Tire Pressures

JAFO92
Posts
4245
Joined
3/21/2016
Location
BFE, TX US
12/1/2016 7:33am
I was at the track last sunday and got to talking tire pressure with some guys and it made me curious what other folks put in their tires, and for what conditions.

What do you guys use for:

Motocross - Natural terrain, some jumps but not big air - Front/Back
Supercross - Man-made track, big jumps & whoop-sections - Front/Back
Offroad/Scrambles - woods/creeks/sand - Front/Back
|
kkawboy14
Posts
11494
Joined
6/5/2015
Location
TX US
12/1/2016 7:53am Edited Date/Time 12/1/2016 7:54am
13/13 for everything, just change tires
mx317
Posts
4531
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
TN US
12/1/2016 7:55am
13 F and 12 R
hillbilly
Posts
9080
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Afton, TN US
12/1/2016 8:08am
I ran the same 12 front back,up to 14 or 15 in mud ,even more if its pouring rain and hiding holes.

Way more ap to flat in mud because of extra weight and hidden edges.

The Shop

moto0852
Posts
944
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Draper, UT US
12/1/2016 9:01am
JAFO92 wrote:
I was at the track last sunday and got to talking tire pressure with some guys and it made me curious what other folks put in...
I was at the track last sunday and got to talking tire pressure with some guys and it made me curious what other folks put in their tires, and for what conditions.

What do you guys use for:

Motocross - Natural terrain, some jumps but not big air - Front/Back
Supercross - Man-made track, big jumps & whoop-sections - Front/Back
Offroad/Scrambles - woods/creeks/sand - Front/Back
Do yourself a MASSIVE favor and install the tubliss setup in your tires and run 8 PSI offroad and 9-9.5 PSI for track.

Experience the best suspension feel, traction and flat protection you've ever had...you can thank me later.
swedishfishmx
Posts
1513
Joined
3/5/2010
Location
Shawnee, KS US
Fantasy
3742nd
12/1/2016 9:17am
bibs front and rear. No more flats.

8psi is too low, the tire rolls on itself too much.
Tpog496
Posts
1282
Joined
9/16/2014
Location
MN US
12/1/2016 9:18am
As long as they're not flat I'm ok.
BobPA
Posts
8023
Joined
10/31/2013
Location
PA US
12/1/2016 9:23am
12/12 on the regular

11/10 if there is no rock

Off-road 15/15

I always run a 19" wheel so I run a lot offroad
WoodsRacer
Posts
614
Joined
9/28/2014
Location
MN US
Fantasy
2867th
12/1/2016 9:27am
For all hare scrambles and enduros I run 8/8, but with wicked heavy duty tubes and have never had a pinch flat even in nasty rocks. If the track is mostly sand though I up to 12/12.
TheGetFresh
Posts
1633
Joined
8/12/2015
Location
COOL GY
Fantasy
2520th
12/1/2016 9:41am
typically 12 front, 11.5 Rear. If I'm getting weird suspension behavior on a given day I usually start with tire pressure adjustments before going to clickers.
RF219
Posts
210
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
12/1/2016 9:54am
mx317 wrote:
13 F and 12 R
MX317 were you at Millcreek this past sunday? I parked by a guy with new KTM#317
moto0852
Posts
944
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Draper, UT US
12/1/2016 10:00am
bibs front and rear. No more flats.

8psi is too low, the tire rolls on itself too much.
Not with Tubliss. It adds to sidewall stiffness.
Krazyk2774
Posts
378
Joined
12/20/2010
Location
Alberta CA
12/1/2016 11:01am
I ride in the mountains alot and the trails there are very rugged an full of broken up rocks. To avoid pinch flats I run 17 in the front and 16 in the rear. For normal trail riding I go down to 15 front 14 rear.
IceMan446
Posts
4671
Joined
1/10/2010
Location
Sacramento, CA US
12/1/2016 11:04am
12.5 on the front
12 on the rear

The pressures go up so I normally check after each moto.
mx317
Posts
4531
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
TN US
12/1/2016 11:57am
mx317 wrote:
13 F and 12 R
RF219 wrote:
MX317 were you at Millcreek this past sunday? I parked by a guy with new KTM#317
Yes, that was me in the white van.
JAFO92
Posts
4245
Joined
3/21/2016
Location
BFE, TX US
12/1/2016 12:23pm
As simple as it seems at first (tire pressure) you can see right away how different opinions are on this one.

Thanks for the replies!
12/1/2016 2:44pm
Bobby,

I ran 13 front 12 rear at Rio. Didn't matter once the shock blew.Laughing

BTW, I found the detonation issue on the 465. The main jet splash guard from 1982 fell off and was blocking fuel flow to the main jet. She was just a bit lean on the top.Whistling
12/1/2016 3:36pm
What's better for really soft, Loamy soil? I've always thought a higher pressure would work better in soft, tacky soil?
brimx153
Posts
3336
Joined
5/3/2012
Location
IE
12/1/2016 3:41pm
What's better for really soft, Loamy soil? I've always thought a higher pressure would work better in soft, tacky soil?
id like to know this too , would it be better to go higher in soft sand too
12/1/2016 3:48pm Edited Date/Time 12/1/2016 3:50pm
In high traction, deep soil I'd like to think a stiffer sidewall and tire case from higher pressure would let the traction translate through the tire better to the wheel, chain, engine etc and ultimately creating more momentum, sooner, but Idk.

whereas in a car on high traction surfaces, lower pressures take advantage of that flex in the sidewall can carcass to reduce wheelspin and create more traction.....

