Winter tire pressure?

[138742]

Hey Guys,

I know tire pressure is crucial and was wondering if any one runs their shoes a smidgen lower in the winter. Does that mean not filling up due to the colder temperature and having the summer air in? Or does that mean lowering even further?  

Right now my tires are to spec PSI and the temperatures are dipping into the low twenties more often than not. After a burn my tires are certainly warmer than the outside temp, but not by much and as racers  do on the track it seems logical to run them a hair lower. My logic could be whacked though.    

As always, many thanks.

[Scratch33]

   Dunno about lowering tire pressure in the winter.   Seems to me that in extreme cold tires wouldn't warm up quickly from riding; and would cool down much faster when stopped.  

[MK96xj]

I run the same presures. I beleive there are way to many variables during street riding. The track would be different where temps and road surface are for the most less variable.

[thatguy]

No change in pressures just speed.

[Doug Just Doug]

I'm no expert, but I ride all winter unless there's too much ice and I've never adjusted pressures.   Doesn't seem to me you'd want to do that unless you're actually riding on snow or ice.

[rabbott5]

I run the same pressure year round.  My rides tend to be shorter in the colder months, so I don't worry about possible heating of the tires and pressure increase.  I have even left the summer air in all winter or was it the winter air in all summer.

[motospeed9058]

I've never changed my pressures.  I also think the racers are dealing in the tenths of a pound in pressure change.  Not really going to make a drastic change.  My vote is for keeping them normal.

[tjhess74]

i forget where the chart is, but basically, you adjust/check them when the tires are cold.  it goes something like this...

at 65 degrees (baseline temp)  fill to whatever your preferred pressure is.  for each 10 degree rise in temp above 65 (75,85, etc), you add one psi to cold pressure.

for each 10 degrees drop (55,45, etc), you subtract 1 psi.

so, for example. if your preferred pressure is 42 psi cold, then at 65 degrees ambient temp, fill them to the full 42psi.

if its 35 degrees, then your full cold psi should be 39psi.

if its 85 degrees, then your full cold psi should be 44psi.

by no means, is keeping your tires at the same temp year round dangerous or irresponsible, but following this is a little more exact.

air is more dense when it is cold and when it heats up it will expand more, which is why you want a little less air in the very cold tire.  hot air is the opposite, so you will need a little bit more.

[Windblown]

Cold pressure is simply a starting point. A hot (operating) temp is what you're really shooting for. Dropping a pound or so in cold weather isn't going to hurt anything and it might result in your tire running a little closer to proper operating temp.  However, it's a matter of diminishing returns to try to chase it for street use.  On the street your tire temps vacillate wildly depending on how the tire is being used (Highway, railing twisties, in town commute, etc)

In a single day it's not uncommon to see a 30 degree swing in ambient air temps, even more for road surface temp. You can drive yourself nuts.  

Do what makes ya happy. In a perfect world you would monitor your hot temps and adjust throughout the day.

My routine: I kick the tires on my bikes in the morning to gauge whether it's ok to hop on and ride. Before a long ride I'll usually check them with a gauge.  I am much more apt to check the pressure in the dog days of summer than in winter since too low a pressure when temps are really high can overheat a tire quickly and cause wear and traction issues.

[GooseMan]

Wait...when air is more cold, it is more dense, so this means your cold PSI will drop, correct?

Let say you filled up your tires at warmer temps to 42 PSI, then at colder temps, the same tire will read lets say 39 PSI...

Therefore, shouldnt you be putting MORE air into your tires when its cold? Especially since they wont be heating up as much?

 

[denydog]

...tire pressure is crucial...

That sounds a bit strong.  Maybe important?  

BTW- I just fill em to the recommended spec, otherwise I'd be adjusting the air pressure for a different temperature almost every day.

[tjhess74]

Wait...when air is more cold, it is more dense, so this means your cold PSI will drop, correct?

Let say you filled up your tires at warmer temps to 42 PSI, then at colder temps, the same tire will read lets say 39 PSI...

Therefore, shouldnt you be putting MORE air into your tires when its cold? Especially since they wont be heating up as much?

 

your partially correct...

when the tire is cold (65 degrees or less) you will acutually have less air in the tire than normal.  this is because the air will heat up a expand more when at normal temps.  even when its cold outside, youd be surprised how warm tires get, especially if they see corners.  i recently rode long distance in 10 degree weather and checked my tires at my destination, and they were warm! (and now showed correct pressure).

when the tires are above 65 cold, they air is already warm and wont expand as much, so you can run slightly more air than normal.  remember, were only taking one or two psi here, so its not a radical change.  not following the 1 psi per 10 degree rule is no means a problem.  most peoples tires are off by more than that.

[thatguy]

Wait...when air is more cold, it is more dense, so this means your cold PSI will drop, correct?

Let say you filled up your tires at warmer temps to 42 PSI, then at colder temps, the same tire will read lets say 39 PSI...

Therefore, shouldnt you be putting MORE air into your tires when its cold? Especially since they wont be heating up as much?

 

OK regardless of ambient temps I run 41.5 rear/35.5 ft.

[ZX10BURNER]

I run 34 psi in the front and 37 psi in the rear tire, Pilot Powers....same pressure I run year round no problems noted.

[tjhess74]

and you wont have any problems.  remember were talking about huge temp swings which translates to one or two psi difference. in the grand scheme of things, thats nothing and should yield no problems.