Tire Pressure Question

[knucklebuste]

Question, is it better to run a lower pressure or higher pressure. I have WTB Weirwolve 2.5's on my bike and I think it says 35-65, does that sound right? I've been running it at 45 and that seems very hard. Is there any advantages of running low pressure vs. high pressure and what is considered low pressure vs. high pressure? Any help is appreciated. Knuckle

[SloMoJo]

Hey Kev,
I have had the most luck around 42 all spring and summer. I have started running higher (47) last month and I'm finding my tire flat then next day more often than usual. I plan to drop it back down next ride.

May depend on your tire as well. I run Wilderness tires.

One disadvantage to running higher pressures is that your tires will be just a bit bigger. It does'nt bother most riders, but you will need to think about additional cost for Armorall.

[MtnBikerChk]

Lower pressure: more comfortable ride, more of a chance of pinch flat'ing.

The key is to run it as low as you can without pinchflat'ing.

[I Are Baboon]

Lower pressure: more comfortable ride, more of a chance of pinch flat'ing.


And better tire grip.

[knucklebuste]

Question, if you run a lower pressure, isn't it harder to pedal? Also what would you consider the lowest tire pressure for a say 2.5in tire and what is an average pressure?


Thanks for all the help
Shinsplint

[gungywump]

Chuckles,
A variety of factors determine the best tire pressure for you.
Your weight and riding style are most important. Next weather conditions and the trail your riding come into play.
Obviously if your heavy you need more tire pressure. I weigh about 185 and my baseline tire pressure is 40lbs. I'm a fairly smooth rider and don't slam into rocks and logs as hard as some people I've riden with so I can get away with a relatively low pressure. When I ride a fast and smooth trail, XC like, I usually go with 45-50 lbs and sometimes higher. This allows the tires to roll faster as it reduces the contact patch between you and the ground. On more technical trails and when it is wet I will usually run a lower pressure like 35-40lbs. Basically, more traction. Also, with full suspension you can usually run +5lbs because the suspension is taking on the shock absorbing duties that the tires handle on a hardtail.

basically my message is this. There is no universal tire pressure. Racecars change tire pressures to match the track, weather driver etc. So should you. If your rear tire slips when you stand up to crank try a little less tire pressure. If you get pinchflats try more tire pressure.

Most important of all is to pump your tires up before each and every ride!

Peace

[Mt.A TODD]

Go as low as you can go. I started using these Green Hutchinson tubes, Supposed to be pinch flat resistant, but they SUCK big time, I never had so many pinch flats, don’t try them. One of the reasons tubeless tires are so nice is low tire pressure, great grip. I run 30 in the front, 40 rear w/tubeless on my Single Speed. Knuckledumper, since you are a excessive, compulsive parts buyer, check out new Mavic Deemax UST. I agree with Guyhumper, there are too many factors involved to give you a tire pressure. Tubeless will give you the biggest tire pressure range without pinch flats, I suggest you spend more money to find your correct tire pressure.

[EVIL BOTA]

I like my pressure a bit higher. If I am riding hard pack. My tires are about 60 psi. If I'm riding in alot of soft (sand,lose dirt or mud). I will run about 45- 50 psi. I do seem a bit higher than most, But I am not a very smoooth rider and I find if I run lower psi I get alot more flats. It also depends on if your riding a hard tail of a fully. my 2 cents..lol

[Mr_Cheeze]

I prefer higher pressure (50-55 psi) for the simple reason that I rely on speed to get up steep inclines and much technical stuff. I'll slide a little more on loose stuff, but that just adds to the fun of it! Having riser bars, my center of mass is back a little, so I tend to get better rear grippage anyway. I do not like the feel of low pressure at all. Nevermind the increased chance of pinch flats, it just slows me down. I think it is largely a matter of personal preference.

[Shubnigurath]

For whatever its worth to you, for my riding style (which is to bomb over most things at speed rather than trying to pick clean lines), I run 35 in the front and 45 in the rear (180lbs, with 2.1 fire xc pros on a Giant AC Air Lite). The reason for this is that your front tire tends to be less prone to pinch flats (because you can wheelie over obstacles and generally determine where you front tire goes better than your rear) and gets better grip where you need it because of the lower pressure. Having more pressure in the rear allows more more speed and less chance of pinch flats, in the area where pinch flats almost always occure. I ride some pretty rough trails (Arcadia, if anyone is familiar with that) with extensive nasty rock gardens and this combination works best for me. just my suggestion. Those Hutchinson greens really do SUCK btw, had 2 of em....ironically while i never pinched em, both developed faulty valves that niether took in or held any air. Avoid them like the plague.

