Boring but important topic - tire pressure

[bill14224]

My front tire started feeling squishy when riding yesterday, so I checked my pressures this morning on the bike and my car.

I should do it more often.  My back tire was fine, but the front only had 8 psi.  After I filled it I heard hissing.  I discovered the tire valve had loosened, perhaps from vibration, or it wasn't tight enough to begin with, or a little of both.

I bought a new set of 4 tires for my car a few months ago.  The recommended pressure for my car is 32 psi all around.  The rear tires were at 32 psi, but the fronts were at almost 40!

Don't trust the retards at the garage.  Check your pressures as soon as you get it home and let the tires cool off.  Don't wait 3 months like I did! 

[Weston]

What is the recommended pressure for our bikes? I aired mine up to like 33 or 35, but it seems like it breaks loose a bit easy.

[ATLRIDER]

Don't have the specs for you but if they're not the stock tires you should go to the mfg. website as the psi specs for the tires will be different.

[fred]

The tire pressure is on that shiny sticker under the seat. You shouldn't use the rating on the side of the tire, that is just a maximum PSI rating so you don't blow the tire off the rim. I would tell you what the recommended pressure for the GS is, but I never remember, I just look under the seat... I always start to notice once either tire is more than a couple of pounds low. The freeways around here have lots of rain grooves, and when the tires start to get low, the bike wanders more in the grooves. Turns also don't feel quite right when the tires are low...

[Toogoofy317]

The owner's manual says:
Front 225 kPa 2.25 kgf/cm squared OR 33PSI Same for Two UP!
Back 250 kPa 2.50 kgf/cm squared Or 36 PSI 41PSI for Two UP.

Hope this helps! don't know what those first numbers mean gussing European or something just copying the manual!

Mary

[fred]

The owner's manual says:
Front 225 kPa 2.25 kgf/cm squared OR 33PSI Same for Two UP!
Back 250 kPa 2.50 kgf/cm squared Or 36 PSI 41PSI for Two UP.

Hope this helps! don't know what those first numbers mean gussing European or something just copying the manual!

Mary

Thanks Mary, those are the same numbers given on the sticker I was talking about.

kPa is kilo Pascal and kgf/cm^2 is standard atmospheric pressure. kgf stands for "kilogram force" and is basically the metric equivalent of a pound (kilograms measure mass, not weight). Fun fact: 1 kgf/cm^2 = 101.325 kPa, so they're not telling you the same thing in different units, but I guess they figure it is close enough. Probably inside the error of whatever gauge you're using, even if you have a good one...

[Weston]

Hmmm... thats what i thought... I prolly just need new rubber.