Author Topic: Tire pressure in your GTI  (Read 4245 times)

PapaSoldTheHarley

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Tire pressure in your GTI
« on: September 14, 2015, 05:36:03 PM »
I weigh 178-180, I want to get get the most out of my tires. Never ride off road, only on pavement; in hot West Central Florida.
What tire pressure(s), front and rear, do you run at?

bucray

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Re: Tire pressure in your GTI
« Reply #1 on: September 14, 2015, 07:07:16 PM »
I also live in FL, and, I run 29-29.
 

boo

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Re: Tire pressure in your GTI
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2015, 01:12:51 PM »
27 front, 31 rear.
190 pound rider, one up.
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booberthecat

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Re: Tire pressure in your GTI
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2015, 03:46:21 AM »
I live in Northeast FL. I run 25-30.

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PapaSoldTheHarley

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Re: Tire pressure in your GTI
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2015, 10:19:26 AM »
Just bought a new compressor. I will start in the middle and see how it feels. Then go a few pounds up, then go a few pounds down. I would like to maximize tire life and keep the response/handling high...

boo

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tire pressure
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2015, 03:15:03 PM »
Just bought a new compressor. I will start in the middle and see how it feels. Then go a few pounds up, then go a few pounds down. I would like to maximize tire life and keep the response/handling high...

Through trial and error you will most likely discover the sweet spot to be 25-26 front, 30 rear for your weight. Riding one up. I always go 32 in rear when riding two up which is not too often.
I have 11,000+ on my front tire. Maxis. Replaced my rear at 8,000+ because of a puncture.
I think my rear would have gone 9,000.
I have also adjusted my rear shocks down two notches for a better ride. Have ruptured disc in my back. Did not negatively effect handling.
I had an interesting discovery about tire pressures.
At the time, I think I owned eight tire gauges. Different shapes and sizes.
I discovered that all but two of those gauges gave a different reading. As much as four psi difference. Not good.
I started reading about tire gauge accuracy, and gauge testing for accuracy.
In independent testing two gauges stood out as consistently being the most accurate.
I bought one of those and use it as a baseline for all my tire gauges.
The one I ended up with is the Accutire MS - 4021.
Remember, always check your tire pressure.
Under inflated tire are dangerous. Cause excessive heat build up and in extreme cases tire can come off the rim. I saw the latter first hand. Car tire.
I used to do a lot of reading about motor oils and tire pressures on motorcycles.
Some motorcyclist a few years back got together to test heat build up in motorcycle tires. Using thermometers they discovered that tires performed best when inflated to about four psi under max. When a tire is completely warmed the psi will increase about 1 to 2 psi over a cold tire depending on ambient conditions. A motorcycle tire will perform best when it is just under max psi when warm.
Of course tread compound and tire contact patch size play an important role in traction and safety.
Remember years ago when radial car tires were blowing out causing roll overs. Then the government mandated TPM systems were installed on cars.
All that came about because of under inflated tires.
Always take the time to warm your tires before riding hard or fast.
Ride safe my friend.
« Last Edit: September 17, 2015, 03:37:46 PM by boo »
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PapaSoldTheHarley

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Re: Tire pressure in your GTI
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2015, 05:47:57 PM »
Good info boo!

Stig / Major Tom

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Re: Tire pressure in your GTI
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2015, 10:21:25 PM »
Very hard to get a tire gauge in to the valve on most of my scooter tires - only the LIKE has a right angle valve and only on the front.
Accuracy is important - but so is being able to get the gauge tool onto the valve without losing air in the attempts!
For my birthday I rec'd a pump so I can fiddle with things until the PSI is correct.
Really important to get the correct/factory PSI in my tires - too much PSI makes for lousy ride - wears on the steering head & wheel bearings, engine mounts, rear shocks, body parts (Kymco and Stig's) - too little can over heat tires and give poor handling.

A lot of folks advocate raising the PSI over what is stipulated by the engineers who designed the scooter.....to "improve the handling in corners". You might stiffen the sidewalls doing this...but you've reduced the amount of tire touching the road. Makes for big fun in the wet, unless you're hopping off to change the tire pressures.
It is a scooter , not a Ducati. You want better handling - buy better tires and use the redommended PSI in them.
Only my $.02
Stig
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booberthecat

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Re: Tire pressure in your GTI
« Reply #8 on: September 18, 2015, 02:49:48 AM »
So how do you know if your gauge is accurate? Is there a reliable way to test it similar to the way we can test our speedometer with a GPS?

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Stig / Major Tom

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Re: Tire pressure in your GTI
« Reply #9 on: September 18, 2015, 11:47:50 AM »
So how do you know if your gauge is accurate? Is there a reliable way to test it similar to the way we can test our speedometer with a GPS?

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Buy 3 cheap ones, go with the majority vote?
What I do.....lousy system. Since pricey ones seem no more accurate.
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boo

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Re: Tire pressure in your GTI
« Reply #10 on: September 29, 2015, 09:46:34 PM »
So how do you know if your gauge is accurate? Is there a reliable way to test it similar to the way we can test our speedometer with a GPS?

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Excellent question.
And it is one that most people cannot answer.
What I did was to buy one that was consistently accurate in independent testing.
There are specific places that have air gauge testing equipment.
This equipment is on the expensive side. That is the reason you do not see them at auto and tire stores.
Do an online search for air gauge testing equipment for sale and you will see what I mean.
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booberthecat

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Re: Tire pressure in your GTI
« Reply #11 on: September 29, 2015, 10:41:51 PM »
Good information. Thanks!

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Mikestib1

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Re: Tire pressure in your GTI
« Reply #12 on: November 18, 2015, 06:57:14 PM »
Manual says 25 front 29 rear for solo riding. Change rear to 32 for a passenger. Always check it before you ride. Remember tire pressure changes with out side temperature roughly 1 pound per 10 degree change in outdoor temp. It goes up with heat and down in cold weather.

Stig / Major Tom

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Re: Tire pressure in your GTI
« Reply #13 on: November 19, 2015, 01:23:08 PM »
I agree, stay with the manual. Think of tire contact patch size, steering head bearings up there in the front ....factory has sorted this out for best handling.
Stig
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PapaSoldTheHarley

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Re: Tire pressure in your GTI
« Reply #14 on: December 04, 2015, 01:34:19 PM »
Been attempting to run 25 front 30 rear (one up)...
That said a hand put with a gauge on it, one of those little 12volt portable tire inflaters and three stand alone pressure checkers... all produce different readings with a variance of about 3 or 4 pounds fro lowest to highest...

Was thinking about maybe a plug in unit (for the garage). A Home Depot or Northern Tool pancake, oil free compressor?
Anyone have any ownership success with any like the above?
Reading the reviews online, you wonder how they sell any... Most have over 20% terrible reviews right fro the first couple of weeks.

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