Tire Pressure

[Squirrel]

[align=center]Tire Pressure[/align]

I thought it appropriate to post a reminder about tire pressures and the effect of temperature on them.

Stamped on the outside of many of your tires is a recommended tire pressure range. (At least an upper limit.) For longest tire life it is my recommendation that you strive to keep them at the higher limit of those recommendations (regardless of what your motorcycle owner's manual might say to the contrary.) Further, this pressure should be determined while the tires are cold - meaning, have not been used for a couple of hours.

Time and outside temperature effect the pressure within your tires. It is NORMAL for a tire to lose about 1 pound per square inch (psi) per month. Outside temperatures affect your tire pressure far more profoundly, however. A tire's pressure can change by 1 psi for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit of temperature change. As temperature goes, so goes pressure.

For example, if a tire is found to have 38 psi on an 80-degree mid-summer day, it could lose enough air to have an inflation pressure of 26 psi on a 20-degree day six months later. This represents a loss of 6 psi over six months and an additional loss of 6 psi due to the 60 degree temperature reduction.

At 26 psi, your tire is severely under inflated and dangerous!

There is nothing wrong with your tire if it behaves like this, of course. What is being illustrated here is that you MUST check your tire pressure on a regular basis (about once a week is reasonable) and to be particularly aware of it on cold days.

[speed]

Good advice Squirrel.

SM

[CoolMaker]

Good post Squirrel, thanks for reminding me of that. :wink:

[Atch]

Checking tire pressure is one of my "pre-flight" checks. Tires, oil level, lights, turn signals, and fuel level. Give the bike a 360-degree walk-around, and check for loose items and/or leaks. Only takes a couple of minutes----are we really in too much of a hurry to ignore these items???? Can save your butt, for sure.

[mrpiff]

Great post squirrel! I've always checked oil levels etc before a ride, but didn't have a tire guage that would fit to check tire pressure on my rear tire. Well it almost cost me dearly about 6 months ago.
I was riding home from a PGR mission and turned a corner leaning pretty far and got into the throttle a little bit. The whole back end washed out and I barely kept it upright by planting my leg and bruising up my foot pretty good. I was real stupid and real lucky that day. I bought a tire gauge the next day that fit the rear wheel and found the air pressure to be 22 psi.
I check it at least weekly now!

Great reminder!

[roadrash5]

http://www.getnitrogen.org/

I know some hot rodders using this, less containments rims will last longer , not as prone to loose air pressure ..........
not sur I may try it this year .
L8R RR

[CoolMaker]

This is easy for me to do as I use nitrogen to pressure test Refrigeration systems, and have it on hand all the time. Think I will try it this week.. Thanks :wink:

[roadrash5]

Originally Posted by CoolMaker

This is easy for me to do as I use nitrogen to pressure test Refrigeration systems, and have it on hand all the time. Think I will try it this week.. Thanks :wink:

What kinda harley has A/C .............
:ass:

RR

[CoolMaker]

Originally Posted by roadrash5

What kinda harley has A/C .............
:ass:

RR

Not A/C, what are you smoking, I said Refrigeration.... Really :ass:

[roadrash5]

[quote="CoolMaker"]

Originally Posted by CoolMaker

Not A/C, what are you smoking, I said Refrigeration.... Really :ass:

:lefthander:
Holy Shit ya got a refrigerator on them deckers .......
And we brag how many beers our saddle bags will hold ...... Always gotta out do us :unfair:

:ass: RR