I prefer a larger contact patch in the hills aggressively. So a lower pressure it is.

i run with a MINIMUM of 32 cold, but thats track day pressure, i dont expect my tires to get to the same temp on regular road riding,usually 35/36 psi,
you are leaving rubber down with your front tire?? seriously???

Speaking to a factory tire rep at a race meet last year, I was told reducing your cold pressure from the max recommended (42 psi) by more than 4 psi on the street was too much. Although the tire will perform at slightly lower psi, road irregularities (bumps, potholes etc.) are more likely to cause carcass damage at reduced pressures. So what you can get away with on a smooth track surface is not necessarily what you should do on public roads. I run 42/42 cold all the time.

* Last updated by: Danno on 7/26/2015 @ 5:23 AM *

I must say I had the most fun ever on 2 wheels. Started my day off in C Group. Learning my lines and tuning in my suspension. By the afternoon got bumped to B Group. Had 3 red flags and a black flag in C group with a dozen bikes wrecked. B group was fast and predictable with no downs, but a little too much fun. Turn 5 got me on my last session of the day. I cut back to early and went for a quick dirt ride. Kept her up right and hit the gas.
So here is a video of my 2nd Session in C group. Enjoy!

Watch "PTT Session 2 C Group" on YouTube
PTT Session 2 C Group: http://youtu.be/ZjQBcGLWHEg

I must say I had the most fun ever on 2 wheels. Started my day off in C Group. Learning my lines and tuning in my suspension. By the afternoon got bumped to B Group. Had 3 red flags and a black flag in C group with a dozen bikes wrecked. B group was fast and predictable with no downs, but a little too much fun. Turn 5 got me on my last session of the day. I cut back to early and went for a quick dirt ride. Kept her up right and hit the gas.
So here is a video of my 2nd Session in C group. Enjoy!

Watch "PTT Session 2 C Group" on YouTube
PTT Session 2 C Group: http://youtu.be/ZjQBcGLWHEg

You should be a writer! The way you lead into your dirt ride pretty scary...thought for sure you were looking at some repairs!

Thanks for the vid, great to see a 14 on track.

Bravo!!

Way to go man. Looking good.

Left the house R 38 and F 39 psi cold Sunday morn for a ride up ACH. 200 miles round trip, about 40 miles of slab and 60 miles of high speed turns each way. Most turn are ~ speed limit +10-15 mph or 65 to 70, but many are at speed limit of 55 because the LEO can be sitting around every corner, both ways. I like to enter the corner at speed limit and drive off the apex. Temp in the Mountains was a very nice 75 and ~85 coming back through downtown LA on the slab. Pressure when checkd at home after ~ 5 min was 40 psi warm rear.

My tires are stock B stones S20R with 2800 on them when I left the house.

So not exactly "gumballs" but this is normally what I see after this ride.

Wow. I did a similar ride yesterday, 400 miles, lots of sweepers and mountain work at or above the speeds you specified and my tires look nothing like that. Much cleaner. Left the house at 40/40, regular Pilot Powers with about 2000 miles on them. I weigh 230.

There is no one pressure that fits all situations, as required air pressure needs are different for varying conditions, i.e. riding style, road temperature, rider with pillion rider and luggage weight etc.

Tires will wear smooth across the radius of the tire if pressures and suspension are set correctly.

To determine the correct tire pressures you need to start with the manufacturers recommended tire pressure (ZX14R rear and front 290 kPa / 42 psi), this is a starting pressure and the correct pressure is above or below as to be determined.

Use a good accurate pressure gauge to measure the pressures (not a gas station gauge as these are rarely calibrated). You need to check your tires pressure when COLD (if you need to ride to the gas station to pump your tires go slow and no further than 1 to 2 miles). Then go for a ride that represents the type of riding you are going to be doing i.e. touring, canyon scratching or track day etc., now read the hot tire pressures. If it is approximately 8% to 10% higher than the cold tire pressure then your starting pressure was correct. If the pressure is significantly more than 10% you need to raise your starting cold tire pressure (tire is too hot). If it is significantly lower than 8% to 10% you need to decrease the cold starting air pressure (tire is to cold). To get the correct cold pressures you will probably need to repeat this a few times. Allow at least 20-40 minutes to ensure that your tires are cold (some recommend up to 2 hours), use your pressure gauge to guide you if the pressure is back to what is was when you started then the tire is cold enough. Record your pressures as well as riding conditions i.e. type of riding, weather (season and ambient temp), time of day, load conditions etc. Do not increase or decrease pressures by large amounts a few psi at a time should be sufficient. You may want to keep these notes as you need to determine correct tire pressures for different conditions.

For hard sport riding you also need to "read" the wear on your bike's tires as it tells you if your air pressure and suspension geometry setup is correct this may need to be adjusted for different types of tires and manufacturers. Your tire must not look shredded after a hard ride.

When hot or cold tears or scalloping develop on the edge of the tire from riding hard this is indicating incorrect pressures and or suspension settings. Cold tears are caused by the tire over inflated and can also be from stressing the tire before it is brought to proper operating temperature, this is seen as half round cuts starting from the inside going towards the edge of the tire. Hot tears, wear bands and scalloping are caused by a too low pressure, hot tears start from the outside and move towards the center of the tire - under inflating gives a greater contact patch on the road but results in excessive heat due to tire carcass movement causing the tire to melt and wear quicker and can result in slippage / spinning, (it also makes for great riding stories / bragging rights). Even for track riding with conventional road tires it's recommended not to under inflate as the manufacturer has designed the optimum performance to be obtained at the recommended pressure for the loading conditions. Another dangerous effect of under inflating is excessive heat cycling causing the oils in the tire to come to the surface resulting less available grip as the tire compound becomes harder. Race tires can be run at low pressures due to different carcass construction to road tires, some race tires can go from over to under inflated by a difference of 1 psi.

My apologies for the long post, I hope this helps someone.

* Last updated by: nkd on 7/27/2015 @ 5:19 PM *

nkd, that was a great post.

Dropped down to 38/38 cold today and must say the bike handled much better!

Nkd great post, love the 8 to 10 % rule, Pirelli corsa's it worked great, but not for the Pirelli Angels , no matter where I set the pressure they don't feel right when cornering agressively,figured it was the profile of the tire

Nkd great post, love the 8 to 10 % rule, Pirelli corsa's it worked great, but not for the Pirelli Angels , no matter where I set the pressure they don't feel right when cornering agressively,figured it was the profile of the tire