What tyre pressures?

[APK]

Michelin's recommendations;
http://www.michelinb...irpressure.view

That's useful, for my son it's implying about 100 (he is 10st) for me being "over180lb" then run at maximum, I am assuming that these pressures would be right for most brands? Also does not seem to differentiate between front and rear?

 

[John the Monkey]

That's useful, for my son it's implying about 100 (he is 10st) for me being "over180lb" then run at maximum, I am assuming that these pressures would be right for most brands? Also does not seem to differentiate between front and rear?

It's certainly not a bad starting point, neither is the Rivendell chart, for that matter. Trial and error is the key though - if you find you like a pressure outside of the recommendations, as long as its safe (the tyre doesn't explode off the rim) go for it. As for front & back, I run both Pro-Race at 95. If I remember, I do the City Contacts at 5-10psi less on the front of the trucker, but quite often have both at the same pressure.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Am not sure how close they are to the Michelin figures, but for road the arguments behind the recommendations and therefore the recommendations in this article make sense to me, especially that the pressures should correspond to wheel loads, not bike weight.

 

[APK]

Am not sure how close they are to the Michelin figures, but for road the arguments behind the recommendations and therefore the recommendations in this article make sense to me, especially that the pressures should correspond to wheel loads, not bike weight.

Looking at that the figures seem a bit extreme, using their guide, as a 90kg rider + 10kg bike = 100kg, with wieght split 40/60, that gives pressures of about 90/140psi for me, and for my 10st/63kg son 65/100 psi

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Looking at that the figures seem a bit extreme, using their guide, as a 90kg rider + 10kg bike = 100kg, with wieght split 40/60, that gives pressures of about 90/140psi for me, and for my 10st/63kg son 65/100 psi

I wonder if the figures look high in your case because you are looking at / riding 23mm tyres, while for 100kg all in somewhat wider tyres will generally be recommended?

 

[APK]

I wonder if the figures look high in your case because you are looking at / riding 23mm tyres, while for 100kg all in somewhat wider tyres will generally be recommended?

Wasn't aware of that, would you suggest changing now, or just wearing these out and upsize when replacing (or lose some weight!)

 

[martint235]

I weigh about 15 stone and have always run my tyres at slightly over (well 10psi) the max. So I'm currently running GP 4Seasons at around 130psi front and rear. As yet the only problem I've had is the "Conservatory" problem in summer but have learnt to let a little air out of the tyres if I'm leaving the bike in the conservatory over a summer afternoon.

 

[ColinJ]

I've ridden 23Cs at under 100 psi for 20 years, and at times I weighed over 16 stone but I have very rarely had pinch punctures (snakebites). There is a simple reason for that - I watch where I'm going and steer round or bunnyhop over things that would cause such punctures. I don't bump up over kerbs, avoid debris in the road and watch out for potholes. I also raise myself from the saddle and ride with arms and legs bent to cushion impacts on rough roads.

The majority of pinch punctures are caused by rider error, not low tyre pressures. Yes, using higher pressures means that you can get away with such errors more often, but it isn't necessary to do so.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

I've ridden 23Cs at under 100 psi for 20 years, and at times I weighed over 16 stone but I have very rarely had pinch punctures (snakebites). There is a simple reason for that - I watch where I'm going and steer round or bunnyhop over things that would cause such punctures. I don't bump up over kerbs, avoid debris in the road and watch out for potholes. I also raise myself from the saddle and ride with arms and legs bent to cushion impacts on rough roads.

The majority of pinch punctures are caused by rider error, not low tyre pressures. Yes, using higher pressures means that you can get away with such errors more often, but it isn't necessary to do so.

I agree with everything you said Colin, but I wonder if a suitable wider tyre might actually offer less rolling resistance (re Sheldon's section on width and pressure here) in your case although they are a little heavier (more rubber), apart from offering better traction as well as more accommodating re road condition?

 

[ColinJ]

I agree with everything you said Colin, but I wonder if a suitable wider tyre might actually offer less rolling resistance (re Sheldon's section on width and pressure here) in your case although they are a little heavier (more rubber), apart from offering better traction as well as more accommodating re road condition?

I actually prefer 25C because I found that size rolled well and was slightly more comfortable but when I needed new tyres it was impossible to get hold of my tyre of choice (Michelin Krylion) in that size so I bought 23Cs instead.

I now have Crud Roadracer mudguards on my bike and the tyre clearance with 23Cs is already small. I don't think that 25Cs would coexist happily with the Roadracers, though they do on some bikes which have greater clearance.

 

[asterix]

At 85 kg/13.5st(?) I tried 95 in the rear and got a snakebite so it's back to 105. 80 in front.

On my tourer it's 60psi both - so comfortable (1.75 inch tyres). It doesn't feel too slow either.

 

[zexel]

Thanks, MacB. My main concern is puncture avoidance. Hopes of speed faded decades ago. I don't ride far enough or fast enough for comfort to be a huge issue, but I'm still interested in zexel's advice about pressures that are best.

MacB has pretty much covered it. Quality posts again MacB.

ColinJ
I've ridden 23Cs at under 100 psi for 20 years, and at times I weighed over 16 stone but I have very rarely had pinch punctures (snakebites). There is a simple reason for that - I watch where I'm going and steer round or bunnyhop over things that would cause such punctures. I don't bump up over kerbs, avoid debris in the road and watch out for potholes. I also raise myself from the saddle and ride with arms and legs bent to cushion impacts on rough roads.

The majority of pinch punctures are caused by rider error, not low tyre pressures. Yes, using higher pressures means that you can get away with such errors more often, but it isn't necessary to do so.

I agree with above 100%

 

[asterix]

..and when you are descending at 40 to 50 mph?

 

[ColinJ]

..and when you are descending at 40 to 50 mph?

I do descend at 40-50 mph and I don't have any problems running my tyres at under 100 psi.

 

[gb155]

Did you mean the other way round? Everyone I know runs a bit more in the back. There's considerably more of the rider's weight on the back wheel than the front, which is why rear tyres wear out faster than fronts.

No, not a typo, I like the twitchy feel it gives at speed