<ALL> Another method to determine tire pressure?

["James Donohoe" <James.Donohoe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

While picking up my motorcycle from the dealer the other day, I had a chance
to talk with the head wrench. The talk quickly turned to Auto-X and his
racing of bikes, yadda-yadda, etc., eventually leading to my question to
him:

What's the best way to determine optimum tire pressure on a bike? When we
Auto-X, a container of white liquid shoe for window numbers is what we
usually squirt on the edges of the tires to see how far we are rubbing and
increase/decrease pressure as necessary. Since you can't do that on a bike,
what DO you do? His solution was to set the pressure per manufacturer's
specs, take it out and ride hard, immediately stop and check pressure. It
should go up 10% from where you set it. If it goes up less than 10%, your
pressure is too high and greater than 10%, your pressure is too low. The
heat is generated by the tire rubbing against the rim so if the pressure is
too low then your tire is sliding all over the rim.

My question to the digest is: Can this be applied to our cars? Or at least
something similar? It seems like a very elegant and much more precise method
than liquid shoe polish.

E34-M5 My ride
E36-M3 Wife's ride-was mine until the wife stole it :(
E28-535i Airport ride
YZF600 Fun ride-until the wife steals it ;-)

James Donohoe, Field Support Engineer
650.244.7706 // james.donohoe@domain.elided
"He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my
contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake. For him the spinal
cord alone would fully suffice."
- - Albert Einstein -

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