Tire Pressure question

[Junior]

I don't understand how hard it is to get a solid number for tire PSI. I have Metzeler ME 888s, so I read the sidewall. All I can find there is something printed about max load and max pressure. But it doesn't say what to inflate the tire to. Metzeler website says to refer to owners manual. Owner's manual has numbers but it's for Metzeler 880s, which are not the same as Metzeler 888s. For 880s it says 41 rear and 36 front. But I gather from the interweb it's common knowledge that you run 888s at lower pressures than 880s.

So if anyone running ME888s has something solid about front and rear pressures, I'd be very grateful to hear it.

 

[rocketbill]

Internet on metzelers site says do what your bike states.

 

[Mongler07]

Bottom line it does not matter as long as A: you do not exceed that max pressure and B: run about the standard for your bike. Tire brand or model does not change things unless you get into supper sport stuff. On these bikes you want a slightly higher on front to prevent the typical cupping. 33 to 36 up front. 44 I'm the rear unless 2 up then run 46 to 50 depending on how big the rider/ riders are. When I go 2 up with the wife I go 48 in the rear and give the shocks an extra tick

Why so generic.... Because of you get more than 6k miles you have achieved greatness so unless you ride like me (10k per set of tires.... It will never matter unless you are on a track and even then I just do a little back road stuff. I rarely wear a tire out unless all the rubber is gone other than my tiny chicken stripes

 

[Kiwicol]

I run 39 front & 41 rear, but I'm a big heavy guy, so using 2 up pressures. I also have Sykik TPMS fitted. This shows me pressure & temp front & rear. Front hardly gets above ambient temp & increases 2-3 psi after a decent run. The rear though, that heats up big time, it'll quite often be 20+ degrees C above ambient & pressure can go up by 7psi or so at times. This means the rear is doing a lot of work & it's hotter because it's shielded from oncoming wind blast by the front & it's sitting about 3 inches from that big cat in the exhaust.

 

[Nashvegas]

I don't understand how hard it is to get a solid number for tire PSI. I have Metzeler ME 888s, so I read the sidewall. All I can find there is something printed about max load and max pressure. But it doesn't say what to inflate the tire to. Metzeler website says to refer to owners manual. Owner's manual has numbers but it's for Metzeler 880s, which are not the same as Metzeler 888s. For 880s it says 41 rear and 36 front. But I gather from the interweb it's common knowledge that you run 888s at lower pressures than 880s.

So if anyone running ME888s has something solid about front and rear pressures, I'd be very grateful to hear it.

Are those the tires that came with your bike? Man, I had one of those on the rear and hated it and went back to CruiseTec real quick. But you know I like to ride pretty spirited. They are probably a good cruising tire, but not sporty. Revzilla has the CT’s and now, finally, the Cobras. Much grippier tires, but you will sacrifice some longevity. I’m pretty sure the new rockets recommend 42x42. I do 40f and 38r. They go up some when I get her out of the “cooler“ garage but I’m OK with that. Ambient temperature makes a pretty big difference. When I went up to Michigan last week my tires dropped enough in the 50°-60° daytime highs that they definitely needed air added. Now that I am back down here in the 90°’s I will have to drop some out.

 

[cr0ft]

The Metzelers that came on mine never impressed. Avon Cobra's on there (the white walls) and it was like night and day on the handling. Either way, tire pressure recommendations should come from the bike's manual. I run 38 front, 40-ish rear.

 

[Junior]

Are those the tires that came with your bike? Man, I had one of those on the rear and hated it and went back to CruiseTec real quick. But you know I like to ride pretty spirited. They are probably a good cruising tire, but not sporty. Revzilla has the CT’s and now, finally, the Cobras. Much grippier tires, but you will sacrifice some longevity. I’m pretty sure the new rockets recommend 42x42. I do 40f and 38r. They go up some when I get her out of the “cooler“ garage but I’m OK with that. Ambient temperature makes a pretty big difference. When I went up to Michigan last week my tires dropped enough in the 50°-60° daytime highs that they definitely needed air added. Now that I am back down here in the 90°’s I will have to drop some out.

No, they were the first set I bought. Bought em right after I bought the 2011. The parts guy at the dealership kind of just defaulted to them back in 2023. He said "you want the Metzelers?" I didn't know what to say... I was brand new to the Rocket scene. Sounded like that was the go-to tire for the old Touring. But I hated them. They lasted longer, like 8,000 miles but it was because the rubber was harder. Which is what made them terrible tires. No grip. So easy to make them slide when you didn't expect or want them to. I'm pretty sure I had them that first time I met you in Eureka Springs. I remember complaining about them while sitting around the table drinking beer and nipping on a bottle of Fireball...