[Ara]

Hi Guys,

I did a search and couldn't find the answer.
Using the B020's one up, no luggage do I really need to use 36f/42r? That seems really high unless you're carrying a load.
Also, can I safely switch to B02's or Pilot Powers on my '07 ABS Sprint? Is the ABS calibrated for the exact diameter of the 020's and Metzler's?

Thanks,

Ara
(Sprint Newbie)

 

[Dusty]

Ara,
I had the same question when I got my RS. Unlike other bikes I'd had, there was no suggestion in the handbook of changing pressures for different loads. I contacted Bridgestone but they just quoted 36/42. I've been trying lower presssures as I too feel that 36/42 is too high for my solo riding. I suggest you read DaveM's post in the current "Steering damper on RS" thread. He's definitely clued up on tyres and talking sense. Like him, I don't take my bike out of the garage until I've checked the pressures with a decent gauge. I'm also not entirely convinced by the BT020's; certainly there's a large number of riders on this forum who prefer other brands. My front will be worn out by next summer, so I'll swap the pair then, probably for Avon Azaros (or their replacement Storm ST), Conti Road Attacks or Metzeler ZE6. There's lots of good tyre stuff on this forum. If it's round and black, Dave M has tested its suitability for a hard ridden ST!

 

[NikosR]

On 2006-12-17 01:34, Ara wrote:
Hi Guys,

I did a search and couldn't find the answer.
Using the B020's one up, no luggage do I really need to use 36f/42r? That seems really high unless you're carrying a load.
Also, can I safely switch to B02's or Pilot Powers on my '07 ABS Sprint? Is the ABS calibrated for the exact diameter of the 020's and Metzler's?

Thanks,

Ara
(Sprint Newbie)

I'm not an expert in ABS but I would say that as long as front and rear tires are of the same diameter, ABS would not be fooled.

 

[Stlakid]

Reprint from DaveM........

Pharmaboy,
you are making the classic error that most people make "by the book" tyre pressures.

That is like saying here use these suspension settings out of this sports bike mag. One setting does NOT suit all.

Neither do tyre pressures and this has everything to do with how hard you ride and how heavy you are and how your suspenders are set up. And other stuff too.

I adjust and check my pressures prior to every ride, if I am two up I increase my pressures by approx 2 psi front and rear. I have a really good gauge and am anal about it.

Tyre pressure is critical for fast riding if you want to stay shiny side up.

Those pressures are for maximum load if you read your tyre side walls you will find that most modern sports touring tyres and sports tyres for your bike will state "Max Load blah blah and those pressures of 36 & 42" are almost uniform.

My opinion would be to experiment with your tyre pressure by lowering them.

I would also get advice from your local motorcycle tyre shop expert as to what you should run them at.

If I were you I would run no more than 36 rear 33 front for any sort of hard riding. This is what I run at, it is what two guys I know, who know a lot about tyres and racing and how I ride recommend for me & my riding style and it works well for me.
I am usually shod with sports or sports / race tyres.

IMHO and those of my advisor's if you ride hard to very hard regularly at your pressures as stated they are too high and you will get front end drift and twitchiness no matter what tyres you are riding on especially when accelerating hard out of sharp bends or high speed sweepers. Also at those maximum pressures you will not obtain maximum adhesion because of your cooler tyre temperature.(but your tyre will last longer)

I still say a steering damper is unnecessary on these bikes, they are not twitchy or super fast steering or light in the front end either.

Talk to a tyre expert and get professional advise and experiment is my opinion.

">
I apologise for the diatribe I can't help ranting at times.

I hope that is useful and you managed to stay awake

Davem

Also, can I safely switch to B02's or Pilot Powers on my '07 ABS Sprint? Is the ABS calibrated for the exact diameter of the 020's and Metzler's?

YES! How this rumor got started is unclear. (to me anyway) But you can use ANY brand you wish that are the correct sizes. I like Avon's. Others here like the Z6's, and the real Hot Dogs (like DaveM) really like the Pilot Powers. Any of those will transform the handling of your bike over the 020's! We've been there already and most are amazed at how much better their Sprint handles with almost ANY tire other than the 020's on there.

[ This message was edited by: Stlakid on 2006-12-17 02:19 ]

 

[ruscook]

I think the numbers quoted in the books are the maximum and not what we need to ride every day.

Over the past few months I've settled on 35psi front and 37psi rear. With this I got over 19000K out of a pilot road and over 10000km out of the rear. To me, with reasonably hard riding, this is unheard of kms previously and I put some of it down to improved tyre tech, and some done to a good mix of pressures for my weight (about 120-130KG fully laden).

Russ

 

[BlackBeauty]

Until recently, I was at 36F and 42R - partly because of the book and partly because I "read somewhere" that the rear might last longer.

Uurrm - I just changed to 34F and 36R after the rear was almost fully worn at 4,000 miles (stock BT020).

