Tire ratings

[koko64]

I've cooked the Rosso II rear in 3000 miles and put on a Rosso III. The tyre was dried out via repeated heat cycles rather than worn tread. There was a susbstantial loss of grip and feel. It was probably a result of how I ride and the pressures I prefer. I prefer a stiffer tyre carcass with lower pressures, (probably should go back to Dunlops. ).

Imo the Rosso III feels like a developmental improvement again with more edge grip, feel and quicker warm up. I think it has a stiffer side wall and carcass which feels better to me. I guess technology marches on.

[Charlie98]

I've cooked the Rosso II rear in 3000 miles and put on a Rosso III. The tyre was dried out via repeated heat cycles rather than worn tread. There was a susbstantial loss of grip and feel. It was probably a result of how I ride and the pressures I prefer. I prefer a stiffer tyre carcass with lower pressures, (probably should go back to Dunlops. ).

Imo the Rosso III feels like a developmental improvement again with more edge grip, feel and quicker warm up. I think it has a stiffer side wall and carcass which feels better to me. I guess technology marches on.

That pretty much matches my experience.  Looking back at my maintenance log, I burnt up my first II in 2000mi, the second at 2600mi.  My III has been on for 2100mi, and it's still looking pretty good.  I put a III front on, finally, after 6600mi, just this past November... I have but 200mi on it, so far.  The III is definitely a better tire...

[koko64]

So its not just me then.
Good to know. Wasn't sure if I got a bad one or I was just not treating it right.

[koko64]

Consulting my tyre bloke, I reckon I will try a Supercorsa front SP and Rosso Corsa II on the rear next pair. He said that all the major tyre mfrs are making lighter construction tyres to reduce unsprung weight and rotating mass and that recommended tyre pressures have increased as a result.

However he said I can run the rear Rosso III as low as 32 psi to get it to work in the cold weather. At 32 psi the tyre still feels stable and takes awhile to warm up.

Maybe Dunlop are an exception.

[Charlie98]

I run my Rosso III at 37psi and it seems to work pretty well.  I run my R III front at 32psi, but don't necessarily like how it feels.

[koko64]

 The Pirelli site has the psi at 32/34 for the Monster with the Rosso range including the Rosso Corsa range. I'm running Pirelli tyres on all my bikes at present which run a premium of $100 more per pair over Dunlops down here. Current circumstances will see me switch to Dunlops for the Evo and Metzler Karoo Street for the scramblerfied M750. That will be close to a $200 saving across those bikes. I'll have to see what deal I can get for my track bike.
One characteristic of the Pirelli Rosso range is how quickly they steer. Tip in is so fast on that it's disconcerting and I have had to back off on the force of steering inputs. All said and done, the Aussie price structure will determine my future tyre choices

[Charlie98]

The Pirelli site has the psi at 32/34 for the Monster with the Rosso range including the Rosso Corsa range.

I don't think my Ohlins shock is set up right, so the back end feels squirrley.  I need to have the suspension set up properly before I get all excited about micromanaging my tire pressure.

[ducpainter]

I don't think my Ohlins shock is set up right, so the back end feels squirrley.  I need to have the suspension set up properly before I get all excited about micromanaging my tire pressure.

Using factory recommended pressures is micro-managing...how?

Lower pressure, meaning the correct setting, will improve the feel.

[Charlie98]

When I had the stock Sachs shock on it, at 46-47psi it felt very, very stable... and I had experimented with different pressures a bit.  Once I put the Ohlins on it, it hasn't felt right since, and I've even adjusted it some to try to find a good setting, but I just don't know enough about suspension setup.  There is a guy here in Dallas that will come to you and help you set your suspension... I'll be giving him a call after the 1st of the Year.

[ducpainter]

When I had the stock Sachs shock on it, at 46-47psi it felt very, very stable... and I had experimented with different pressures a bit.  Once I put the Ohlins on it, it hasn't felt right since, and I've even adjusted it some to try to find a good setting, but I just don't know enough about suspension setup.  There is a guy here in Dallas that will come to you and help you set your suspension... I'll be giving him a call after the 1st of the Year.

46-47 lbs cold is likely over the maximum inflation pressure stated by Pirelli. That is bad regardless how it makes your bike feel. That info is on the sidewall. You don't have to believe me, but correct tire pressure is the first step to suspension set up. What happens to the motogp guys when their tire pressure rises because they're following someone?

Open your manual, and set the pressures as recommended by Ducati, or Pirelli if you don't believe Ducati, as a starting point. Is that necessarily the best pressure for you? Maybe not.

This video...

will help you decide what's best for you, and I think Dave has the creds for a person to listen.

[koko64]

https://www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-ww/motorcycle/all-tyres/fitment/ducati/monster-1100-evo-2010

Hope this helps.

[Charlie98]

This discussion brings to mind an article I read many years ago in one of the cycle rags...

This guy went to a motorcycle race, to where all the spectator bikes were parked.  He surveyed the tire conditions and even took some pressure readings.  I don't remember the numbers, but it was a staggering amount of tires that were either a) unserviceable, some even into the threads, and/or b) under or over inflated.  It was a very interesting article.

I'll have to review my pressure sets... maybe I'm wrong on my rear pressure, but that's what I have written down on my cheat sheet.

[koko64]

I regularly get customer bikes with 20-25 psi .

[Charlie98]

...and right now, as we enter Winter, most riders don't know they have to change the air in their tires from Summer air to Winter air, or risk serious tread wear issues.   

[koko64]

Ah, that summer air...