Heavy front end

Sierra1

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Messages
17,425
Location
Joshua TX
. . . . And I still run into grown men than think the max pressure on the side wall is what they are supposed to run. . . .
I can't remember when I learned the sidewall pressure was only for max loads. I also learned that a tire's speed rating is at max pressure. o_O I don't know of anybody that puts max pressure in and then goes 150mph. But I've also never heard of anybody having a tire failure from not having the tires at their max when doing 150.
 

EricV

Riding, farkling, riding...
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
May 22, 2011
Messages
8,658
Location
Tupelo, MS
No worries, I don't think the S10 will do 150 mph unless you drop it out of a plane. Some tires are marked with the pressure they are tested at, not "max", also creating some confusion on occasion.

I agree with what others have posted about different feel between radials and bias ply moto tires, and simply different brands. I'm simply on the page of rule out the simple stuff before moving on to the more complex things.
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
Joined
Jun 20, 2015
Messages
4,717
Location
Ventura, CA
I’ve never seen a tire labeled at a pressure other than max. Marking the tire with a tested at pressure would be pointless since this will vary depending on the make and model the tire is fitted to.

What I have seen is recommended pressures listed on a tire manufacturer’s web site for specific makes and models. They’re often different than the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation though. I can see that causing confusion, I always go with a pressure within the vehicle manufacturer label.
 

EricV

Riding, farkling, riding...
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
May 22, 2011
Messages
8,658
Location
Tupelo, MS
I’ve never seen a tire labeled at a pressure other than max. Marking the tire with a tested at pressure would be pointless since this will vary depending on the make and model the tire is fitted to.
MotoZ tires are marked this way.

What I have seen is recommended pressures listed on a tire manufacturer’s web site for specific makes and models. They’re often different than the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation though. I can see that causing confusion, I always go with a pressure within the vehicle manufacturer label.
And that gets you into trouble. Never mind the Ford Explorer fiasco, but 33 psi for the front on a S10 is too low for nearly all riders.
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
Joined
Jun 20, 2015
Messages
4,717
Location
Ventura, CA
Maybe an off road tire would have a minimum tested pressure listed? Not that familiar with off road tires but I know it’s common to air them down from what you’d use on the road. I’ve stand by never seeing a road tire labeled other than for the max pressure.
 

EricV

Riding, farkling, riding...
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
May 22, 2011
Messages
8,658
Location
Tupelo, MS
Maybe an off road tire would have a minimum tested pressure listed? Not that familiar with off road tires but I know it’s common to air them down from what you’d use on the road. I’ve stand by never seeing a road tire labeled other than for the max pressure.
I am referring to road tires. It's simply a matter of other countries of origin and how different manufacturers label and test their tires. Not everyone uses the same standards or methods. None of us have seen everything.

That the OP has remained quiet makes it's own statement. ;)
 

Sierra1

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Messages
17,425
Location
Joshua TX
Oddly enough, the Michelin appears to have the "rounder" profile v. the Dunlop's sharper "V" profile. But, as it's been mentioned, new v. old. Radial v. Bias. And weight difference. Isn't the Dunlop the one some are getting 15K+ miles on? Which means very different compound also.

1738638558947.png
1738639103946.png
 

Highwayman

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2019
Messages
463
Location
Southern California
Oddly for me the Trailmaxes on my S10 are the only Dunlop I like.... Ive been really impressed with them on this bike.

Ive never liked Dunlop on my bikes even as far back as early 90s. They've always been wide and flat crowned tires. Over the years I've personally noticed they make my bikes feel sluggish in the mountains and like the bike gained an extra 25 lbs. They're also "squirmy" with rain grooves on the freeways "especially my heavier HDs". Every other bike over the years I always stick with Michelin (sometimes Pirelli) and really prefer their rounded profiles and compounds for my style of riding.

Other then PSI, Id just chalk it up as a learning lesson. Adjusting to tires usually only takes a 2 or 3 rides.
 

WIKD1

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2023
Messages
34
Location
Florida
OK to answer the question on pressure, since there is no recommendation once you pull off the stock tire, I run 2 pounds less than max to start with. I started that years ago on sport bikes and 90% of the time I don't make any changes from that unless I notice an issue. And of course living in FL in Jan/Feb, temp change is a very real thing with your tires as it can be 81 one day and drop into the 30's the next which almost always changes your tire pressures. I never leave home after the bike has been sitting without checking them.
I didn't really factor in the bias/radial issue and would guess that is the reason I notice so much of a difference. As I stated before, I've been riding for a long time, almost 50 years, and have never been without a motorcycle so I end up putting on a lot of miles each year and never noticed such a huge difference. There are always some differences when you change brands or types, this one just caught me by surprise as it is so drastic. Thanks for all the suggestions and info.
 

