Just a friendly warning

[sparky3008]

This will probably get moved but I do mean it as a serious warning.

Some of you may recall my tire problems. I was running on almost no air in both tires on a brand new bike of only 3 months when I discovered. The front wheel was unbalanced from the factory etc.

Well, I got new tires (Avons) and balanced and solved all my problems BUT.

I haven't had these tires on for 2 months and yesterday while reading on this forum I came across another tire air pressure thread and it got me to thinking to take my own advice and check em.

Went across the street and both tires had 20 psi.

My last few bikes never had this kind of problem holding pressure. Is it something specific to sport bikes or what?

Anyway everyone do yourself a favor and take 5 minutes and check, it could save you a lot in the future...

 

[Geezer]

Well, assuming that you don't have a leak of some sort the loss of air pressure is most likely caused by a change in temperature. Air is a mix of gases and gases expand and contract with chages in temp. Check your tires when they are cold, meaning before you ride for the day, because they heat up while riding. Soft tires actuallt heat up faster because they have greater rolling friction. Very soft tires on hot summer roads can cause tires to heat up enough for the air inside to expand enough to create dangerous pressure levels.

 

[odot]

I work a week on and a week off. When I get back from galavanting around the country I check my tire pressures and they are always low. Had 28 in the front and 32 in the rear last night. I only check them every other week.

 

[radman]

IIRC 1 pound for every 5 degrees of change, up or down. Porous aluminum wheels are responsible for most pressure problems these days, though Franks have been remarkably stable. Must be you.....

 

[SkooterG]

Wow. Interesting.

I check my tire pressure about once every week or two. I am never more than 3-4 psi low. Sometimes spot on from the last time. I would recommend checking more often - every few days. I don't since I have learned that I get dependable, consistent readings.

Don't know why you guys are losing so much air. Drop in ambient air temperature will have an effect, but you should not be seeing the drops you all see.

Guessing: Bad valve? Do you do your own tires? If you have a shop do them, perhaps they are not cleaning the bead area adequately?

sparky3008 - you need to check yours every other day for a while to determine a baseline on what is happening. That is just strange.

 

[radman]

Skoot, yer back! Finally finished that novel whilst takin' a dump?

 

[donaldb]

I ck mine every week, at least once, sometimes more often. There appears to be a low tire pressure trend w/this bike (fjr) mainly from what I have read with the front tire. That follows in direct form w/my bike. The rear seems to maintain 38 psi fairly constantly but my front will loose pressure down to about 32psi w/in 1-2 weeks. I can tell immediately before I get off the road I live on if I have lost any front tire pressure, just a front fork dive in right turns, does not want to pull out of the turn, it takes a little more force to streighten coming out of the turn. (at slow speed) I try to keep 42 psi in the front but it does not seem to like to maintain that pressure but for just a few days. Make a habit of ck'n at least a couple times a week--it's just a safe habit to get into, besides, it gives you a chance to look for tire/rubber defects, foreign debris stuck in the tire, etc.

 

[twowheelnut]

Yup, what dem doods said: Aluminum is porous and there has been many a time when I've found the shrader valve was loose (usually after a tire swap).

I've noticed that the Metzelers I've run (Z4's and 6's) loose air more readily than the Avons. My front Z4 would loose 5 lbs/week - the rear about 2 or 3. The Avons held very steady. I think in 6,500 miles I only aired them once for about a 2 lb loss. The Z6's hold pretty well, but I loose about 1 - 2 lbs a week.

 

[twowheelnut]

Skoot, yer back! Finally finished that novel whilst takin' a dump?

Novel???? More like:

See skooter run.

Run, skooter, run!

See Jane run.

Run, Jane, run! Skooter's catching up!

 

[paint]

I have been riding for almost 50 years and I still let a tire go down.

I put on the Smartire (www.smartire.com) and see my tire pressure every time I look at the dash.

Do it for safety's sake----and your tires will last longer.

Paint

 

[fjr]

If you check your pressures each time (day) you take out your bike it shouldn't be more than a lb. or two off. More than that and you probably have a problem.

 

[FJRocket]

My FJR tires seem to stay relative pressure stable. My BMW wheels (auto) ended up with bad valve stems. Talk about a steady loss of pressure. Of course they tended to go completely down over time.

Still, something worth considering. Maybe take the valve out, apart, clean it, put it back in... look for change?

 

[FJRocha]

I check my tire pressure every half hour or so. :detect:

No changes that I can perceive. Running 36 on the front and 40 on the rear.

 

[sparky3008]

Well, thanks for all the replies it definitely is something I will keep a closer eye on and yes thanks to even all you smart ***** such as myself

 

[bikemonster]

Found that using the fancy anodized valve caps with the o rings inside have helped maintain tire pressure on my bikes. Prior to using these would seem to always loose pressure in the tires, with them, rarely have to add air.

 

[Scythian]

Tires will lose air if the schrader valve is loose!

/spelling nazi

 

[Mole_]

I check my tire pressure every half hour or so. :detect:

:rolf: