Tyre pressures-Important?

[wilko]

Tyre pressures-How Important?

I have owned and ridden bikes all my life, but have never, ever checked the pressure of my tyres. I sometimes check my car tyres, always check my motorcycle tyres before setting off, but how important is it to check my cycle tyre pressure is correct? It's always been a bit hit and miss in the past, if they feel a bit flat I pump them up a bit.

 

[HJ]

Best to get a track pump with a gauge and pump them up regularly, helps to keep the p*nct*re fairies at bay...

 

[Sittingduck]

I check them about once a week and before every long ride. Using a track pump with built in guage.

SD

 

[RedBike]

If you're riding on the road then the harder you have your tyres the easier the bike will roll; and the difference can be VERY noticable.

Get yourself a track pump and pump your tyres up to the maximum pressure as listed on the tyres. You might find the ride is now uncomfortable . If you do then let some air out of the tyres. Keep experimenting with the pressure until you find a happy medium between speed and comfort.

 

[MacB]

I've now promised to do it more as a tyre feels rock solid at 40 psi upwards to me, use a track pump with gauge. For example:-

I use Marathon+ 700x35mm for my commute, recommended pressure range if 50-85 psi. I originally ran them at about 55 psi, checked over bike at weekend and decided to try them at 70 psi. It feels like they've rolled a bit faster this week. But the big difference is in my mileage logged, my computer has the standard value input for a 700x35mm tyre. By increasing the tyre pressure I have altered the average commute distance, it records, by 0.4miles, from 40.4 down to 40. I was puzzled until I remembered that I'd upped the psi on the tyres. This will mean the diameter has increased but computer diameter hasn't.

 

[Tynan]

I run mine at 110 every week, only noticed this week that the sidewall says max 85

pah

you go loads faster with hard tyres

 

[ASC1951]

Using a track pump with built in gauge.

Track pump, yes. Gauge, maybe.

I don't use a gauge at all. I find I can judge the correct pressure by feel perfectly adequately - I only get a couple of punctures a year and using MacB's criterion, my computer is accurate to within one mile in a hundred. A lot of pump gauges are inaccurate and you should never use a readout as a substitute for the evidence of your own senses - that's how industrial accidents happen.

If the pressure is below about 75% of optimum you will get lots more punctures, particularly at speed, but 100 psi instead of a rated 110 just isn't significant for recreational riding. Riders' weight varies more than that, and whoever checks pressures with themselves on the bike?