tyre pressures and Scott bikes

[LOGAN 5]

Can somebody tell me please roughly what pressures I should have when off roading? Are there different pressures for various terrain? I think I've had my tyres pumped up too hard - 50 or 60psi and I seem to have trouble controlling the bike.

Just sold my Stumpjumper FSR as I couldn't get on with it and am thinking of getting a Scott Spark and enjoyed the test ride on one recently. Anybody got a Scott? Views appreciated.

 

[roadjunkie]

I would say tire pressure for offroad (XC) probably 40 PSI rear and 35 PSI front in dry conditions, possibly lower in wet/muddy/rocky conditions to increase grip..I used to have a Scott Elite MTB 16 inch hardtail. It was hard as nails and really light, they dont make em like they used to!!

 

[LOGAN 5]

Thanks for that. This is where I've been going wrong with higher pressures. On the test ride the pressures were quite low and it felt really controllable but I suspect there's the danger of pinch flats. I'm so used to really hard road tyres it goes against all instincts to have them so low!

Now..... which model Scott Spark to buy hmmm

 

[RedBike]

As low as possible. If you can run 20psi without getting pinch flats every two seconds and the tyres feeling like they're coming off the rims then go for it. 30psi is probably a reasonable lower limit.

It all depends on how heavy you are and how aggressively you ride the bike. A heavy bloke smashing over rock gardens is going to need a lot more pressure in his tyres than a bean pole riding on sand.

Tubeless tyres are popular with MTBers because you can run them very at very low pressures without pinch flatting.

 

[02GF74]

Tubeless tyres are popular with MTBers because you can run them very at very low pressures without pinch flatting.

they are not popular with me

had another hole in the rear - that is 3 air leaks in maybe 5 or 6 rides. way way too high.

 

[Globalti]

Around 40 is right for an MTB tyre.

 

[LOGAN 5]

Thanks for the replies. Once I've bought my new bike I'll be taking to the hills

 

[User482]

I would say 40psi is the maximum unless you're a heffer. I get noticeably more cornering grip on my bike at 30psi, but as others have said, there's a bigger risk of pinch flats.

I'm not convinced by tubeless - the tubeless guys in our club seem to have lots of problems with them, plus it's a pain to swap tyres over.

 

[02GF74]

I'm not convinced by tubeless - the tubeless guys in our club seem to have lots of problems with them, plus it's a pain to swap tyres over.

Care to enlighten us (me) as to what these problems are?

 

[RedBike]

I will fully agree with changing tryes over being a problem. It can be hard to get them to seat correctly / they're often a very tight fit. Then there's the sealent.
Once they've been inflated they're normally pretty much hassle free though. If anything does go wrong you just stick a tube in!

 

[User482]

Care to enlighten us (me) as to what these problems are?

Tyres not sealing properly, sealant leaking out.

The biggest issue for me is the hassle in swapping tyres - I change mine a few times over the course of the year depending on trail conditions.