no it's not just you. You are definitely right. I always run lower pressures. I ran 28 for 3000 miles and then went up to 36 in the rear Q2 to try to stretch it a bit longer and could tell a definite difference-rougher ride. I'm removing them now at 4000 miles to put on Power Pures.

The sidewall pressure is weight related, like 42lbs @ 800 lbs for the rear. Some riders don't understand or don't give a **** that tires are on a continuum with the suspension and therefore affect handling and traction and that's why I like 28-32 rear cold, 28-30 front(dependent on the weather). If I haul a passenger, stiffen the shock and run higher pressures, but still not max.

 

Not sure if you read this in the other thread I put it in but this is how i was taught to set cold tire pressure:

I have always been taught that you want to look for a 10% increase in pressure from cold to hot. So if you start with 30 psi you want to end up with 33 psi hot, as an example. If you have more than a 10% increase in pressure, you are running too low of a cold pressure and are over heating the tires. If you get a less than 10% increase, the tires are over inflated and you loose traction and compliance as they never come all the way up to temp. But as always YMMV.

 

Honda's recommended air pressure is also printed on the same sticker as the VIN number on the frame right up close to the forks, if you get to the gas station and forget what it's supposed to be

Jim

 

Good info 8541Hawk. I saw your other post. I found this out through experimentation as I ride the same roads repetitively and checked pressures cold and hot. I also learned what those pressures feel like by frequently pushing down firmly on the center of the tires. My front does well with 28psi, probably because it's narrower and therefore more rigid and firm. Checking hot/cold, feeling/pushing down, and then riding the same roads helps me control some of the variables. Not perfect, but seems to work for me.

My tire preferences are for traction, handling, suspension/compliance aspects, lightness, comfort and finally wear. If you run max pressures in you car, van, truck, other and are not close to the weight limits for those tires, and then reduce those pressures proportionally, there will be stark differences in road feel comfort, traction, handling and stopping distance. An extreme example would be a jeep with big tires which will ride like a stone wagon with max tire pressures.

I don't know how many more miles the Q2 rear could achieve if pressures were kept 36 frnt/42 rear which as you reported translates to approx 40 frnt/46 rear, but unless I was hauling someone or loaded to weight limits, i'll probably never find out cause i don't like the way it feels when I increase pressures.

Something a little different. I removed the warn Q2 rear last night(4000miles and down to threads) and noticed how very light it felt. So I weighed it and was surprised at how much weight it lost. Started out at 14.8lbs. and weighed just 11lbs when removed. I couldn't believe that it shed 3.8lbs.

 

first ride on the power pures. Ambient temp 70 deg., 80 miles. 34psi cold rear warmed to 37; 30 front became 33psi warm. Hotter days like 90 deg, i'll start with 30-32 rear and 28front. These tires rock.