Tyre Pressures????

[Todd JacksonMember]

I’m off to ride at the Watagans Bike Rally in a couple of weeks. This rain is going to make it very slippery no doubt. Just hoping to get some ideas of what sort of tyre pressures I should look at running on the Big Yellow Tractor (DRZ400)
On the front I have a Kenda Carlsbad
On the rear I have a Pirelli Scorpion med/hard if it makes any difference.

Thanks in advance,

Cheers

Action

[glennMember]

I recon 12 psi should be adequate ,

[Jeffrey SmithMember]

Depends on the terrain they put you on but in my experience with the DRZ up there 14psi is fine, don’t think I have ever had a flat tyre in the Watagns, flattened my foot once between a stump and the foot peg though . If you have ultra heavy duty tubes you can get away with less.

[Mick DMember]

I am running a 120 Scorpion on my XR650 and in the mud last weekend I ran 8.5 psi and it was hooking up well considering the conditions. It was 100% loam though and I was running an ultra heavy duty tube. Add a few psi if you are concerned with pinch flats.

[Aaron WildeMember]

I know people run lower pressures for more traction on the front. But I run 16 to 17 PSI and I have never had a pinch flat ever. Even at the Uralla Pony X… Ask Husky bloke what that is like. :ohmy: That is while in rocky areas but I choose not to lower it as I think it is a false economy. If you are racing and second count hook in and lower them.

[murph the surfMember]

Hey Action
Would run lowish tyre pressures for the Wato’s bash 10 to 15psi
Man, some of the slippery slimey rocks we climb I would love to drop my rear pressure to about 5psi
But ya’s aren’t going to be doing anything that extreme so I’d set both front and rear tyre to around the 12-15psi
If it feels soft with you hand than thats about right. :woohoo: :woohoo:
Cheers
Murph

[GregMember]

It all comes down to what tubes do you use I reckon from experience

Ultra heavy duty Bridgestone or Michelin tubes you can run down as low as 8 to 10psi. Great traction but you can dent your rims. Always run a little more in your front as a rule (they seem to suffer more pinch flats and dents)
If you run standard tubes run 16 to 18 and you deserve any flat you get IMO sorry

Recent birthday ride 55 bikes only two flats and both standard tubes. One tore out valve on a UHD cause the rim lock was loose and spun the tube. That says it all I reckon

TB

[AlexMember]

I ran F14/R12 PSI in the general area your intending on riding in last Sunday (wet wet wet wet wet).
As I was riding I was thinking I probably should have let some more out but see the tires of today work pretty well with high pressures I find so running less than 10 PSI is not so critical. The front end of my 75% worn Dunflop worked fine (surprisingly) at 14PSI.

[alanMember]

i reckon tyre pressers can depend on the brand of tyre to as some have harder side walls than others so just adjust the presser to suit.also agree with TB ultra heavy duty tubes are the go.ps have used a kenda carlsbad front before shocking tyre(like the back ones but) if you got the cash get rid of it they last for ever to so if want to where it out first it will take a while.

[scott bockingMember]

Trailboss wrote:

It all comes down to what tubes do you use I reckon from experience

Ultra heavy duty Bridgestone or Michelin tubes you can run down as low as 8 to 10psi. Great traction but you can dent your rims. Always run a little more in your front as a rule (they seem to suffer more pinch flats and dents)
If you run standard tubes run 16 to 18 and you deserve any flat you get IMO sorry

Recent birthday ride 55 bikes only two flats and both standard tubes. One tore out valve on a UHD cause the rim lock was loose and spun the tube. That says it all I reckon

TB

I don’t think it is far to call the tube Fish had in his front wheel a standard tube unless you are talking about standard for a bicycle. :cheer:

STM

[Nick JacksonMember]

Bigger Al opened my eyes at the Bello grade 4 ride when I had traction problems on a greasy hill , he lowered the rear to 8 psi, I had an ultra heavy duty tube fitted , didn’t get a flat and had traction everywhere for the rest of the day.

Nick

[Bruce CurtisMember]

Check out the “rim clean” technique of keeping a constant size footprint as PSI means diddley squat between carcasses and tubes and different bikes.

All of my riding mates use this, my dunlop carcass needs 8.5psi to keep a constant footprint, whereas a mitas might need 6psi… etc

[scott bockingMember]

Mr Blue wrote:

Check out the “rim clean” technique of keeping a constant size footprint as PSI means diddley squat between carcasses and tubes and different bikes.

All of my riding mates use this, my dunlop carcass needs 8.5psi to keep a constant footprint, whereas a mitas might need 6psi… etc

I googled ‘rim clean’ and got some results that may have the IT nazis on my back. Can you please explain more or post a link mate. This sounds like a much more consistent approach.

Cheers

[Todd JacksonMember]

Righto guys thanks for the heads up.
I think I’ll run 14psiF/12psiR.
But we have raised several other questions if you will.
I run a VeeCo UHD tube (from Suttos) on the rear.
Not sure about the front tube but am willing to change to the VeeCo UHD tube, but going off what White Rocket said
“ps have used a kenda carlsbad front before shocking tyre(like the back ones but) if you got the cash get rid of it they last for ever to so if want to where it out first it will take a while”

I should upgrade the front tyre, but what sort of tyre should I run up front??
I’m only a very average rider, Grade 3 on a good day, on a DRZ 400.

The other question I have is about the lock nut position on the valve stem. Some say to have it snug, other loose. What is the G-O?

Thanks again for your help

Cheers
Action

[GregMember]

Try a Michelin M3 front, use the Michelin ultra heavy duty tubes heaps better than the Vee Co, heaps better.
Or try a Geo max 51 Dunlop maybe or a Pirelli extra front as a second choice.

Ask Scott at Sutto’s to get the two different tubes out of the boxes and compare for yourself the difference the M3 will wear good and last

TB

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