Tire Pressure
04-05-10, 04:32 PM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1
Bikes: Cannondale R600
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Tire Pressure
New to serious riding if that makes sense 
1. I purchased a bike pump with a psi gauge (never used psi just went by feel). When I started inflating my bike I noticed that at 50 psi the tire felt very full even more than I usually do by feel. When I road, the tire felt full as well. So, is the psi gauge incorrect or is it common to put so much pressure in the bike? I feel like the tire will burst at any second if I keep pumping.
Thanks for the help.
1. I purchased a bike pump with a psi gauge (never used psi just went by feel). When I started inflating my bike I noticed that at 50 psi the tire felt very full even more than I usually do by feel. When I road, the tire felt full as well. So, is the psi gauge incorrect or is it common to put so much pressure in the bike? I feel like the tire will burst at any second if I keep pumping.
Thanks for the help.
04-05-10, 04:59 PM
#3
my hubs are dirty
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 148
Bikes: Nishiki Olympic, Bridgestone RB-2 (sold!), Bridgestone MB-5, Schwinn Le Tour, Handsome XOXO
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Going by feel usually leads to an under-inflated tire.
04-05-10, 05:01 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 855
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
04-05-10, 05:18 PM
#5
Senior Member
Get a regular tire gauge (one rated for high enough PSI - the regular automotive ones won't cut it), pump your tires to where you feel they should be (50 PSI on the bike pump gauge is fine) then use the tire gauge which will tell you if the pump gauge is correct.
04-05-10, 05:22 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
Once it gets over 50-60 psi, I can't dent it with my thumb, so it could be 75 or 145 psi. There's a big difference.
04-06-10, 11:44 AM
#7
Elitist Troglodyte
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Dallas
Posts: 6,925
Bikes: 03 Raleigh Professional (steel)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
- What size are your tires?
- You imply that you're trying to pump up to a certain pressure. What is it?
- How heavy are you?
New Posters - please READ THIS
__________________
Stupidity got us into this mess - why can't it get us out?
- Will Rogers
Stupidity got us into this mess - why can't it get us out?
- Will Rogers
04-06-10, 12:08 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,546
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5223 Post(s)
Liked 3,579 Times
in
2,341 Posts
yes, a tire will feel very firm well before reaching it's MAX pressure. funny, huh?
the correct pressure is on the sidewall
the correct pressure is on the sidewall
04-06-10, 12:10 PM
#9
Elitist Troglodyte
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Dallas
Posts: 6,925
Bikes: 03 Raleigh Professional (steel)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
No it's not. The MAXIMUM pressure is on the sidewall. It's usually better to use less.
__________________
Stupidity got us into this mess - why can't it get us out?
- Will Rogers
Stupidity got us into this mess - why can't it get us out?
- Will Rogers
04-06-10, 12:13 PM
#10
I have senior moments...
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Woodside, CA
Posts: 2,151
Bikes: Many
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Might want to read this https://sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#pressure
04-06-10, 12:14 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
Posts: 9,579
Bikes: '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, '94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster, Tern Link D8
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1607 Post(s)
Liked 2,214 Times
in
1,103 Posts
If you look up the tires using google, you will likely find the min-max range. half way between works well. Ignore your feelings! Use data.
