Tyre pressure - do yours loose pressure often?

[iceman]

Just curious really, having not checked my tyre pressures in 5 months of riding and just relying on giving them a 'feel' every now to check they still feel firm - for those that do check every now and then, do you find they go down and need some air every few weeks or so, or generally seem to hold the air well? I'd imagine it depends on how good the valve and seal is as much as anything else.

I'm thinking of buying a tyre pump rather than rely on the ones at petrol stations, and it would come in useful if I buy my own City grips and change them myself (dem0nk1d just put up a great DIY method of getting tyre's off with no tools!).

[kramnala58]

I need to add 2 or 3 pounds every 4 to 6 weeks. If I leave it longer than that I find that handling is dramatically changed.

[WhiteNoise]

I check my 2015 stock tires every 2-3 weeks. The rear tire always seems to hold air longer than the front tire. About twice as long. Same was true when I had the 2011. I'll add maybe 1 or 2lbs. to the front, and then nothing to the rear...till the next check, at which time I may add a pound.
Is that because of the difference in tire size?

[ScooterMan]

I have found mine losing some air. After a month or two, somethinglike 6 lbs maybe? Anyway, thx for the reminder. Topped them off a few weeks ago, but would be a good idea to check again. I un 34front, 38rear psi.

[SECoda]

Hmmm. Better check mine.

[kramnala58]

Air temperature makes a difference as well. You will likely notice a difference in air pressure between July/Aug temps and April or October temps

[SECoda]

Yes on air temp - mine were both low about 6 lbs.

[gn2]

Did 18,000 miles in three years on my PCX, never once checked the front tyre in all that time, only checked the rear when it got changed.
Forza has 13,000 miles on, front never checked, rear changed at 7,400 miles, never checked it either.
To the people adding a few psi every time they check pressures, all you are doing is putting back the air you let out when you did the check.....

[SECoda]

That is true. If no leaks the pressure will rise and fall from summer to winter. If the range is close enough I would leave it be. I will now have to take some air out next summer as it goes up by what I added. It appears that range may be 6+ lbs or so since it gets a little colder here in January. If say the front varies from 30 to 36 psi is that acceptable all year round?

[AustinPCX]

I only check when installing a new tire.

[iceman]

36psi up front from cold is a bit much as they rate 29psi - probably do no harm but mean less grip than usual as less tire on the road?

[iceman]

Went to a petrol station yesterday and their air pump was out of service - but borrowed a friends portable pressure tester at work this morning and with cold tyres front measured 28 (should be 29 so ok-ish) and rear measured 27 (twice) and should be 33!, so definitely need to get air in the rear tyre and a bit in the front. The pressure tested is rated highly accurate, so rear is way too low.

[kramnala58]

To the people adding a few psi every time they check pressures, all you are doing is putting back the air you let out when you did the check.....

Somehow I don't think that is the case. 1) The longer I leave my tires without checking them, the lower the pressure is. But it is certainly not low enough to say that I have a "leak". It is only down 2 or 3 pounds every four to six weeks. 2) If all I am doing is putting back the pressure I let out when I check them, then each time I check them they should reduce in pressure by about the same amount, but that's not the case. If I do multiple checks they only reduce by about a ¼ to ½ a pound each time (I use a digital gauge), whereas when I leave it for four to six weeks, they are 2 or 3 pounds lower.

[Alibally]

http://www.tirereview.com/why-do-tires-lose-air/

Word of the day. Osmosis.

[gn2]

Sounds like a prog-rock band formed by some of the Osmond brothers after Donny left...?.

[DAB]

Some alloy wheels can be porous. This is not unknown with car wheels and can be fixed by a wheel specialist.

[jpfvita]

mine loses abit over time i thought everyones did

[iceman]

You may lose more going at high speed rather than in-town speeds. I've had my old car sorned (off-road no longer used) for about 18 months now and the tyres are still looking fully inflated, yet when I used it for commuting I had to top-up the air in several tyres every few months.

[JLP]

I need to add a few pounds every few months.

[frog13]

Check the Schrader valves for "tightness" or lack there of .