Tyre pressure - to max or not?

[MacB]

I've just had a look at the Continental website. The 27 x 1 1/8" Ultrasport tyres on my favourite bike have a rating of 115psi on the sidewall and on their website, they have this as a maximum. However, they recommend 80psi for these tyres for most riders in normal riding. ~80psi is generally what I use, I had experimented with higher pressures, found no advantage and many disadvantages to the high pressure. I claim no expertise on tyres but I would assume Continental know a lot about tyres. Why do people ignore the advice of the tyre manufacturer?

as Colin very eloquently pointed out, it's macho delusion, especially on our roads, almost like reinventing the boneshaker

 

[Aperitif]

I'm late to this thread, but no less fat.
Pro3Race, Ultremos. M+ 25s - I pump them all to 8 bar...the M+ on any front wheel, perhaps a little less if it is greasy wet...

Ian - you nutter! - go round to Peter's and stuff a bit more in them! I wonder what the rim profile is like after being 'tortured by air' - odd shaped brake blocks I suppose

 

[MacB]

I'm late to this thread, but no less fat.
Pro3Race, Ultremos. M+ 25s - I pump them all to 8 bar...the M+ on any front wheel, perhaps a little less if it is greasy wet...

Ian - you nutter! - go round to Peter's and stuff a bit more in them! I wonder what the rim profile is like after being 'tortured by air' - odd shaped brake blocks I suppose

what's all this 8 bar nonsense, why didn't you just put 116.03019 PSI...sheesh some people

 

[raindog]

Maximum pressures marked on tyre casings are a safety guide which means you mustn't go above that figure, it doesn't mean you have to ride them at that pressure. It all depends on how you ride, road surface, and weight of rider.
This may be of some help.
http://www.cycling-inform.com/artic...st-tire-pressure-for-bicycle-tires/Page1.html

I have come across a few people that have quoted figures of 145 psi as their normal riding pressure for clincher training type bicycle tires. This I consider unnecessary and unsafe.

 

[zigzag]

i'd pump the tyres to the max only if i raced (which i don't do). for general riding on rough uk roads however pressures need to be lower. i weigh 11st, tyres are 700x25 rated to 125psi, i pump them up to 110. after five days and 1000 miles, the pressure was 90-95psi. i had a plush ride for all 1000 miles on a supposedly harsh alu frame (no sore or numb bits). i can run them on 80psi at lowest, but the optimal is 90-110psi. my two pence..

 

[Tigerbiten]

I've got Maraton Racers , 40x406, allround on my trike & trailer.

Max pressure is 85 psi, but at that pressure the ride is awefull and rough on anything but the smoothest of roads.
I tend to run at ~60 psi as this just softens the ride enough to damp all but the worset roads.
I can drop the trailer down to ~40 psi unless its fully loaded.

 

[StuartG]

A track pump was my best accessory investment. Not only does it get the pressure up to target faster but it makes it a lot easier to keep it there.

Unless you are racing you aren't going to get that much benefit by going higher than, say 80% of rated pressure. Given inaccuracies and the danger of a slight weakness compromising the rated capacity I tend to pump toabout 80%. But losing 10/20psi a week will soon damage that. So pumping every week is more vital than deciding the percentage IMHO.

 

[MacB]

A track pump was my best accessory investment. Not only does it get the pressure up to target faster but it makes it a lot easier to keep it there.

Unless you are racing you aren't going to get that much benefit by going higher than, say 80% of rated pressure. Given inaccuracies and the danger of a slight weakness compromising the rated capacity I tend to pump toabout 80%. But losing 10/20psi a week will soon damage that. So pumping every week is more vital than deciding the percentage IMHO.

Agreed, and actually a once a week general overhaul can save a lot of inconvenience as well, I tend to check over the tyres, pump them up, clean and oil chain(Mickle Method only), check all the other bits. I also aim at a detailed overhaul twice a year, start of Spring and end of Autumn, done by LBS so far but, as I build up my knowledge and tools I hope to do these myself. Full strip down, regrease and replace, money well spent in my book.

 

[Fiona N]

My Durano+ have a stated max of 145 psi takes some doing to get somewhere near that,even with a track pump

Hey Potsy how do you find the Duranos?

I've had them all round on my Windcheetah and the front one have worn rather quicker than expected. The is particularly curious as the rear wheel which carried more weight as well as the drive is still OK. I just wondered about other people's experience of them.


And re the OP: I also don't bother with 145 psi - 110psi in the back and 100 in the front seems to go pretty well. Although, with respect to the question above - maybe this is what I'm doing wrong and maybe they should be run at 145psi for max. life expectancy

 

[potsy]

Fiona- I really like the Durano+ have had 1 flat in just over 2,000 miles and that was only a slow one that developed after our Blackpool ride the other month.
Rear one is starting to show some wear now with a few cuts from where I've picked out glass shards etc,front one is still looking good though.
Will definitely buy same again next time,even if they are a slight bit heavier than some other tyres,I'm no racer

 

[Sittingduck]

My road tyres have a max of 120 and I pump them up to just over 120 cause I always lose a bit of air when I take the nozzle off. Usually pump them up once a week and the day before I do I can really notice the difference if they have lost 20 psi.

^ what he said