Question on Tires, pressures & Road 2s

Normally I stick to Honda recommended pressures of 36F and 42R but before my last back country ride on seeing the next days morning Temperatures down to 25f decided to start the journey at 38Frnt and 44Rear.

One of things I've missed going from Pilot Powers to the Road 2s is the Powers quicker "turn in" but after raising the front pressure to 38psi have found the R2s are supprisingly more responsive and quicker to turn in.

Since returning have to left the pressures higher and found they continue to feel significantly better when fanging through my favourite local twisties and even 40 minute back streets commute to work although haven't tested it in rain as yet.

Does anyone know if there a down side to continuing to run the Road 2s 2 psi higher than recommended ?

 

I always run 34-36 psi front and 36-38 psi rear. Lower psi for hard riding in hot weather.
36 front and 42 rear are max psi rating on tire. I would not go over that rating.

 

If you aren't running the stock tires, then go to the tire manufacturer's website and see what they recommend for the tires you are running on the year, make & model bike you have them on. They may be different than what the bike maker recommended. But the bike manufacturers recomendation is static, and for specific tires. If you go outside those tires, update the pressures. Then from there you can experiment -- slightly. But start with the tire makers recommendations. They know how to the get the most out of your tires.

 

lower pressures will result in more tire carcass flex and more heat being built up in the tire(s), not what I would recommend in "hot weather"

 

higher will make the tire taller, if you hit a hard edge going fast could break seal, pressure goes up as tire gets hotter i wouldn't go above recommended,or you may be like the guy on the bicycle in the there i fixed it thread...

 

The slightly taller front profile or rather less static deformation is I'm guessing is the reason for the slightly increased flickablity but wouldn't think an extra 2psi would be beyond safe margins for either Hondas rim or Michelins tyre but point taken will return to standard pressures as Summer roles in have also emailed the question to Michelins support.

 

34psi for both here, and get good millage and grip of course it's FWIW.

 

As much as I agree with not going over 36/42 for the tyres sake... I also I wouldn't go over 36/42, for the sake of keeping the tyre on the road. There's a lot of different things that can happen when you lose the tyres recommended flexibility.

Here's a link about anything you ever wanted to know about tyres.... From the people that bring you tyres:thumbsup:

clicky...Tire Tips

Another clicky... http://www.sportrider.com/tech/tires/146_0206_motorcycle_tire_pressure/index.html

 

Nice Linky, explains the below paragragh explains the feeling of better feedback and quicker " turn in " with the higher pressure.

" Since maximum grip is a good thing, why not just run race pressures on the street? First, according to Michelin's Claude Leroux, increased cornering grip comes at the expense of stability and feel. Lower pressures decrease straight-line stability, and regardless of how talented the rider is, most street bikes spend a high percentage of their time straight up. A side benefit of using the proper pressure is that the front tire will feel more precise and turn in quicker-a good thing during point-and-shoot sessions. "

Note I have in the past always used the exact recommended pressures on the street but originaly set them 2 psi higher because I was leaving for my 2 day ride at ambiant 70f but would be riding down to 25f the following morning...

 

I started to run my R2s at 36 front and 38 rear .I have had no problems with grip,stability or wear .I`m at the edges of the tires with no grip problems.