Off Road Tire Pressures - How low do you go?

[martin_nj]

If you have a minute, please post up


1. Tire brand/model
2. On road pressures
3. Off road pressures
4. Are you using a tube

 

[Ironhand]

I run K3s. Unless I was going to run a long day of deep sand, I leave the pressures at 38/40.

 

[Big Blu]

I'd like to also know the type of surface your riding.. sand, gravel, hard pack, mud, etc... thx

Paul

 

[UrbanADV]

TKCs ,38/40 on road, about 25 off.
But, I must be a baby, I'm just nearing the end of my rear TKC: 7K.

 

[Firefight911]

When running TKC80s;

24F/24R for dirt, sand, rocks, and all off road excursions.

34F/36R for all road duty.

 

[trikepilot]

K60's and now BB's
No tube
no change from street to dirt for tire pressures

New, the K60's rocked just fine in the dirt. Just as they got worn down around 6k miles, I popped on some BB's and they are another dimension in offroading. With tubeless tires, I have been hesitant to air down for fear of tire/wheel issues offroad. So I have left the pressures where they are and have never had any problems. I am not one to baby the Tenere either and have fairly well established myself amongst some here for being the guy to take his Tenere where it might not belong. Maybe ignorance is bliss.

 

[~TABASCO~]

1. Tire brand/model......................... K60's & BB
2. On road pressures..........................38-40
3. Off road pressures..........................38-40
4. Are you using a tube........................No

Here are a few of my own thoughts. I've tried lowering the tire pressure a few times off road. It makes little/no traction difference. I also hate to stop and air back up when we hop back onto the tarmac. Running low tire pressure on the street is the kiss of death to these 'knobby' tires. The feeling I get in corners on the street is to sketchy when riding aggressive with the low tire pressure.
I run 38-40 all the time all day, great tire wear and no damage to the rims. ::008::

 

[Ironhand]

1. Tire brand/model......................... K60's & BB
2. On road pressures..........................38-40
3. Off road pressures..........................38-40
4. Are you using a tube........................No

Here are a few of my own thoughts. I've tried lowering the tire pressure a few times off road. It makes little/no traction difference. I also hate to stop and air back up when we hop back onto the tarmac. Running low tire pressure on the street is the kiss of death to these 'knobby' tires. The feeling I get in corners on the street is to sketchy when riding aggressive with the low tire pressure.
I run 38-40 all the time all day, great tire wear and no damage to the rims. ::008::

+1. OP, remember that we're on a 600lb ADV bike, not a 250lb enduro. If/when you hit a clanker running, say 20psi, kiss your wheel goodbye.

 

[eemsreno]

1. Tire brand/model......................... K60's & BB
2. On road pressures..........................38-40
3. Off road pressures..........................38-40
4. Are you using a tube........................No

Here are a few of my own thoughts. I've tried lowering the tire pressure a few times off road. It makes little/no traction difference. I also hate to stop and air back up when we hop back onto the tarmac. Running low tire pressure on the street is the kiss of death to these 'knobby' tires. The feeling I get in corners on the street is to sketchy when riding aggressive with the low tire pressure.
I run 38-40 all the time all day, great tire wear and no damage to the rims. ::008::

+2 I might run a little higher all the time though,, more like 40 and 44 with a lot of 2up.
Now my YZ is 14 and 14.
Wr250R is more like 18 and 26

 

[martin_nj]

Great stuff everyone, thanks for chiming in!

 

[Firefight911]

One thing I would add on the lowering of tire pressures;

Lowering them really has nothing to do with traction, to this I wholeheartedly agree. What it has almost everything to do is about the tires' role in suspension. A tire is a integral component of the suspension of a vehicle. As such, lowering air pressure matches the suspension to the terrain and is an "adjustment" of the suspension to the conditions.

It is all a trade off. Just as had been mentioned, airing down and up is a time taker. Just as adjusting suspension to suit the conditions faced. Just the same as adjusting for touring versus sport riding, one up versus two up.

Lowering tire pressure allows the tire to become a shock absorber and helps to dissipate the energy being transferred into the bike and up to the rider, just as the forks and shock do. Everything is an integral part of the overall suspension.

 

[Firefight911]

Also, make sure to read the sidewall of the tire you select. tKCs, for example, are max pressure of 36, as are Heidenau K60.

I'm not going to get in to an argument over exceeding max pressures. My background and experience and knowledge base make it impossible to be rational here. Too many years racing, working in the industry, and having many hours of tutelage under engineers from the manufacturers themselves. Just be aware and make sure you make an informed decision. That's all one can really do.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I'm also one that has never changed tire pressure for one surface or another. I change surfaces so frequently I'd spend half the day airing up and down. Street pressure is all I ever do.

 

[eemsreno]

Also, make sure to read the sidewall of the tire you select. tKCs, for example, are max pressure of 36, as are Heidenau K60.

My latest K60 rear tires say 44psi

 

[Firefight911]

My original sets of them were as well. The redesigns were all 36.

 

[terryth]

With the stock Bridgestones, I used 20 front and rear and it greatly improved the feeling and directional control on gravel/dirt Arkansas forest roads

http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=2510.msg42508#msg42508

 

[Juan Valderrama]

1. Tire brand/model......................... Karoo 3 front and rear
2. On road pressures..........................33/36
3. Off road pressures..........................33/36
4. Are you using a tube........................No



Juan Valderrama
XT1200Z
Broadcasting from Bogotá - Colombia.

 

[Berg_Donk]

FWIW, more often than not, the max pressure indication on the tyre sidewall is about the pressure at which its rated for max load, not the max presure that can be run.

I am tending to keep stock pressure off road. Like others have said, its OK there, and then you are back on road.

Lower pressures do however increase traction. They do this by allowing the tyre to flatten out and then you have less pressure at the tyre contact patch which is a good thing on softer surfaces like sand and mud. Also the tyre can mould itself to the terrain a bit which also helps. But lower pressures can then result in dinged rims at higher speeds. Really low rear pressures can make the difference between getting up and hill and not.

Myself and SHMBO just did a couple of 2 up days on mostly forest gravel roads and tracks, with 34/45 psi. One hill, she walked up, and I slithered up the 100 m with TC off, just. Would have been easier with less pressure, and was a fall back, but not needed.

 

[Icecold Dan]

I also maintain the same pressure no matter the surface I'm riding.

1. Tire brand/model......................... Mitas E-07 Dakar (Love this tire, would never run anything else, especially now that there is an American supplier)
2. On road pressures..........................33/35
3. Off road pressures..........................33/35
4. Are you using a tube........................No