Re: [ST] Tire pressure experiments?

[Bil Swartz <bil@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, 16 Dec 2002, Alex wrote:

> Has anyone played much with their tire pressures?  I know that "lower"
> generally should give improved grip at the expense of tread life, but has
> anyone attempted to quantify the effects?

I haven't played much, but hope to this spring to see where that magic 10%
temperature rise happens...

When I bought my ST it had BT020's on it, not sure how many miles were on
them but probably a few thousand, and they were already showing signs of
cupping (front) and squaring off (rear).  In talking to some folks about
that, the guys that hang around the shop I bought it from said they'd been
playing with pressures and found running 38f/40r helped prevent the
cupping and squaring.  So when I put the current set of 020's on at 15k I
think it was, I started running those pressures to see what would happen.

I'll have to go have a close look but at 24k I prolly have another 1 or 2k
left in 'em, and don't see anywhere near the levels of cupping and
squaring the last set had.  

Now some of that could have been the previous owner's riding style and/or
maintenance habits, I don't know where he kept 'em or how often he checked
'em.  In my riding I do use engine braking which can bring on cupping I
read, and I'm no where near a knee dragger but am semi-aggressive when
with the boys...but mostly I'm in the sport-TOURING category.

FWIW, HIH, YMMV, SDA, yada yada yada.

- -- 

                               ._O_.  '99 SprintST -mine
           -Bil-              /_\o/_\ '98 VFR800FI -hers         /~\
"No I don't want a pickle..."   /H\   '89 Hawk GT  -ours   ASCII \ / Against
      bil@xxxxxxxxxx           (=O=)  AMA, CMH-Moto,      Ribbon  X  HTML
"Drink Real Ale"  "Quch!"  #3    U    DoD(6.66), HSTA!  Campaign / \ Mail


     *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *
      The ST/RS Mailing list is sponsored by Jack Lilley Ltd.
          http://www.TriumphNet.com/st/lilley for more info
   http://www.TriumphNet.com/st for ST, RS and Mailing List info

=-=-=-= Next Message =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=