EricV

Riding, farkling, riding...
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
May 22, 2011
Messages
8,658
Location
Tupelo, MS
Tire pressure is about load and use.

How about you just tell us what pressure in psi you are actually running in both front and rear tires on the Super Ten?

Just for perspective, what do you consider "a lot of miles?"
 

WIKD1

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2023
Messages
34
Location
Florida
Tire pressure is about load and use.
How about you just tell us what pressure in psi you are actually running in both front and rear tires on the Super Ten?
Just for perspective, what do you consider "a lot of miles?"
You are definitely a dog with a bone, aren't you? :)

Max on the tire is 41 pounds. I currently I have 39 in the rear and 38 in the front. Dunlop suggests 33 in the front (I didn't run the old ones that low) and 41 in the rear.
As for mileage, on years with no surgeries about 25K a year is average. Last year I had 2 major surgeries (neck and back) and did just over 12K. However I retire either this year or next so that'll allow more time for riding.
 

EricV

Riding, farkling, riding...
2011 Site Supporter
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
May 22, 2011
Messages
8,658
Location
Tupelo, MS
Thank you for the response. I wish the best on the healing and retirement! And yes, I just like straight forward answers to questions. :) A modest amount of riding.

Now that you've answered the obvious question, that allows everyone to better understand your impressions and eliminate the potential of low tire pressure impacting your riding feel with the TMM tires. You might enjoy a little more pre-load in the shock to raise the rear, which will quicken turn in.

For perspective on my end, I'm 300# in full gear and rode with a ~5 gal fuel cell, a gallon of water and panniers on all the time, usually with about 30# of basic self recovery stuff in one pannier, the other for clothes when traveling. I spent a decade doing endurance rallies and pretty active 20 years of long distance riding & touring. I have a tad over 150k on S10s and rode 30-40k a year for the last 20 years but have slowed down in retirement and do little touring now. With the S10s I ran 36F/38R for general purpose, 38F/40R for heavily loaded touring. Mostly bias tires, Heidenau K60's, Mitas E07, MotoZ Tractionator GPS, etc on the S10. I tried a set of Michelin Pilot Road Trails when they first came out, but they didn't hold up well. I think those and the OEM Anakees, plus a set of Anakee 3s that came with the 2nd S10 were the only radials I ran on the S10s. ~12k for rears, though the original E07s did 14k. If I didn't get 10k plus from a rear tire, I wasn't buying it again.
 

sheikyerbooty

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2021
Messages
654
Location
Dunedin, NZ
currently running bias tkc80 front @ 35psi, radial karoo4 rear @ 38psi. conditions down here i'm guessing are similar to your PNW? looks like this combo will go near 15,000km and no damage (yet) from the shitty roads i ride sometimes. so i'd be happy with that. may try an e07+ rear next but defo happy with the conti up front. expensive combo but good
 

Sierra1

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Messages
17,425
Location
Joshua TX
. . . . As for mileage, on years with no surgeries about 25K a year is average. Last year I had 2 major surgeries (neck and back) and did just over 12K. However I retire either this year or next so that'll allow more time for riding.
. . . . A modest amount of riding. . . .
. . . . For perspective on my end, I'm 300# in full gear and rode with a ~5 gal fuel cell, a gallon of water and panniers on all the time, usually with about 30# of basic self recovery stuff in one pannier, the other for clothes when traveling. I spent a decade doing endurance rallies and pretty active 20 years of long distance riding & touring. I have a tad over 150k on S10s and rode 30-40k a year for the last 20 years but have slowed down in retirement and do little touring now. . . .
1738708746023.png
 

WIKD1

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2023
Messages
34
Location
Florida
Thank you for the response. I wish the best on the healing and retirement! And yes, I just like straight forward answers to questions. :) A modest amount of riding.
Now that you've answered the obvious question, that allows everyone to better understand your impressions and eliminate the potential of low tire pressure impacting your riding feel with the TMM tires. You might enjoy a little more pre-load in the shock to raise the rear, which will quicken turn in.
Thank you. Luckily I'm back on the bike which is the best healing.
As for the tires, I'm guessing the radial to bias was the biggest factor I didn't figure in. I knew the profile of the two tires were different and knew there would be some change, but this was drastic in my book and wanted to make sure I wasn't overlooking something. Where it used to drop into a curve smoothly, I now have to wrestle it a bit into the same curves. Just a matter of getting used to it.
 
Top