street tire pressure for dot knobbies?

[shooom]

what tire pressure should I be using on my dot knobs for street use? I have 15psi front and rear now, didn't feel too bad. I usually run 10 in the dirt with my uhd bridgestone tubes, less in the rear if it's gonna be messy. I have a pirelli trials rear if that makes a difference.
thanks for any help!

[crofrog]

what tire pressure should I be using on my dot knobs for street use? I have 15psi front and rear now, didn't feel too bad. I usually run 10 in the dirt with my uhd bridgestone tubes, less in the rear if it's gonna be messy. I have a pirelli trials rear if that makes a difference.
thanks for any help!

upper 20's lower 30's

[Bucho]

I don't think you need to go any higher then low 20's.

[delusion39]

I'd start with 18/20 and see how things feel. I rarely go much higher than that, but I also rarely go out with knobbies on a pure street ride. If your gona run pure slab at sustained speeds above say 50mph, you might need higher pressures to keep the tires/tubes from getting too hot.

Shaun

[mdubya]

I don't think you need to go any higher then low 20's.

Agreed. Suzuki recommends 18 front/22 rear for the DRZ S model. For tarmac only, that works fine. For 50/50 dual sporting I have run 15/15 in my EXC. I have heard others using 20/20.

[shooom]

thanks for the replies. I'll bump it up to 20 and see how it feels. I just didn't want to over inflate my tubes.

[Rut Row]

I guess I've been doing it wrong. I've been running 15/15 dirt or pavement.

[mdubya]

I guess I've been doing it wrong. I've been running 15/15 dirt or pavement.

For 50/50 dual sporting I have run 15/15 in my EXC.

[Laoch]

OK. Technical info. Why do DOT knobs (tires not people) run at a lower pressure for pavement usage?
I would think it's based on weight and "feel". Along with pavement type and riding style.

Enlighten me

[mdubya]

OK. Technical info. Why do DOT knobs (tires not people) run at a lower pressure for pavement usage?
I would think it's based on weight and "feel". Along with pavement type and riding style.

Enlighten me

Lower pressures than what? My DRZ S (street model) came with Bridgestone Trail Wings (basically street tires) and the factory recommended pressures were 18F/22R. When I went to DOT knobbies, bias ply, and in similar sizes to the stock tires, I stuck with the same pressures on the road. I typically ran 12/14 or 14/14 for all dirt. I would assume for bikes weighing under 350lbs, low to mid 20's is all the air they need to work properly. That doesn't stop folks from inflating them to the max allowable pressure on the side wall of the tires, or from running the 32-36 PSI recommended for their 800 lbs cruiser or 500 lbs ST bike.