tire pressure question

crapper · 08-03-2011, 11:19 AM

hello all.
got a new front tire on the 02 1500 nomad and was wondering about tire pressure......my owners manual recomend 32 psi front and 40 psi rear.
i have noticed on other threads on this forum that most of you run roughly the same front and back.....40 to 42 psi seems about what a lot of you are running for pressure
i just now looked at the rear tire on the nomad and 42 psi is maximum pressure
my truck tire max pressure is 45 psi and i sure don,t run that much for just regular use . so why are we running the max pressure for a bike tire
and why is the manual recomendation 32 and pretty much everyone runs around 38 to 42 psi......................
i must say that until now i have run 38 front and 40 rear and have had lots of mileage on both tires
i

**BudMan** · 08-03-2011, 11:31 AM

I don't know what make of tire was stock on an 02', so I don't know what it's max pressure was.
Since I usually ride 2 up. I like to have the tires near max pressure.
I try to keep about 2 lbs. (cold) below the max pressure indicated on the tire.
Right or wrong that's what I do.

**ringadingh** · 08-03-2011, 04:14 PM

Ive always kept mine at at 40-42 as well. I prefer it firmer rather than softer, these bikes are mushy enough.

waterman · 08-03-2011, 04:41 PM

Many people have had issues with tires cupping when they are running the manual pressures. Upping the pressures have helped with that issue.

blowndodge · 08-03-2011, 04:43 PM

Is manual pressure like manual labor??

AlabamaNomadRider · 08-03-2011, 04:48 PM

On my OEM tires I ran 32 to 33 in the front tire. 40 to 42 on the rear. When I purchased the Dunlops the recommended pressure is 41 front and rear. I keep it as near to that pressure as possible.

recumbentbob · 08-03-2011, 06:43 PM

Avon Cobra front 40 PSI cold 12,000 miles on the tire and no cupping and lots of tread left.
Factory tire at 34 PSI cupped in 7,000 miles.

rolfe · 08-03-2011, 08:50 PM

I am with everyone on this. I keep my tires at max. pressure indicated on the sidewall of the tire LESS 4lbs when riding in the High Heat. It is a firmer ride but saves gas and tire wear. -r-

landman · 08-04-2011, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waterman

Many people have had issues with tires cupping when they are running the manual pressures. Upping the pressures have helped with that issue.

what joel said plus the fact that the factory tire
pressure and suspensions settings are set for a 150 pound average rider.
that might be an average rider in japan but i'm guessing most of us just wiegh a bit more then that.

**ringadingh** · 08-04-2011, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blowndodge "Darksider"

Is manual pressure like manual labor??

No, its when your tires are checked by a Mexican!

fysl33 · 10-26-2011, 01:42 PM

I am confused , when I set the front tire at 40 as what is on tire the front end wobble ? then I set it at 24 as the owner manual it sounds like a flat tire noise, then I set it 28 good handling but when I monitor the tire patch ( how much dust on it ) looks like 80% of the tire ? not much lift for the side walls ( dangerous ) I think good chance for slip ?

30 to 33 is the best

seacliff · 10-26-2011, 05:06 PM

I run the recommended 32/40. On my second set of Avon Cobras and never a issue. I think running the front up to 40 causes issue with front suspension.

aldridgekennedy · 10-26-2011, 10:37 PM

i just chnaged out the OEM tires to BS Exdra max. I started off running OEM tire pressures. It ran terrible. It wouldn't run in a straight line to save my life.

Went back to the dealership who said DON't run the OEM pressure in these tires as they wern'tEM. They advised max pressure (41 PSI front and back)

Now bike runs straight and true again.

