dependant on rubber compounds used, the expected use, touring, racing, etc etc.

Heat developed in the uses, etc etc.

If someone were going to really race a Nomad with the borads off, the saddle bags and frames off, and strip any other hard parts OFF, for just track racing, the first things changed would be tires, and then those tires migh run as hard as 60 psi minimum, no matter what it says on the side wall.

Ok Mac - for every day use what PSI (F and R) would you suggest?

And, glad to see you are feeling better :)

[AlabamaNomadRider]

The 2008 Nomad owners manual does say to run 32 in the stock Bridgestone. I ran that for 10,996 miles with no problems. Actually the only place the tire was worn was the center like it had too much air in it.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Ranger look on the sidewall and it will give you a max air pressure to run at max weight. My new Dunlop Elite 3's both say 41 psi cold tire pressure. I have 39 in the front and 40.5 in the rear. I ran 32 in the front Bridgestone for a year and that was 10,996 miles of riding. The only real wear was on the center. If I could have ridden in big circles I still had a lot of tire left on each side. Although the same size Bridgestone said 32 the same size Dunlop says 41. So Jared is right in it is tire manufacturer specific.

[Jared]

Actually the only place the tire was worn was the center like it had too much air in it.

OR like you did 99% of you riding upright.

I don't think, if you were running it at 32 psi, that you were anywhere close to having too much psi.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Hey Jared, yes I did a lot of open straight highway riding. Did over 2,000 miles on one trip and that was pretty much all interstate riding.

I was just letting Mac know that the guy that stated about the owners manual saying to run 32 psi was correct. All I was saying is that if 32 wasn't enough I would have had wear on the sides. My only wear was on the middle. So for the stock Bridgestone 32 was the correct amount. I can't complain about getting a year and five months and 10,996 miles of riding on the Bridgestone. I sure hope to get more miles out of the Dunlop Elite 3. I will be running right at 41 in the front and 41 in the rear.

[Dastardly]

On my new 2012 Vaquero it says in the owners manual to run 28psi on the front tire :???: and 40psi on the rear. Odd

[wanderer5210]

I always run 38F 40R. It works for me and a lot of 2-up riding. Also, I'm not what you would consider an aggressive rider.

[Jared]

Oh man, I was hoping Gene decided we weren't too bad of a group anymore....

Nope, just a resurrected thread.

BTW, I miss Gene's daily riding entry.

[landman]

Oh man, I was hoping Gene decided we weren't too bad of a group anymore....

Nope, just a resurrected thread.

BTW, I miss Gene's daily riding entry.

me too !