What tyre pressures when fully loaded ?

[Jamieyorky]

Hi all !

I currently run continental Contact 32mm tyres and play to go self supported onto the Yorkshire dales in 2 weeks. Ive never been touring before.

Ive got front panniers on a low rider front rack along with rear panniers and rack bag, the thing is i run my tyres hard (80psi), do i keep them at the same psi or reduce them to carry weight ? If so how much ?

Thanks...

 

[robing]

I have Schwalbe Marathon 32mm tyres on my touring bike and I always run them on the max 80psi even when fully loaded.

 

[stumpy66]

I think I usually have mine around 70 psi on the same tyres, ride feel is fine and only had one puncture in 5000 miles fully laden

 

[Jamieyorky]

I think I usually have mine around 70 psi on the same tyres, ride feel is fine and only had one puncture in 5000 miles fully laden

So they are a good quality tyre then ? They came with the bike and i was a bit unsure tbh.

 

[stumpy66]

So they are a good quality tyre then ? They came with the bike and i was a bit unsure tbh.

Never had a problem with them and are easy enough to fit on the wheels I have

 

[RobinS]

MrsS and I found that with a full camping load we needed to run 32mm Continentals at a full 80psi to avoid pinch flats. As this gave little scope for error we swapped to 38mm Schwalbe Marathons for our three month tour last year - these could run at 70psi without issue, and gave a wide range between "overinflated" and "getting pinch flats".

 

[robgul]

Have to say regardless of load or lack of I run tyres on all my bikes, road or tourer, at the max marked on the tyre + about 10% - the ride may be a bit harder but I'm happy to have that and the advantage of easier rolling (and I'm about 15 stone, so fairly heavy) - and, of course, bear in mind that most pump gauges aren't that accurate (I use a compressor at home and that does seem to be consistent with measurements on a separate gauge)

Rob

 

[robing]

Have to say regardless of load or lack of I run tyres on all my bikes, road or tourer, at the max marked on the tyre + about 10% - the ride may be a bit harder but I'm happy to have that and the advantage of easier rolling (and I'm about 15 stone, so fairly heavy) - and, of course, bear in mind that most pump gauges aren't that accurate (I use a compressor at home and that does seem to be consistent with measurements on a separate gauge)

Rob

+1 to this. For reasons above plus increased puncture protection.

 

[DanZac]

I always work on the principle of setting off at the max. Once you've been away for a few weeks or had a puncture and had to pump them up with whatever little pump your carrying who knows what they will be at.
You might as well give yourself a fighting chance and start with loads of pressure then there's more to loose.