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tires help make you go.
they help make you stop.
rumor has it, they even pitch in when you're in the corners, and do somethat good.

in addition to all those nice attributes, tires perform an even more important function by being the front line of your suspension system. they're always the first to get there, the first to react and the only factor that decides how much energy is passed to the "rest" of the suspension.

get a great air pressure gauge. become exceptionally anal about tire pressures. keep a log. always approach tires as though they were tires, but more importantly, part of the bike's suspension.

in nascar, a one pound change in tire pressure is the equivalent of a 60 pound change in spring rate.
not sure how all that translates to bikes, but it's easy to experience: jack up the tires to the max, go ride a little while.
traction will be on par with the Barbie Malibu Corvette.

bleed the tires down to the middle, ride some more, notice you're not playing slip & slide anymore, the ride is smoother, the feel is more confident.

then run them down to "too low". bike gets squirmy, sluggish, vague. tip-toe your way back to compressed air.

that's phase 1.
phase 2 is learning how to separate front and rear pressures in your head, and discovering how they effect the bike.
if you get to phase 2, you're better than most.

phase 3 and up is all about sidewall flex, different brands, compounds, tire profile, etc...things most of us don't understand, feel, notice or know about.


screw the stickers. nose-thumb the manual.
play with the pressures. feel the feel. you'll get the hang of it.