BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

Hi

New to posting on the forum (have been stalking for a while!) I have just fitted Bridgestone T32GTs to my 2008 R1200RT and they feel really unstable at speed; wandering and threatening a tank slapper. I was solo with about 5 kilos in the top-box and empty panniers on the M4 in a cross wind and it was frankly scary! 200 mile round trip so they should be scrubbed in by now - or at least the middles should be as I didnt dare move from the vertical!

I'm running 36/42 PSI as I did on my previous Road Pilot 4s which felt fine until the tread was low. I have cycled through the different electronic suspension settings without making much difference (slightly worse on soft).

Before I take her out on more varied roads, I wondered if anyone has had a similar experience and if these slightly reinforced versions need different tyre pressures? I'm tempted to drop them back to the 32/36 of the OEMs on earlier models, but having picked up the bike with low pressures a few months back that was hideous too so thought I would ask first....

Many Thanks

Mike

That shouldn't be happening regardless of the tires. You might check to see that the axle and spacer are assembled properly.

Have you fitted the heavy-duty or "A" rated at the front? My '07 didn't like Metz Roadtec 01 normal ones at the front. It felt like it dropped into every corner like i had a flat.
Have you fitted them the wrong way? Easy done

I bought heavy duty spec and had them fitted by the guy who services the bike and who I trust. I dropped the pressures to 32/36 psi and took her for a trip along the motorway and seems much better at speed even on a gusty day (head/tail wind) with no loss of low speed handling.

Need to check the profile to make sure they will wear naturally and gradually increase pressures if necessary to find the optimum. But for now dropping the pressures seems to have worked based on a 10 mile trip at 70ish.

32/36 is way too low. Could there be a fault with the tyres? You can get some that fell through QC. Get the garage that supplied them to check them

New tires often feel "squirmy." You've gotten used to the squared off profile of your old, worn tires that required effort to get off vertical. Now you have tires that require almost no effort to get off vertical. I'd give a few more miles and see if you get used to the way the new tires feel.

32/36 psi is correct for solo riding.

My H/B states 36/42 solo

My handbook says 32/36 psi for solo riding.

Perhaps as my bike is older?

Front pressure. 2.2 one-up, tyre cold
2.5 two-up and/or with luggage, tyre cold
Rear pressure. 2.5 one-up tyre cold
2.9 two-up and/or with luggage, tire cold

I always run 2.5 front 2.9 rear regardless of pillion or luggage. No issues so far.

Perhaps my conversion from bar to psi is off. I found that my fat ass with 36/42 suited me.

Doctor T wrote: Mon Jan 19, 2026 11:40 am Perhaps my conversion from bar to psi is off. I found that my fat ass with 36/42 suited me.

No, your about right on conversion of 2.5 bar and 2.9 bar