Do I Need to Change My Tire Pressure or Suspension Settings When Installing BST Carbon Fiber Wheels?

For most road use, no changes are required.

You can maintain the same tire pressure and suspension settings that worked with your previous wheels—especially if your suspension was already dialed in.

However, due to the significant reduction in unsprung weight, especially on smaller bikes, there are a few important considerations:

Suspension Tuning Notes

• Lighter wheels reduce the load on the suspension, which may move the shock out of its optimal operating range.
• This can occasionally lead to chatter in fast corners, particularly on lightweight bikes like 125cc machines.
• To resolve this, you can:
  • Fine-tune your suspension settings (adjust preload, rebound, or compression damping).
  • Add weight to the swingarm to help bring suspension performance back into range while still enjoying the benefits of reduced rotating mass.

Why this happens:
The rear shock typically operates in the 5–10 Hz range, while the wheel responds around 30 Hz. A large reduction in rear wheel weight can create a mismatch in system frequency, which sometimes causes chatter. Added swingarm weight can help restore balance.

Tire Pressure Considerations

• Some riders, particularly on smaller displacement bikes, may choose to run slightly lower cold tire pressures.
• Carbon fiber wheels don’t transfer heat as effectively as metal, so reducing pressure can help:
  • Increase the contact patch
  • Improve grip
  • Compensate for lower heat buildup.

Note: Always monitor tire wear and handling behavior when making pressure changes, and adjust based on your riding conditions and feedback.