Tire Pressure Thread

[WEB]

What tire pressure do you guys recommend for the front and rear.The trike is a 05 ultra with a champion kit.It has a rear tire on the front,michelin.

[Trikerjim]

WEB, I run 41 in the front (Michelin Activ) and 22-25 in the rear depending on the load (BFG T/A Radials). You may have to play around with it a little to come up with the best PSI for the rear, but 40-41 is about standard for the front.....

[WEB]

Thanks TrikerJim

[DJS]

i use 41 front and 20 rears

[katfish16]

On my 1500 I run 41 in the front and about 23 in the rear when I am towing the trailer.

[ben721364]

What tire pressure do you guys recommend for the front and rear.The trike is a 05 ultra with a champion kit.It has a rear tire on the front,michelin.

Optimum tire inflation is a very personal thing. I recommend that you get yourself a gauge and experiment. What works for me on my trike with my tires (sizes, brands, types, etc.), probably would not be exactly the same for you.

[WEB]

Thanks guys.We changed the rear pressure from 29,thats what was in it when we got the trike,to 23,major difference.The front was 40 so I left it at that.My wife can tell a big difference in the ride,we may try a little less but I don't know what the safe low limit is.We do not have a trailer.Thanks for your help.

[grayowl]

I looked through the Search results for tire pressures on trikes and, whew!, there's lots of info out there. Most of the entries stated rear tire pressures from 17 psi up to about 22 psi (one or two above and below that range).

I'm not really comfortable with the very low pressures noted above and am currently running 32 in the rear tires (BFG P225/60R15) and 38 in the front (Dunlop Touring 130/70-18). I will be upping the front tire to 40 for this weekend. All are new tires so I won't be replacing them anytime soon. My thought is to drop the rear tires to about 25 psi and see how the Motor Trike ('98 Aspy) runs at that level.

We haven't gone the long trip, yet. Mostly 150-200 mile outings around central Texas. My wife and I weigh about 325 lbs with little extra luggage.

Your thoughts on this setup, please?!

Thanks,

Jon (grayowl)

[Nana]

Hi Jon, I don't ride 2-up, and at my trike builder's recommendation I keep my rear tires at 17-18. When it is higher than that, the ride is much rougher! He told me that he keeps his own at no more than 20 - 22 even though he often carries his wife with him.

Mine is a Champion kit.

[grayowl]

Thanks, Nana. I may drop them down to 22 or so, but anything below that--well, I'd have to think on that for a while.

Thanks for the help,
Jon

[1550vt]

It's a trade-off. Higher pressures will mean better handing in the curves, but a stiffer ride. Under any situation, I think anything below 24 is just too low, especially down there around 18.

[John Luciano]

I leave mine at 22 # lets not for get the tires you have on are designed to be on a very large car/SUV where 35 # might be the recommenced pressure. you have 400 lb on each tire as opposed to the 1,000 on the car they were designed for they will not fall of the rim I have had mine down to 15 #

[grayowl]

Thanks 1550vt and John (and Nana, too!). I think I'm going to go with 40 in front and 25 in the rear and see how that handles/rides/corners, etc.

Thanks for the help.
Jon

[Dwight]

Ok, Jon, this is my take on tire pressures. If it's an independent suspension trike (your's isn't) rear tire pressure doesn't need to be more than about 25psi. On a straight axle trike, anywhere from 16 psi and up will work. Tire pressure on a straight axle trike has more effect on ride quality than on an independent rear end.

Front tire pressures between 38 and 42 seem to work best. For whatever reason lower pressures on the front seem to contribute to tire cupping.

All of this information can, and probably should, be arrived at by your personal riding style. I'm generally considered an agressive rider and run with fairly low pressures on both ends. In the end, it all boils down to what you are comfortable with.

Dwight

[Triker Mike]

I had a person whom I don't know told me this week-end that the rear tire pressure on all trikes should be 12psi inside& 15psi outside I have never heard of this . Has anyone else?

[alienhunter]

no didnt hear that ,i run 20 in the rear and 15 to 18 in the front my trike is a vw:yes:

[trikerman]

I run 20 in the rear and 35 in the front.

John.

[Bob Witte]

After fielding dozens of Trinity Trikes from 250cc to 2000cc, our experience is that the PSI for automotive tires in the back should be in the low 20's and the motorcycle wheel in front in the low to mid 30's. Suspensions, passenger loads, etc., will of course affect those numbers. Trial & error will modify them to your needs, but you might want to start there.

Bob Witte

The Trinity Trike

[Ozarkryder]

I had a person whom I don't know told me this week-end that the rear tire pressure on all trikes should be 12psi inside& 15psi outside I have never heard of this . Has anyone else?

Bob has it - We run the rear tires at about 21-22 for most riding, and bump it up to 24-25 on long trips on the hiway with the trailer in tow. Front, with a Bridgstone Battlax reversed rear is 41 PSI. The trike is a 95 GL1500 MotorTrike - before airbag suspension. We vary the air pressure in the rear depending on where we are riding. Stiffer in the twisties, less air for a cushier ride on hiway runs. Also depends on the load.

The person that told you different PSI's in the inside and outside wheels was trying to compensate for the crown in the road. More here: http://www.triketalk.com/forum/gener....html#post1518

[John Luciano]

Altho a trike will run on almost flat rear tires, I do believe less than 20# is not enough. The tire will cup and wear out the sides before the center . The theory behind the 2 different rear tire pressures is in the crown in the road . Having more on the down hill side and less on the peak side makes the trike run flatter. BS if you ask me . What happens on the flat High ways? 41 in my front tire ( 1500 Goldwing ) seems to be doing good with the progressive springs . with STD springs I ran 32 #