08-03-2011, 11:19 AM	#1
crapper Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Prince edward island Posts: 107	tire pressure question hello all. got a new front tire on the 02 1500 nomad and was wondering about tire pressure......my owners manual recomend 32 psi front and 40 psi rear. i have noticed on other threads on this forum that most of you run roughly the same front and back.....40 to 42 psi seems about what a lot of you are running for pressure i just now looked at the rear tire on the nomad and 42 psi is maximum pressure my truck tire max pressure is 45 psi and i sure don,t run that much for just regular use . so why are we running the max pressure for a bike tire and why is the manual recomendation 32 and pretty much everyone runs around 38 to 42 psi...................... i must say that until now i have run 38 front and 40 rear and have had lots of mileage on both tires i Login or Register to Remove Ads
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08-03-2011, 11:31 AM	#2
BudMan Join Date: May 2009 Location: Greenwood, Ark. Posts: 4,736	tire pressure question I don't know what make of tire was stock on an 02', so I don't know what it's max pressure was. Since I usually ride 2 up. I like to have the tires near max pressure. I try to keep about 2 lbs. (cold) below the max pressure indicated on the tire. Right or wrong that's what I do. __________________ Dave Jesse 2012 1700 Gray/Black Voyager 2006 1600 Nomad Green/Silver Sold VBA #1108 2010- Eureka Springs - Antlers - 2011- Maggie Valley - Antlers 2012- Margaritaville Ride - Van Buren - Antlers - 2013- Estes Park - Antlers 2014- Mountain View - Antlers - 2015- Eureka Springs - Antlers 2016- Salem - Antlers - 2017- Eureka Springs - Lake George - Antlers - 2018- Custer - Antlers
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08-03-2011, 04:14 PM	#3
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	tire pressure question Ive always kept mine at at 40-42 as well. I prefer it firmer rather than softer, these bikes are mushy enough. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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08-03-2011, 04:41 PM	#4
waterman Top Contributor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 6,530	tire pressure question Many people have had issues with tires cupping when they are running the manual pressures. Upping the pressures have helped with that issue. __________________ Joel "Waterman" 2017 HD Road Glide Ultra 2006 Nomad - Sold VBA 213 VROC 16913 Custer 09: Cortez 10: Crescent City 11: Kanab 12: Estes Park 13: Tahoe 14: Red Lodge 16
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08-03-2011, 04:43 PM	#5
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	tire pressure question Is manual pressure like manual labor?? __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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08-03-2011, 04:48 PM	#6
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	tire pressure question On my OEM tires I ran 32 to 33 in the front tire. 40 to 42 on the rear. When I purchased the Dunlops the recommended pressure is 41 front and rear. I keep it as near to that pressure as possible. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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08-03-2011, 06:43 PM	#7
recumbentbob Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newburgh IN Posts: 3,404	tire pressure question Avon Cobra front 40 PSI cold 12,000 miles on the tire and no cupping and lots of tread left. Factory tire at 34 PSI cupped in 7,000 miles. __________________ VBA #01084 "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
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08-03-2011, 08:50 PM	#8
rolfe Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Lake Travis, Texas Posts: 518	tire pressure question I am with everyone on this. I keep my tires at max. pressure indicated on the sidewall of the tire LESS 4lbs when riding in the High Heat. It is a firmer ride but saves gas and tire wear. -r-
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10-26-2011, 01:42 PM	#11
fysl33 Jr. Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 10	I am confused , when I set the front tire at 40 as what is on tire the front end wobble ? then I set it at 24 as the owner manual it sounds like a flat tire noise, then I set it 28 good handling but when I monitor the tire patch ( how much dust on it ) looks like 80% of the tire ? not much lift for the side walls ( dangerous ) I think good chance for slip ? 30 to 33 is the best __________________ -2011 Vulcan nomad. - VBA #01913
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10-26-2011, 05:06 PM	#12
seacliff Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 88	I run the recommended 32/40. On my second set of Avon Cobras and never a issue. I think running the front up to 40 causes issue with front suspension.
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10-26-2011, 10:37 PM	#13
aldridgekennedy Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Garner, NC Posts: 200	i just chnaged out the OEM tires to BS Exdra max. I started off running OEM tire pressures. It ran terrible. It wouldn't run in a straight line to save my life. Went back to the dealership who said DON't run the OEM pressure in these tires as they wern'tEM. They advised max pressure (41 PSI front and back) Now bike runs straight and true again.
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