max tyre pressure in 20" wheels

[Monkreadusuk]

Good Evening,

I've recently purchased a trike with 20" front wheels, the tyres say they can take a max of 100psi however they came from the shop at around 40psi. Is there any reason I can't up the pressure to 100psi like i did with my old DF bike?

Many Thanks,

 

[Pikey]

Mmmm what trike did you get?

 

[Monkreadusuk]

KMX Viper...https://www.kmxkarts.co.uk/Recumbent-Trikes/KMX-Performance/KMX-Viper-Adults-Sports-Trike.aspx

 

[Tim Hall]

It's going to depend on the tyre specification. What pressure is printed on the side? (I can't find Kenda K West tyres on the Kenda website)

 

[Monkreadusuk]

It's going to depend on the tyre specification. What pressure is printed on the side? (I can't find Kenda K West tyres on the Kenda website)

tyres have high pressure 100psi on the side. Just puzzled as to why they came inflated nowhere near that

 

[Tim Hall]

tyres have high pressure 100psi on the side.

Oops. You said that in your OP. I must read the question properly.

Just puzzled as to why they came inflated nowhere near that

My money is on the people in the shop being lazy.

 

[raleighnut]

they may be too 'rough' a ride at higher pressure, I'd slowly up them from about 60-65psi and see how you get on
I certainly wouldn't leave them at 45, you'd be risking a pinch flat if you clipped the edge of a pothole with 1 front wheel (and they are hard to avoid with all 3 wheels on a trike)

 

[classic33]

I've got the four, on the Brox, at 110psi. Any load on the back and I'll drop it to around the 80 mark, lower limit for the tyres.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

40 PSI may not be too low depending on the weight of the rider, surface ridden etc. I would head them up to 60 - 70 psi as a good compromise between reduced rolling resistance and ride harshness, then adjust up or down according to personal preference. No reason not to go to max PSI if you want to just because it is a trike - in fact, I doubt that most tyre manufacturers calculate the variation of an extra wheel reducing absolute load on each tyre.

 

[Monkreadusuk]

Well I tried all 3 at 100 psi this morning....wow,average speed went up by 4mph, was flying down hills and needed a lot less effort on the flats

Downside, was a tad bumpy

 

[numbnuts]

I use 70psi on my trike 20 x 24

 

[tyred]

What width are the tyres? I'm assuming 406 size here and they are usually quite wide in which case 40 - 50 is plenty.

 

[Tim Hall]

What width are the tyres? I'm assuming 406 size here and they are usually quite wide in which case 40 - 50 is plenty.

1.5 inch according to the manufacturer's website. I'd run them a lot harder than 40 psi.

 

[raleighnut]

I'd think at 40psi you run the risk of rolling them off the rim during cornering.

 

[Tim Hall]

I'd think at 40psi you run the risk of rolling them off the rim during cornering.

<Memories of @Tigerbiten getting his recumbent trike up on two wheels on the turn into Chipstead Valley Road. Exuberant cornering at its best.>

Good point, well made.