Sunday 28 December 2008

Yamaha YZF R1: The right tire air pressure

On the 2005 Yamaha R1 one can find the label on the swing arm with the suggested tire air pressures for front and rear wheel. If that label is no longer there, you can look in your owner's manual. Anyway, my label and owner's manual read:

Tire air pressure (measured on cold tires):

Loading condition:
0–90 kg (0–198 lb)
Front:
250 kPa (36 psi) (2.50 kgf/cm²)
Rear:
290 kPa (42 psi) (2.90 kgf/cm²)

Loading condition:
90–202 kg (198–445 lb)
Front:
250 kPa (36 psi) (2.50 kgf/cm²)
Rear:
290 kPa (42 psi) (2.90 kgf/cm²)

High-speed riding:
Front:
250 kPa (36 psi) (2.50 kgf/cm²)
Rear:
290 kPa (42 psi) (2.90 kgf/cm²)

The above list looks very elaborated however at first I thought there was a printing mistake. They do list 3 possible tire air pressure combination; weight of the driver and riding style, but the advised tire air pressure in all three is the same..... 36psi in front tire and 42psi in rear tire.

After searching around I see that different people (light weight or heavy weight people) have different opinions and preferences. It looks like the truly best tire air pressure is 36psi in front and also 36psi in rear tire. This off course would be for street set up (commuting) maybe on the track you would set your rear tire on a higher pressure however this would mean less traction. This is one you have to experiment with. Give me some feedback what your best numbers are.

7 comments:

  1. On my 1998 R1 I use 36psi front and 38psi rear, I think that the recommended 42 is too hard for road riding.

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  2. a lower rear pressure should be used on the track as the rear tyre heats up more than the front under power

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  3. This is the right thing because, the recommended air pressure is always the "minimum" air pressure that is recommended for the tyres for that load. Cheap Tyres

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  4. Hey does anyone have a fairing kit for a 99 R1 they are looking to get rid of?

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  5. I would try 30-32 rear 28 front more tire mass on the road ..better .traction

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  6. I ride pirelli corsa soft compounds on my O5 R1 for daily work commuting,i usually keep them 36 - 42 psi in aid of saving thread.yes the harder the pump the less traction but for everyday riding it's a ideal way of saving thread as I don't need hi grip/soft tyres for commuting purposes.

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  7. yamaha R1 tyre pressure
    120/200 ???

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