Einsteinshit.
hillbilly
Posts
9080
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Afton, TN US
12/1/2016 3:54pm
I never had flats, never. Because I got dial in on how to set the rim up and put in a new tube with ever new tire.

I'm not counting running over a nail here,but flats from fatigue or pinch.

And moto,not 3 hr rides,that could be different ,but I've practiced 3 hrs many many times.
nage0139
Posts
201
Joined
7/9/2015
Location
MN US
Fantasy
25th
12/1/2016 3:59pm
13/13

Best thing I ever did was a buy an accurate tire pressure gauge.

Ended up throwing away 3 gauges because they were 3.5 psi heavy! We had 4 gauges at the track one day, all dial, 2 read 13, 2 read 16.5. I paid up for a nice liquid filled gauge with half percent accuracy that I will use for the rest of my life.
JAFO92
Posts
4245
Joined
3/21/2016
Location
BFE, TX US
12/1/2016 5:03pm
Bobby, I ran 13 front 12 rear at Rio. Didn't matter once the shock blew.:laugh: BTW, I found the detonation issue on the 465. The main...
Bobby,

I ran 13 front 12 rear at Rio. Didn't matter once the shock blew.Laughing

BTW, I found the detonation issue on the 465. The main jet splash guard from 1982 fell off and was blocking fuel flow to the main jet. She was just a bit lean on the top.Whistling
Thanks Dave. Glad you got that sweet Full Floater sorted out. Hope you can get that shock rebuilt ASAP.
JAFO92
Posts
4245
Joined
3/21/2016
Location
BFE, TX US
12/1/2016 5:11pm
nage0139 wrote:
13/13 Best thing I ever did was a buy an accurate tire pressure gauge. Ended up throwing away 3 gauges because they were 3.5 psi heavy...
13/13

Best thing I ever did was a buy an accurate tire pressure gauge.

Ended up throwing away 3 gauges because they were 3.5 psi heavy! We had 4 gauges at the track one day, all dial, 2 read 13, 2 read 16.5. I paid up for a nice liquid filled gauge with half percent accuracy that I will use for the rest of my life.
I use the same gauge I used when I raced sprint cars. 0 to 15



SpeedyR
Posts
34
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
ATL, GA US
12/1/2016 5:39pm
It depends a lot upon the brand and even the specific tire. Plus bike as well. Call the manufacturer and see what they recommend for your tire and terrain, they should know.

Motion Pro has one of the best gauges in the industry, look around at the next MX/SX race and see what the teams are using. I've had one for a few years and it's worth it's weight in gold IMHO.

as for pressures, lower pressure gives you a bigger footprint so more traction but it's a tradeoff vs. pinch flats. find your happy place. Smile

In mud and sand I'd run a bit higher pressure to get the tire to dig thru the stuff on top and get down a bit more and keep a rounder carcass to shed more mud.
r.sal923
Posts
564
Joined
1/25/2014
Location
CA
12/1/2016 5:41pm
bibs front and rear. No more flats.

8psi is too low, the tire rolls on itself too much.
moto0852 wrote:
Not with Tubliss. It adds to sidewall stiffness.
I second that. I was blown away with the side wall stiffness of tubliss system. 0 psi and it has stiff side wall with sponge knobs
seawitch
Posts
50
Joined
1/7/2014
Location
Wanchese, NC US
12/1/2016 6:08pm
What's better for really soft, Loamy soil? I've always thought a higher pressure would work better in soft, tacky soil?
brimx153 wrote:
id like to know this too , would it be better to go higher in soft sand too
I live in Eastern NC. Actually almost as far east as you can, about five minutes from the ocean. Hence, I have done a lot of driving on the beach. The soft sandy beach. In a vehicle (I know this is not the same just stick with me) If you attempt to drive on beach with hard tires such as 30 Psi or above you WILL get stuck. No question about it. Does not matter what kind of truck or lockers or whatever you cant make it. Now get out and reduce your tires down to 15 or so and SHAZAM! Its like having drag slicks on the dragstrip. Apply gas (or fuel) and your truck can not be stopped.

So on almost all the tracks we ride they are sandier than they are loamy. Very soft and fluffy. For me in this stuff I run low pressures like 9-11. If I trry 13 its no good for me.
Myke
Posts
2457
Joined
9/28/2009
Location
San Diego, CA US
Fantasy
2861st
12/1/2016 6:37pm
13/13

Post a reply to: Tire Pressures

The Latest