overinflating tires? : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

ratrider · 10-01-2003, 10:48 AM

Checked tire pressure recently and they were down a couple so rather than drag compressor out I went to gas station with electric pump and the pressure window in the hose. Took a long time to add 2-4 pounds. Another biker pulls in so I borrow his guage to recheck. Rear tire had 80+ pounds in it . Station guage said 36. Has anyone experienced problems from overinflating original Dunlops to this degree for only a few minutes?

03fxst · 10-01-2003, 09:04 PM

It should not be a problem. Just consider yourself lucky that the tire didn't blow off the rim and try and bite you. The problem with overinflating tires, is that as you ride, the tires heat up. As the tires heat up, the air inside the tires heats up. Heated air is denser, which will raise the pressure even more. If your tire should have 36lb in it, and you put 40lb in it, once the air heats up, it probably will have 45lb in it. That is too much pressure for the tire, and the tire can fail. But just adding too much pressure, which you corrected before you rode, shouldn't have damaged the tire.

Don

stevenslow · 10-02-2003, 02:12 PM

Instead of dragging the compressor around whyt don't you get a bicycle pump? Only takes a few pumps to bring tire pressure up to where they should be. As long as it's not flat! Quick and easy!

BHBandit · 10-03-2003, 07:29 PM

All tire pressures should be checked COLD.

Halffast · 10-06-2003, 11:31 AM

I agree with Bandit. Also, you won't hurt the tire by over inflating it. Just don't ride it that way. Are you wondering if you hurt the tire? Chances are, probably not. When new tires are mounted, often they are over inflated to get them to seat on the bead properly. Then the excess is bled off.

58GT · 10-08-2003, 03:23 AM

I think what you've found is that forecourt pressure guages are total crap. You can go into 4 places and get 4 totally different readings.

Answer: get your own guage and always check the forecourt ones with yours. It may not be 100% accurate but at least it will be consistent.

Hey Stevenslow can you really pump motorcycle tyres up with a bicycle pump? I've never tried that but it would save a lot of aggro. I can never get the forecourt nozzles onto my front valve.

Mr Ed (FXDWG02) · 10-09-2003, 04:09 PM

58GT

I am anal about the air pressure in the tires. EVERY time before I leave the house I check the air pressure and if it is down I use an old hand air pump and have not had any issues. 13k on the orginal and need looks like I need new ones.