My CB500 has had various tires on its rims. For the tires fitted by Honda as standard, the Owner's Manual recommended the following tire pressures for solo riding:
front: 1.8 bar
rear: 2.0 bar
For both the Continental RB2/K112 and the TK22/44 combinations, the dealer had recommended me the following pressures:
front: 2.5 bar
rear: 2.8 bar
The same was recommended for the Bridgestone BT45 combination that I have now.
A month ago, I took my first ride of the season. Naturally, the tire pressure had dropped somewhat over the winter, but unlike in previous years, I didn't increase it. During the ride, I noticed that the slight, not dangerous unrest I had experienced for years at speeds between 60 and 100 km/h, had practically disappeared, and the ride comfort had improved significantly.
I'd like to know why Continental and Bridgestone deviate from the tire pressures Honda recommended back then. The only tire manufacturer whose recommended pressure is close to Honda's, is Metzeler, with the following values:
Front tire: 2.0 bar
Rear tire: 2.5 bar
These values match what Honda recommended back then, albeit for riding with a passenger. Although I'm currently still using Bridgestone tires, I'll ride with this lower pressure for now and I am considering replacing them with Metzeler tires later.
What do you think?