BATTLAX BT46

During periods of none use I over inflate my tyres cos I know they’ll deflate.

This led to the discovery that over inflated tyres make the bike feel 100lbs lighter when pushing it around!

So I guess the same applies on the road and ‘over’ inflated tyres turn in faster and make the bike feel much more agile. As mentioned above, they keep their shape this way.

However, for outright grip, we want our tyres to deform, by doing this the contact patch is greatly increased giving far more grip under acceleration, cornering and braking.

So I guess pressures are a compromise of trying to achieve the sweet spot between those two extremes.

Fast Eddie said:

During periods of none use I over inflate my tyres cos I know they’ll deflate.

This led to the discovery that over inflated tyres make the bike feel 100lbs lighter when pushing it around!

So I guess the same applies on the road and ‘over’ inflated tyres turn in faster and make the bike feel much more agile. As mentioned above, they keep their shape this way.

However, for outright grip, we want our tyres to deform, by doing this the contact patch is greatly increased giving far more grip under acceleration, cornering and braking.

So I guess pressures are a compromise of trying to achieve the sweet spot between those two extremes.

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I'm embarrassed to say that I knew the correct pressure for the K70s I used on Triumphs for a long time, added 2 pounds because I have always weighed more than most and never thought to check when I stared using RoadRiders. Triumph Workshop:


When I checked the Norton Workshop:



So, I was still "right". Then I looked at AVON said:



Somewhere that I can't find now on the AVON site said 32 psi for RoadRider MKII Universal.

So I use that now for them. When I first started using RoadRiders I thought them comfortable for riding and a little loose cornering. At 32psi I find them still comfortable for riding and much tighter than the Dunlop K70, K81 (TT100) tires in steep lean angles. At 24psi I was checking them often because I had a felling that they were going flat and they squeaked on my shop floor like they were low on pressure - they always checked fine. Even then I didn't suspect that the pressure was set too low.

I suppose it's lucky that tubes are still involved - RoadRiders at 24 psi might not stay on rims made for tubeless tires when pushing hard!

FWIW, the tyre shop set my new BT46s to 29 front and 32 rear.

daveforty said:

FWIW, the tyre shop set my new BT46s to 29 front and 32 rear.

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Hi Dave, be interesting to know where they derived those pressures from…

concours said:

I run 42/36 in the modern Avon Road Riders.


Modern tires have more pliable sidewalls, needs the extra pressure to compensate.

Don't anyone do what I do.

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Hi Concours, agree with your assessment/ comments re sidewalls etc. The Bridgestone rep explained-in soooommmmeee detail - about multi material construction, silicone etc hence higher pressure. AFA I’m concerned 36/42 is correct for me… it I’m not a scratcher / lean angle explorer

I run 32# front and 36# back on my RR Avons. MICHELIN Butyl inner tubes keep the pressure real stable.
I'm 180 lbs and with leathers and helmet puts me about 195+ 200.
Add a tankbag and two Givi side saddle cases and we are up another 30 lbs.
Interstate tank holds 6 US gallons, so it adds up real quick.

If I race, I use 32 lbs front and rear in my Battlax tyres. But because of the increased trail on the steering of my bike, it does not lean as much in corners, so grip is not so important. If the bike is neutral handling, it will usually adopt a fair amount of lean in high speed corners, and often the rider has to wait until the bike is upright and pointed before strong acceleration can be promoted. Most two-strokes used to be like that. I always take note of what the other guys are riding. Very few bikes really handle well. I think an RS125 Honda might beat most Commando-based bikes, around small circuits.

acotrel said:

If I race, I use 32 lbs front and rear in my Battlax tyres. But because of the increased trail on the steering of my bike, it does not lean as much in corners, so grip is not so important. If the bike is neutral handling, it will usually adopt a fair amount of lean in high speed corners, and often the rider has to wait until the bike is upright and pointed before strong acceleration can be promoted. Most two-strokes used to be like that. I always take note of what the other guys are riding. Very few bikes really handle well. I think an RS125 Honda might beat most Commando-based bikes, around small circuits.

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...and (again!) how does that help anyone one this topic Al?
- other than words 4-11

TBW said:

Hi Dave, be interesting to know where they derived those pressures from…

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No idea, I suspect they inflated them to a generic 'starting point' pressure on the basis that they will be adjusted as required. I generally set them between 32 & 34 front and rear. This is for road use.

The only Bridgestone tyre pressure info I could find is more related to racing tyres;


There is a max pressure (41psi cold) at max weight of 507 and 567lbs moulded into the sidewall