Interesting.
Do you think it meant "bang it up to maximum" then reduce it every time you top them up or just the once to make sure they are seated correctly.
Road bike tyre pressure question
- Thread starter Dave7
- Start date
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Do you think it meant "bang it up to maximum" then reduce it every time you top them up or just the once to make sure they are seated correctly.
swee'pea99
Squire
Related slightly OT half-memory...I seem to remember reading somewhere that in trials, they found the fastest times were actually recorded on slightly softer/fatter tyres rather than skinnier/harder ones. Totally counter-intuitive, to me at least, but there were numbers 'n everything.
Racing roadkill
Guru
Every time. Do the up to max thing after a tube / tyre change, then run routinely at 80-90 psi.
I run 24's and am about 69kg. I have got in the habit of pumping mine up to 110psi and enjoying the ride. A few times I have come home late and just visually checked the tyres before meeting up for a ride. Tyres have been visibly softer looking down at the from riding position. Rides have felt slower...but actually are faster when I have checked upon arriving home. It's a strange feeling, but I am planning on running them around 90-95psi next time out to see how they feel.
They are Specialized Turbo's on there at present, so they always feel more supple than the pressure suggests.
They are Specialized Turbo's on there at present, so they always feel more supple than the pressure suggests.
ayceejay
Guru
- Location
- Rural Quebec
You will have to compromise between comfort, rolling resistance, and puncture protection that may require some experimentation.
Technically it is what is known as 'tyre drop' that you have to consider, that is how much the tyre squishes down and spreads out under your weight, it seems that 15% is the ideal although how you get to this I don't know.
Technically it is what is known as 'tyre drop' that you have to consider, that is how much the tyre squishes down and spreads out under your weight, it seems that 15% is the ideal although how you get to this I don't know.
So a more supple tyre, like mine, needs less of a pressure drop than a more rigid tyre is what you're suggesting?
ayceejay
Guru
- Location
- Rural Quebec
As I said I am not sure how you calculate the 15% tyre drop with any accuracy but rider weight, tyre compound and size will all part.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
I'm 80kg and only have 110 in the rear of my commuter with the weight of two panniers added.
andrew_s
Legendary Member
- Location
- Gloucester
I pump up to about 90 front 100 rear (700x28, 85 kg), then don't worry about them until I notice them feeling soft, which usually turns out to be about 60 psi.
Avoiding snakebites isn't just about weight - riding style has a fair bit to do with it too; whether you sit on the saddle like a sack of potatoes, or take more weight on your feet and allow the bike to rock underneath you.
I've never notice much difference in puncture likelihood with different pressures. High pressures give a narrower contact patch, so you'll miss some things that you'd hit with the wider contact patch of a softer tyre, but that's about all.
Avoiding snakebites isn't just about weight - riding style has a fair bit to do with it too; whether you sit on the saddle like a sack of potatoes, or take more weight on your feet and allow the bike to rock underneath you.
I've never notice much difference in puncture likelihood with different pressures. High pressures give a narrower contact patch, so you'll miss some things that you'd hit with the wider contact patch of a softer tyre, but that's about all.
