While many riders choose to ride their dirt motorcycles with tires that “feel good,” running the proper tire pressure may make a surprising impact. Additionally, when just a few pounds of pressure are lost, dirt bike tires aren’t made to be as safe as they should be.
What is the recommended tire pressure for dirt motorcycles, then? As a general rule, the typical pressure for dirt bike tires is 12 psi. The bike won’t be as safe to handle as well if you’re off by a few pounds. But you may use most tires with pressures ranging from 8 to 16 psi.
If you are down or up a few pounds of pressure in a car tire that needs between 30 and 40 psi, you really aren’t running a significant danger. Because you won’t be seriously injured by 33 psi or 37 psi on car tires rated at 35 psi.
But with a dirt bike tire, a couple of more pounds of pressure can make a big difference.
Table of Contents
What Tire Pressure for a Dirt Bike Is Recommended?
As previously stated, the vast majority of dirt bike tires available today are made to be inflated between 11 and 13 psi.
This is crucial whether you’re riding your dirt bike on a flat track or on paved surfaces, which is especially true if you intend to ride it off-road.
In off-road riding, the greater pressure is more concerned with preventing flats than it is with overall speed. In comparison to a soft tire, a tougher tire is much more resistant to damage and flats. In the same circumstance, a softer tire (8 psi, for instance) may be more prone to punctures than a firmer tire.
The terrain you’ll be traveling on should be taken into consideration while setting the tire pressure for dirt bike tires. This will determine whether you can actually connect with someone or not.
What Tire Pressure Is Recommended for Hard Surfaces on a Dirt Bike?
Riders on flat and hard surfaces frequently increase the front tire pressure to 13 to 14 psi.
Just keep in mind that if you are driving along a flat track and the weather is hot, your tire pressure may increase.
What Tire Pressure Is Recommended for Trails on a Dirt Bike?
This one becomes complex. But once more, it really just depends on the kind of terrain that the majority of the trails will be traversed.
The time of year is a significant deciding element as well.
Generally speaking, I advise using 12 psi as a starting point, and then you can increase it. This should cover the essentials, and while you ride, you can get a sense of how the bike handles.
What Tire Pressure Is Recommended for Soft Terrain and Sand on a Dirt Bike?
Dropping your front tire to 11 psi and your rear tire to 11 or 12 psi isn’t a bad idea if you’re running on sand or other soft tracks or terrain.
Contrary to your expectations, you will hook up (front and rear) far better.
What Is The Best Setup For Trial Bikes?
Trial tires can occasionally have their air pressure adjusted all the way down to just 5 or 6 psi. It’s vital to keep in mind, though, that these tires are quite literally the ONLY ones available for off-road use that are made to be run this low.
It’s also crucial to keep in mind that for these trial tires to function properly, they must be mounted on tubeless trial-style rims.
If you attempt to maintain 5 to 6 psi without the proper wheel and tire setup, you will suffer greatly.
What Pressure Needs To Be For Slower And What For Faster Ridding?
If you want to increase your grip, you can run tires with heavy-duty inner tubes a little flatter and softer. Make sure, though, that you keep your speeds a little slower.
Additionally, you shouldn’t attempt to run excessively hard and quickly on heavy tubes that have only been filled to a pressure of 8 to 10 psi.
The best use of pressure ratings between 15 and 16 psi is really restricted to enduro and FIM and DOT-approved knobby tires.
Only tires made exclusively for on-road use should be utilized with pressures more than 16 psi. On dual-sport bikes, the kind of tires that are going to be utilized on and off-road will often be.
How to Measure Tire Air Pressure?
You should check the pressure in your tires on a regular basis. You should immediately check the tire pressure on your dirt bike before you start riding.
When you are filling up or preheating your dirt bike, it is a good idea to quickly check your tire pressure.
You should check your tire pressure to see if it is appropriate for the bike’s tires, the weather, and the terrain you will soon be riding on.
It is simple to do this and there are many tools available. Here’s a stylish one that I like.
It’s a good idea to let the air out if you are a touch high (very warm temps may crank things up faster than you might imagine), and it’s not a bad idea to pump things up if you are a little low.
Note: Fill Your Tires With the Correct Pump
If you do need to add a little extra air to your tires, it’s crucial to guarantee that you have complete control over the pressure.
When you need to fill up huge, auto tires to 30 or 40 psi, many tire pumps on the market are excellent, but they may be a bit excessive for a task like changing a dirt bike tire.
However, you don’t have to spend a fortune on a high-end tire pump designed for dirt motorcycles in order to achieve fantastic results.
Believe it or not, your standard hand and bicycle pumps (I use one similar to this) will perform just as well as those much more expensive options while giving you a quick, efficient, and fully adjustable instrument that allows you to precisely adjust pressure levels.
Tire Pressure Influencing Factors
- Weight of the rider
- Rider’s desire for tire protection
- Tire type selected
- Landscape
Improper Tire Pressure’s Consequences
Your recommended tire pressure will vary depending on the terrain you’re riding on, the riding circumstances, and obviously the type of tire you have installed.
Note: For proper tire inflation, see the tire’s service specifications and your bike’s owner manual.
Over Inflation:
- decreases traction on the riding surfaces
- decreases tire contact with the surface
Under Inflation:
- determines how much of the tire’s tread is in contact with the ground, causing the tire to bow up in the middle and leaving the tire’s outside edges in contact with the surface.
- can result in the tire not remaining beaded on the rims
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Changing Tire Pressure
Even tiny changes in tire pressure have an impact. It may seem compulsive to modify the tire pressure one psi up or down and anticipate much of an effect. If you give it some thought, a 2 psi difference is equivalent to a 20% variation in tire pressure.
Advantages of Lowering Tire Pressure:
- Excellent for lightweight riders who put less pressure on the tires
- Excellent on muddy, crumbly rock, or soft clay sceneries. I’d lower the pressure to 9 psi if you’re riding largely on sand
- Great for riding on designated MX tracks where you know there won’t be any unexpected obstacles like boulders or tree roots as when riding off-road
- Improved traction
Advantages of Increasing Tire Pressure:
- Excellent for bigger motorcyclists who require more padding
- Bigger speed
- Better for transporting greater loads or larger riders.
- Preserves the tire and rim against collisions with stones or other heavy items. If you ride in Moab or other places where you may frequently encounter jagged, hard rocks and tree roots while off-roading, then increase the pressure to 15 psi.
Conclusion
Because every rider is unique, it may take some experimentation to determine the ideal tire pressure for you. begin at 12 psi and adjust up or down from there.
Try out a few different approaches until you find what works best for you.
Just keep in mind that lower tire pressure results in better traction but increases the risk of a puncture, while higher tire pressure decreases traction and can result in excessive wear but decreases the risk of a puncture.