Depends on what air you are filling with Nitrogen or Hydrogen

 

The motorcycle owners manual is only correct for the brand AND model tires it came with. If you change to another model and/or brand of tire you need to find our what the TIRE manufacturer recommends for that tire on your motorcycle. It may be different. For example, my Avon Cobra tires run at a higher pressure than the dunlops it came with. To not run with the Avon recommended presure but instead with the HD recommended pressures can result in lower tire performance and durability. Know the pressures and check them often.

 

I contacted Dunlop with this very question...................

Just for full disclosure I dont like nor run the recommended 36/40 PSI.

My email to them:

I have a 2009 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic. The manual and data tag on that bike states to run 36/40 front to rear PSI in the tires. However, I am running the American Elite (which I love by the way) 130/80/17 and the 180/65/16 on the rear. Your web site states 41/42 PSI front to rear. So my question is what's more accurate...........Your web site information or the Harley owner’s manual?

I live in the mountains of East Tennessee and typically ride two up. I will say that 36/40 does not give the best tire wear nor handling on these tires.

Thank You,

Their response to me:

Hi Jeff,

We appreciate your contact and for riding Dunlop.

We recommend the 36 psi front and 40 psi rear – cold inflation pressure. The 41/42 psi referenced on the website is the max inflation pressure and load capacity or the tire only and is not the recommended inflation pressure.

Ride Safe!

Regards,

Dave Johnson
Consumer Affairs, Motorcycle
Goodyear Dunlop Tires North America, Ltd.
200 Innovation Way, Akron, OH 44316

 

I run 40R & 36F and always start off on any trip by checking to make sure I'm OK. But my question is while out on a 10 day trip covering 3000 miles, how often do you check your tire pressure? Often times it's not convenient to check everyday.

 

I wouldn't check them on a trip like that unless I felt a need to. When only riding on the occasional day out I would check more often.

 

Filling your tires to the stated level on the sidewall is a fools game. In doing so you must have the utmost faith your tire gauge is correct and accurate which it is not. When was the last time you had your gauge calibrated to ANSI or NIST standards? Digital gauges are no better either, they are often out 5 lbs or more. Most gauges are punched out in China and you don't really think someone is actually taking the time to calibrate each one that rolls off the assembly line I hope. There is always a degree of error with any measuring instrument, the better instruments state the degree of error, and at which end of the scale it is. What documention came with your gauge? Food for thought.