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Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2012 and older => Topic started by: manlytom on December 07, 2011, 04:44:17 AM

Title: whats your expierence with tires and tire pressure - Zero S 2011 ?
Post by: manlytom on December 07, 2011, 04:44:17 AM

As i have moved up from the Zero S 2010 to the Zero S 2011 I found that the bike has now very decent tires. Brigdestone Battlax 45s - 17". Believe the 2012 model has these as well.
So far my experience is great, much better cornering not this dipping into the corners the 2010 has. What I haven't worked out is the right tire pressure ... As it came delivered from the stealer I found that after a few days the pressure seemed very low. And indeed it was somewhere in the range of 23 front and 27 rear PSI. Since then I changed it to be at 36 PSI. The right got much better and stable - just at full speed the front feels a bit hard - might lower that.

Btw. Zero did not include the 2011 manual and has not replied on sending it through to me so far. So I am going what the dealer things -and this is their first 2011 sold (yes OZ is a bit behind....)

cheers
Thomas

Title: Re: whats your expierence with tires and tire pressure - Zero S 2011 ?
Post by: zap mc on December 07, 2011, 04:51:11 AM

i remember the 2010 being 32 psi but i dont know what the 2011 is
certainly 23 is way low and more worryingly it should have been checked and adjusted at the PDI
doesnt sound like the "dealer" has really checked it at all :o
i would go over every nut and bolt with a torque wrench just in case

Title: Re: whats your expierence with tires and tire pressure - Zero S 2011 ?
Post by: gasdive on December 07, 2011, 05:52:12 AM

Quote from: zap mc on December 07, 2011, 04:51:11 AM

doesnt sound like the "dealer" has really checked it at all :o

When I picked up my 2010 they didn't even know where to plug it in when I asked.  The plug tucks away quite neatly and five of them searched the bike for about 2 minutes before they found it.

=:)

Title: Re: whats your expierence with tires and tire pressure - Zero S 2011 ?
Post by: zap mc on December 07, 2011, 05:02:18 PM

part of being a dealer is to prep[are the bike for the customer so it is safe and also show them how to use it.
Zero supplies paperwork that the dealer must fill in that logs the torque checks on the bike and other things.
If anything goes wrong with it Zero could just wash their hands of you as a customer because the correct procedures have not been followed and more importantly your bike could be unsafe. We have already seen that the tyres were underinflated by 28% which could be a contributory factor in an accident. You need to take it back and insist that they PDi it correctly.

Title: Re: whats your expierence with tires and tire pressure - Zero S 2011 ?
Post by: manlytom on December 08, 2011, 02:08:45 PM

Hi all
I might be misunderstood. Let's assume the dealer did all well. After a while riding the tyre pressure changes. What I need to know is due to lack of a manual is the recommended tyre pressures. got only the manual from my 2010 S - obviously different tyres.
The dealer/Zero are a bit slow supplying the missing manual.
So if anyone with 2011 and Bridgestone Battlax 45 tyres might be able to look it up. So far I found I am alright around the 36psi area.

cheers
T

Title: Re: whats your expierence with tires and tire pressure - Zero S 2011 ?
Post by: zap mc on December 09, 2011, 04:25:29 PM

the bike is shipped with a PDi form and a manual :-\

Title: Re: whats your expierence with tires and tire pressure - Zero S 2011 ?
Post by: d1morgj0 on December 09, 2011, 06:46:34 PM

Bridgestone Art. #  Tire Size  Rim Size  Tire Description  OE Code  Load Rating  Speed Rating  O/A Dia  Tread Width  Tread Depth (32's)  Approved Rim  Max Load  Max PSI  O.E.  066095  110/70-17M/C  17  BT45F BW TL  -  54H  H  23.2  4.2  6  (3.00)2.50 - 3.50  467  41  Kawasaki Ninja 250R 2008  052726  110/70-17M/C  17  BT45F BW TL  G  54H  H  23.2  4.2  5  (3.00)3.00 - 3.50  467  41  Suzuki GS500F 2004 - 2008  084948  110/80-17M/C  17  BT45F BW TL  -  57V  V  23.9  4.2  6  (2.50)2.50 - 3.00  507  43  -  066109  120/70-17M/C  17  BT45F BW TL  -  58H  H  23.8  4.8  6  (3.50)2.75 - 3.75  520  41  -

Title: Re: whats your expierence with tires and tire pressure - Zero S 2011 ?
Post by: Richard230 on December 09, 2011, 09:52:58 PM

I don't have a Zero, but it it helps any, my 420 pound Suzuki SV650 with its tubeless tires, specifies 33 pounds in the front tire and 36 pounds in the rear tire for both solo and two-up riding. I might add that motorcycles using tubes in their tires (as I think the Zero does) can usually use a lower pressure than tubeless tires, plus I believe that the Zero weighs at least 100 pounds less than the Suzuki.  If I had to take a guess, I would say that the correct tire pressure for the Zero would be somewhere around 28 pounds in the front tire and 32 pounds in the rear tire.

However, Zero may specify a higher pressure than required for the load weight and best handling in order to reduce the bike's rolling resistance.

Title: Re: whats your expierence with tires and tire pressure - Zero S 2011 ?
Post by: RickSteeb on December 11, 2011, 06:57:11 AM

Quote from: manlytom on December 07, 2011, 04:44:17 AM

As i have moved up from the Zero S 2010 to the Zero S 2011 I found that the bike has now very decent tires. Brigdestone Battlax 45s - 17". Believe the 2012 model has these as well.
So far my experience is great, much better cornering not this dipping into the corners the 2010 has. What I haven't worked out is the right tire pressure ... As it came delivered from the stealer I found that after a few days the pressure seemed very low. And indeed it was somewhere in the range of 23 front and 27 rear PSI. Since then I changed it to be at 36 PSI. The right got much better and stable - just at full speed the front feels a bit hard - might lower that.

Btw. Zero did not include the 2011 manual and has not replied on sending it through to me so far. So I am going what the dealer things -and this is their first 2011 sold (yes OZ is a bit behind....)

cheers
Thomas

I'm looking at the 2011 manual, [pg 5-9] which specifies 32PSI front and 35PSI rear. 

Title: Re: whats your expierence with tires and tire pressure - Zero S 2011 ?
Post by: manlytom on December 12, 2011, 04:19:45 AM

Quote from: RickSteeb on December 11, 2011, 06:57:11 AM

I'm looking at the 2011 manual, [pg 5-9] which specifies 32PSI front and 35PSI rear. 

 :) Great - thanks a lot - so I am not to far off. Just hope to get that manual eventually myself as well. I have been riding the front/rear with 36PSI and found front hard on suspension and when going faster not to smooth either - so 32PSI should fix that.

have a good day
Tom

Title: Re: whats your expierence with tires and tire pressure - Zero S 2011 ?
Post by: Daveruns on December 14, 2011, 01:40:45 AM

I have the 2011 S and I try to keep both tires at 32. I find that it really helps with range to keep them pretty close to that level. If the pressure drops much below 30, then the range starts to drop off.  Also, I check them every week and they seem to lose a couple of PSI each week and need to be topped off. My daily commute is right at the limits, so I need to pay close attention to all the little tricks to make sure that I get home at night.

Title: Re: whats your expierence with tires and tire pressure - Zero S 2011 ?
Post by: manlytom on December 14, 2011, 04:33:08 AM

Hi thx Dave. thought that as well that the Bridgestones seem to loose a couple of PSI ea week - so we have all the fun rocking up at the petrol station and just do the air ....

my commute is only 30kms so charge is still around 4 to 6 bars depening on how I ride / how the traffic lights play.

T