I like the ride at the new pressures and unequivocally recommend 34/36 ish. I agree that the 36/42 must be the max. Of course, as mentioned, a little experimentation is good for your particular riding conditions etc.

Take care - BB

 

[Ara]

On 2006-12-17 02:13, Stlakid wrote:



YES! How this rumor got started is unclear. (to me anyway) But you can use ANY brand you wish that are the correct sizes. I like Avon's. Others here like the Z6's, and the real Hot Dogs (like DaveM) really like the Pilot Powers. Any of those will transform the handling of your bike over the 020's! We've been there already and most are amazed at how much better their Sprint handles with almost ANY tire other than the 020's on there.

It's the owners manual that strated this rumor. The owners manual states "Use BT020 or Metzler Roadtec Z6 only".
Like I said, unless the ABS is some how pre-programmed for those 2 exact diameter tires and any other diameters (same size tires from different manufacturers can vary quite a bit) screws up the ABS.
I'd hate to be stuck with just 2 tire combos.
I'll see if Triumph NA has other ideas. I already complained about the stupid seat attachment to them.

Thanks,

Ara

 

[ruscook]

On 2006-12-17 13:30, Ara wrote:
It's the owners manual that strated this rumor. The owners manual states "Use BT020 or Metzler Roadtec Z6 only".
Like I said, unless the ABS is some how pre-programmed for those 2 exact diameter tires and any other diameters (same size tires from different manufacturers can vary quite a bit) screws up the ABS.
I'd hate to be stuck with just 2 tire combos.
I'll see if Triumph NA has other ideas. I already complained about the stupid seat attachment to them.

Thanks,

Ara

Ara considering tyres lose diameter and therefore circumference as they wear there is no programming for them. Also, the ABS is activated against the ABS sensor disk on the wheel, not the tyre.

The reason Triumph, or any other manufacturer, recommend only a few brands of tyre is very simple. They either have a commercial relationship with the, or have only "tested" with that subset of the market and won't therefore endorse anything else.

The important point from a safety and legal perspective is the tyre specs, i.e. size, speed rating etc. As long as you match these changing brands is not an issue.

Russ


[ This message was edited by: ruscook on 2006-12-17 15:42 ]

 

[Ara]

Thanks all you guys. Russ and all of you make perfect sense. When the 020's wear out, or I get tired of them whichever comes first, I'll put on a more high performance tire.
I'm going to reduce the pressures to 34/38 and see how that goes.
The Ducati recommended pressures for the B14's that came on my Monster are 31/32 which work just fine.
Triumph, as do all the car manufactures do these days, is recommend the max pressure to prevent law suits if the tire ever explodes from under inflation.

Ara

 

[KevyKev]

I thought that the ABS sensors got their information from the discs mounted on the rotor carriers. If so, it wouldn't matter the size of the tires since the sensors are looking for these discs to slow dramatically thus impending lockup. Am I correct?

 

[DaveM]

Thanks Stlakid,
you saved me from doing the broken record thing again! :-D :-D :-D

Good luck Ara, if you get bored you could always read the tyre sticky at the top of the page there is a lot of bumph about tyres there too.

Also there are reviews in the review section of this site see on the left hand bar under "features"

Davem

 

[BMWK100]

I've had two dealers tell me to keep them at 40/40. (Bridegestones and Michelin Pilot Road.) Is that too high?

 

[DaveM]

BMWK100,
depends on your weight etc but read Stlakids post and my quote it answers the question.

How do your ride?

What loads do you carry?

What are the air temps?

IMHO the answer would be for solo riding yes I think that would be too high.

But that's just me, ask the tyre people not the bike dealer.

Davem

 

[ruscook]

BMWK100 personally I think that's too high.

I weigh about 120-130KG when loaded up with kit and I'm running 35/37psi on the Sprint with reasonably fimly set suspension. This seems to give good feel on the road and good tyre life on sport tourers (not sticky sports ones like DaveM loves).

Russ

 

[Ara]

On 2006-12-17 15:09, DaveM wrote:
Thanks Stlakid,
you saved me from doing the broken record thing again! :-D :-D :-D

Good luck Ara, if you get bored you could always read the tyre sticky at the top of the page there is a lot of bumph about tyres there too.

Also there are reviews in the review section of this site see on the left hand bar under "features"

Davem

Thanks Dave,
I read most of the tire sticky, but I wasn't sure what percentage of those people had ABS or if ABS would be adversely affected by the various tire sizes.
It appears the consensus here is that it doesn't matter what tires you put on the bike as long as they are a matched pair.
Glad to hear.

Thanks,

Ara

 

[Husky23]

On 2006-12-17 12:05, BlackBeauty wrote:

Uurrm - I just changed to 34F and 36R after the rear was almost fully worn at 4,000 miles (stock BT020).

Running the same 34F/36R