tyre pressures

[Tramp]

Ive run the k60 down to 18 rear and 15 front and apart from wobbly/squirmy roads the carcase dosent actually deform any..it didnt grip and worse or better on Mudd ..so went back upto 25psi all round which Ive used on some big euro trips at 220kg..

The tyres didnt last any longer either..

As far as I know :whistle: running tyres at low pressure at speed increase the temps and then the tyre explodes..also knackers the sidewalls as they flex too much so running correct psi makes them run cool so longer wear?..

please feel free to add comments as I`m sure its worth a few views..

[AndyB]

It's input from as many people as possible that I'm after.

The Tenere is a heavy bike before loading extra luggage on it which is why I'm a bit reluctant to drop the pressures too much but I'm also keeping the fact that if I drop the pressure a bit it'll keep more heat in them which I really want to do. I suppose the sensible thing to do will be to take a small hand pump with me when I go to play in the snow and change the pressure a few times until I strike a happy medium.

It's doing the sensible thing that I struggle with

[Old Git Ray]

Heidenau are actually quite approachable and you can ring them on +49 3529 552801

I did last year when the original rear K60 quoted 36PSI max, they told me to ignore it as they are upping the max pressure quoted on subsequent tyres to 44.

As others have said they are solid boots and TBH I would change mine for something softer in the winter. I appreciate that this is not always possible or appropriate.

They are quoted as M&S tyres so the silica content probably allows the label (softer rubber) but the carcass is so stiff it is negated to some degree. Good boots but more for long distance temperate touring IMHO.

If you can afford them TCKs are a better winter tyre but their life span is crap by comparison.

[Paul-S]

I have always used K60s (mostly the old compound) for the last 6 years on my Africa Twin and always ran them at 30psi on road in all weather conditions

Never had any issues but as Tramp does, when offroad dropped the pressures to aid grip

[mikeyboy]

I think you could run k60's with zero pressure in them and it would make no difference :laugh:
very stiff construction ,and I have fitted a lot of tyres (thumbs)
I personally prefer a tyre with a lighter construction .I feel it gives a lot more feedback,and responds better to dropping the pressure if the going is slippy.
will run a fair bit warmer as well if such a thing is possible in sub zero temps.
obviously the downside is more wear.
my tyre of choice for road work is a tkc,that said the k60 gets really good feedback from the guys that have them,so I for one will be interested in your comments regarding their performance in snow and cold temps. (thumbs)

[MarkR]

Found last years post on the subject from the mailing list:

'But most importantly; no weave. Maybe just a hint of one at 95 but I was really looking for it.
I dropped the pressure to 29 front and 30 rear and wound the rear preload ring up to one click off full.'

This on the XTr obviously.

[isoiivari]

If you are going to ride on snow and ice then you should use between 0.8-1.0 bars (11.6-14.5 psi) only. Better traction and more of the tire that hits the surface.
I have just put my studded tires on but before that i had K60 scouts on and they are ok on ice but not good on packed snow! So be careful!

[AndyB]

Thanks Mark. My Tenere was horrible on that Rotterdam ring road in the pouring rain and the rest of you were just vanishing into the distance while I was crapping it every time I needed to change lane.

They're on now and I've got a couple of small jobs to do before lobbing a few bags of cement on the back to replicate the vast amount of rubbish I always take with me then I'll see if I can drag the footrests round a few corners B)

[Mike54]

Well I've gone for 32psi in the front and 36psi in the back so we'll see how that works out. If it was a bit warmer I'd have gone for 2psi lower in both of them but I really need to fit the panniers and fill them with junk then add some weight to the topbox to see if I can reproduce the death weave I used to get with Trelleborg Army Specials fitted.

Andy, I had them on my tiger, ended up with 30 rear, 25 front. Anything higher was just too skittish. I think this is a reason why a lot of people say "never again" with K60's, they're running them at too high a pressure.

[AndyB]

If you are going to ride on snow and ice then you should use between 0.8-1.0 bars (11.6-14.5 psi) only. Better traction and more of the tire that hits the surface.
I have just put my studded tires on but before that i had K60 scouts on and they are ok on ice but not good on packed snow! So be careful!

I've used studded Army Specials before on both ice and packed snow and they were ok until the surface became broken on corners and at that point the bike just shook the front wheel so badly I ended up stopping a couple of times in an attempt to recover some degree of composure :pinch:

I'm not sure that the K60 Scouts will take a stud but I'll find out when I remember where I put them after my last trip and if they do they'll be shoved into a small box ready for use if I need them.