tyre pressure: higher in front??

[Rev-O]

First off, hello! New member here, first post.

Anyway, a question that's been bugging me.

I've been riding on and off (mostly on, thankfully) for about 12 years and have always thought that the rear tyre should have more air in it than the front one, right. Higher psi.

But a friend of mine who is a very experienced rider and mechanic runs his bikes the other way round: a harder front and softer rear.

Now, I trust him but that seems . . . wrong.

Any advice, opinions, experience etc from you chaps?

[Mudshark]

what does the manual say?

2.5f and 2.9r for mine (bar)
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XT660X

[Andy S]

What bike have you got?

On my Blackbird it's 42psi front and rear.

On my VFR is was 36psi front, 42psi rear.

Can't say I remember any of my previous bikes having a higher pressure in the front. That's not to say it doesn't happen though!

[JoeDougieDoug...]

[Rogerborg]

Have you asked Squishy McRear why he does this? We can only guess.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Dcwhite1984]

Mine is 36psi front and rear, never heard of a bike having a higher pressure in the front.

Although its all relative, just because the rear is bigger doesn't mean it will be a higher psi.

PSI is Pounds per Square Inch so to get the same pressure doesn't mean the same amount of air.
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The trick to life is to not get too attached to it.........

[MarkJ]

Generally it's only when riding on track that you have the rear set to a lower pressure than the front, and even then it's only by a few PSI (28front hot, 26rear hot for example). I assume this is because the rear gets some hammer on track when exiting corners so needs a bit of wiggle room with the pressure in the tyre.

On the road it's always been the other way round, more pressure in the rear tyre (normally 36F 42R is what I've seen). I always imagined this was to keep the rear in a round shape to stop the centre of it squaring off too badly.

Someone will be along with proper scientific evidence soon hopefully, rather than my guesswork

Edit: this is what a tyre guy at some trackdays has on his whiteboard
https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/11703095_10155886214640165_8034131384431250740_n.jpg?oh=aedbe96ba26ffd77abd96ecadb764c47&oe=56297098

[DrDonnyBrago]

[MarkJ]

What about the blue one that's on special offer?

[Old Git Racing]

My Ducati 999 manual says 31F 32R. Thats for the bike set up as standard, in single seat form.

On my bike I've adjusted the rear ride height to maximum, the fork angle to the steeper setting and raised the forks a couple of rings in the yolks. After trying different tyre pressures it now runs 30F 27R.

It's common on race/track bikes to run a higher front than rear pressure due to the heat build up changing the pressure. I'd run my TZ as low as 27F/24R depending on conditions.

Most manufacturers recommend pressures that take account of carrying a passenger, somewhere in the 36-8F 42-4R area. Fine if carrying 30 stone every journey but not too clever if you're riding solo on a chilly day.

There isn't a right or wrong way. It depends on the bike, how it's set up and how it's ridden.

I would always look at what the tyre manufacturer recommends rather than the bike manual especially on older machines as tyre technology has changed quite a bit since the manuals were written. Then take it from there and do what suits.

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[Rev-O]

Thanks chaps, that mostly confirms what I thought.

Bike is an ex-army Harley Davidson MT350 (Rotax single, enduro style bike; smaller brother to the Armstrong 500)

Tyres are Avon Distanzas

[Slacker24seve...]

[Wonko The Sane]

[Teflon-Mike]

[barrkel]

[Rogerborg]

[hellkat]

[thx1138]

[Rogerborg]

[bikertomm]

https://stream1.gifsoup.com/view1/4098324/ohhhhh-o.gif

'borg went in.
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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!