Well I guess I'll ask the same question here that I asked over at Bikeland.
What do you guys recommend for tire pressures while riding on the street. I have been running about 40 PSI per the owners manual, a fellow 14 rider told me that was to hi and that I should be running between 32 and 35 PSI. I run about between 210 and 215 suited up. BT016 tires.

fwiw, I'm 5'7, 100kg suited up (about 220 I think) and the air temp is in the 90s. I run the tyres in the 40s for street riding. I love the effortless turn in at that pressure. in the 30s and it tends to bump steer a lot. same experience for most bikes I've owned.

After I got my bike and took a ride or two, I checked the Owner's Manual and measured the tire pressure. It was at about 32, so I increased it to 42. Next time out, I noticed a dramatic improvement in handling into and through the corners. -bg

* Last updated by: bgordon on 2/23/2009 @ 7:52 PM *

Well that's what I thought too. But after the two guys I was riding with were telling me that 40 was to hi (one on a 14 and the other with a R1) I started to question my self. The guy on the 14 said that some Pirelli tire guys at the track on a track day told him to lower his pressure to 32 PSI. Doesn't really make a sense to me I would think the tires would get hot fast due to scrubbing through the corners.

* Last updated by: SubZer0 on 2/23/2009 @ 8:11 PM *

OK, different strokes for different folks! on the street, I run 40-42 on my ZX and my R1. Both have pirelli diablo corsa III front and rear. Each is supposed to have a 190/50 rear. on teh R1 I use 180/55 and on the ZX I'm trying a 190/55. the profile seems to make the bike feel more neutral in corners.
On the track, you want the tyres to get warm. warm = soft = grip. lower pressures = more flex = more heat. Hot air expands = more pressure = better cornering.

So 35/36 is about right on the track, but it never gets hot enough on the street and just gives you 'worse' handling

The guys who built the bike might know something about it I would think . Not saying we couldnt improve on that but ????????? kinda like oil changes some do it every 2500 miles some 3K . I normally follow the book unless I am doing something harsher than normal for a street bike . Like riding in NV in July LOL

I run 36 Front & 36 Rear when riding solo and bump it to 38 F & 40 R when with a passenger.

42,42 front and back just like the manual says and so far 3000 miles tires look good, bike handles well and I'm happy.

Every tire brand is different. The tire manufacturer will tell you to run what your manual states.

A good rule of them that works well is the 10% rule. Ideally you want a 10% increase between cold and hot pressures. Pick a starting point for you cold pressure, ride the bike and get the tire hot then check the pressure if its a 10% increase your good, if it's less lower the cold pressure if it's more increase the cold pressure. This works well on the track or street and gets you in the ideal pressure range for tire grip and longest tire life.

I just wanted to say how pleased I am with the great responses to this question here. I just looked at SubZer0's posting over on the Bikeland forum, and there is nothing close to this much helpful information for him there. Bikeland has been around for a LONG time and has LOTS of members.

We are into our 22nd day of operation (!). You guys are the BEST OF THE BEST! -bg

* Last updated by: bgordon on 2/24/2009 @ 6:55 AM *

it's nice to be able to post a simple question without someone telling you to "just use the search function" or turning into name calling or insults ... They (the Bikeland Crowd) can be a rowdy bunch over there and thats the reason I didn't join up with them til OUR old site went away.

* Last updated by: DiabloZX14 on 2/24/2009 @ 7:42 AM *

I run Road Attacks with 38-40 front and 36-38 rear. Milage and feel is good but anything below 36 on the street makes the steering feel wierd.

I run Road Attacks

lytnin:

How do you like your Road Attacks? I had a set put on right before winterizing, and haven't had a chance to get out on them yet. Maybe this weekend... -bg

I ran the road attacks for awhile. I loved them the grip was great in cold or wet weather and they last decent. I ran 40 rear and 38 front simply because most of my riding was 2 up and those pressures worked great. Only reason I swapped to the road 2's is to see if they give more mileage than the road attacks.

How do you like your Road Attacks? I had a set put on right before winterizing, and haven't had a chance to get out on them yet. Maybe this weekend... -bg

The road attacks are great tires. The grip with the right pressures are real close to the pilot powers and you can't beat the price. I know a guy who runs them on the track and turns pretty much the same lap times as on the powers. You should get 4k easy out of them.

"The guy on the 14 said that some Pirelli tire guys at the track on a track day told him to lower his pressure to 32 PSI."

You do drop pressures when u are riding on a track, your tires are generating way more heat and they are going to expand.... I always run at maufacturers spec's or a tad higher, get better wear and life out of the tires...

BG I could not have said it better than what heathun said. I have them on both my ZRX's, had them on the beemer, put the on a 750 gsxr and a few other bikes with all happy endings but until I wear out the tires on the 14 I will not know what they are like on it.
Later == Bobby

They are also some of the cheaper priced tires!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I run what the manufacturer of the tire recommends. I figured they designed the tire to have a certain profile for maximum grip and wear. To attain that profile, you have to have x amount of air pressure.

BT016's 42psi Front and 40psi rear on street.
As russty and bg said handling and steering is dramatically improved over the lower pressures.

By the way I Love the BT016's on the ZX14, I have always been partial to Pirelli's until the 16's, they stick like glue, are very good in the cold and wet, and are wearing very well.
For comparison The BT016's are 10 times better than the stock BT014's,

42psi on front and 42psi on rear right from owners manual

Now this post sounds like the old Hub . You really are back . I now run 40 front 40 rear . I destroted my stock front tire running lower pressure . The bike started to shake when stopping . I thought my brake rotors were warped from abuse, So I did not pay much attention to it .It was only after I removed the rim and tire from the bike that I noticed the tire treads odd shape .All I can figure is that When the dealer performed the warranty check up The mechanic lowered pressure to 32 psi .By the time I figured this out the damage was done . I should have checked I know ........! Lesson learned .

I always run 42F and 40R.

Any less than 42 in the front, and she turns like a barge. Stock tyres.

Hello to everyone. Just joined today, I'm about to pick up my zx14 next month. Does anyone use the Michelin Pilot Powers 2? How are they? I'm 5'10", 170
thanks.

Ditto here, 42psi F and R. I've found she corners like a bread truck if the front pressure drops to 36 psi.

kruz

Silver
I don't own the Michelin Pilot Powers 2, but the guys I know that do really like them. I think they will be my next tire, but that hopefully is at least 2K miles away.