[Big Game]

Speaking of Hutchinson's that suck, the Hutchinson Pythons are definately part of that classification.

I had my pressure around 45 lb and pich-flatted a lot. So I raise it to 55lbs and I still pinched-flat nearly everytime I rode.

As I mentioned once before on some posting, I pinch-flatted at last year's Wrath of Sun Valley both front and rear in the same race (I DNF'd) while using those s.o.b tires. And then a month later at Jack Rabbit (and you'd think I'd learn my lesson by throwing those Pythons away, but I didn't), I pinch-flatted the rear twice (I did finish that one but I was well in last place).

I've been running tioga x-c for my razorback and even though they have a somewhat smaller casing (1.95) than the Pythons (2.0) they pinch-flat far, far, less.

So I would have to say, tire pressure and tire size is important but so is the tire. Some tires just love to grab your tube and rip it across your rim. And they are evil.

[johnbryanpeters]

I run WTB Velociraptor 2.1s at 45 PSIG front and back; used to run 35, but got my share of snakebites. After reading some of these posts, I think I'm going to drop the front pressure a tad and see if I get away with it.

J

So I would have to say, tire pressure and tire size is important but so is the tire. Some tires just love to grab your tube and rip it across your rim. And they are evil.


In addition to being smooth with the ladies, BG brings up a solid point.

Here is the company line from Michelin...

The rubber used in any tire is a compromise between longevity and grip. Harder compounds offer high mileage, usually at the expense of traction. Softer compounds have loads of grip, but typically wear out faster.

Casing design: The higher the thread count (measured in threads per inch) in a tire's casing, the more resistant it will be to impact damage from rocks and other obstacles.

Puncture resistance: thicker treads, reinforcements under the tread, and higher thread counts all contribute to a tire's ability to resist punctures that can damage the casing.

Me, I hate to flat but run LOW PSI (lower in the front). Therefore I use a Tioga Factroy DH 2.1 in the rear and a WTB Mutano Raptor 2.24 in the front. I ride XC (the rocky kind) try to run clean lines and am fairly light on the bike (170lbs give or take)...

[gungywump]

NOO,
You should try a Tioga XC Extreme for the front of your bike. It's the perfect compliment to the DH2.1(excellent choice) on back. The Extreme is the same size as the DH but the knobs aren't as tall and it is much lighter than the DH.

NOO,
You should try a Tioga XC Extreme for the front of your bike. It's the perfect compliment to the DH2.1(excellent choice) on back. The Extreme is the same size as the DH but the knobs aren't as tall and it is much lighter than the DH.


Sir Gumpness,

Thanks. Sage advice indeed. Perhaps I put it on my list for Santa...maybe it will have a Santa Cruz Blur attached to it.

Are ducking me? I called you out in the bike attire forum...

[gungywump]

NOO,
You should try a Tioga XC Extreme for the front of your bike. It's the perfect compliment to the DH2.1(excellent choice) on back. The Extreme is the same size as the DH but the knobs aren't as tall and it is much lighter than the DH.


Sir Gumpness,

Thanks. Sage advice indeed. Perhaps I put it on my list for Santa...maybe it will have a Santa Cruz Blur attached to it.

Are ducking me? I called you out in the bike attire forum...


I responded it just takes me a while to catch up on where I was yesterday. So many forums so little time.

NOO,
You should try a Tioga XC Extreme for the front of your bike. It's the perfect compliment to the DH2.1(excellent choice) on back. The Extreme is the same size as the DH but the knobs aren't as tall and it is much lighter than the DH.


Understandable - Believe it or not I am bsuy...many conference calls and few trips on the horizon...woofing down lunch right now...

Sir Gumpness,

Thanks. Sage advice indeed. Perhaps I put it on my list for Santa...maybe it will have a Santa Cruz Blur attached to it.

Are ducking me? I called you out in the bike attire forum...


I responded it just takes me a while to catch up on where I was yesterday. So many forums so little time.