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Recommended tire pressures

Old 04-18-21, 06:38 PM
  #1  
robertj298 
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Recommended tire pressures

After looking for a set of tires for my DX5000. I had a buddy that had a couple low mileage gatorskins he took off his bike and
sold them to me for $38 for the pair.I was hesitant because I have 2 other bikes that have gatorskins on them and
they ride pretty harsh. The one I have now are 700X25 and the ones he sold me are 700X28 so I figure these will
be a little softer and for $38 I can't lose .Now I'm wondering what tire pressure do you think I should run them at?
They are mounted on Araya 700C rims which are 20mm wide. I am 185 lbs and the bike weighs in the neighborhood or 22 lbs
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Old 04-18-21, 06:40 PM
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nlerner
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https://roubert.name/joakim/pressure/
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Old 04-18-21, 06:57 PM
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Originally Posted by nlerner
84 nd 68 PSI seem pretty low to me.
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Old 04-18-21, 07:08 PM
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I weigh 195 and run my 700x30c Grand Bois Cypreses at 70 and 80 and have had zero problems. IMO (and IME), most people put far too much air in their tires.
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Old 04-18-21, 07:09 PM
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Reading Is Fundamental

Originally Posted by robertj298
84 nd 68 PSI seem pretty low to me.
https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/tire-pressure.php

https://info.silca.cc/silca-professi...ure-calculator
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Old 04-18-21, 07:15 PM
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I see a pressure rating of 116 psi on their website for 700cx28. You could try them fully inflated and then adjust down to see if you have a preference for a certain pressure. The rating should be molded into the sidewall.
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Old 04-18-21, 07:35 PM
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I used to ride 28mm Gatorskins on my Surly Cross Check as a commuter. I weigh 160-165 and I never put more than 80 psi in either tire. It was usually 70 F, 80 R. I moved on from them seeking an easier ride and I'm glad I did.
If you put 116 psi in those you will fuse every bone in your body together.

Okay, maybe a bit hyperbolic, but see what you like. If the Gator's don't cut it, try the Grand Prix 4 Seasons. They're the bee's knees!
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Old 04-18-21, 08:26 PM
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Required road pressure is directly related to total weight and inversely related to tire width.
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Old 04-18-21, 09:27 PM
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Originally Posted by robertj298
After looking for a set of tires for my DX5000. I had a buddy that had a couple low mileage gatorskins he took off his bike and
sold them to me for $38 for the pair.I was hesitant because I have 2 other bikes that have gatorskins on them and
they ride pretty harsh. The one I have now are 700X25 and the ones he sold me are 700X28 so I figure these will
be a little softer and for $38 I can't lose .Now I'm wondering what tire pressure do you think I should run them at?
They are mounted on Araya 700C rims which are 20mm wide. I am 185 lbs and the bike weighs in the neighborhood or 22 lbs
if you check out the Berto tire pressure chart, for 220 # total and 28 mm you get about 80 psi. For 32 mm you get about 65 psi. These assume the weight distribution is equal front and rear. The rim doesn’t matter as long as the bead design of the rim is compatible with that of the tire.
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Old 04-19-21, 03:41 AM
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I follow this tip of the day - which turns out to be 84 psi front and 93 psi rear. Yours will differ due to weight. My tire width is 25.
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Old 04-19-21, 04:32 AM
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If I can’t feel every micron of gravel in the road, my tires are too soft.
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Old 04-19-21, 05:40 AM
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Originally Posted by bargo68
If the Gator's don't cut it, try the Grand Prix 4 Seasons. They're the bee's knees!
Agree. Similar flat protection but superior ride, but I do think the Gators are unjustly criticized.
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Old 04-19-21, 06:35 AM
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You could spend your entire life looking for the perfect tire pressure, and it would not be a wasted life.
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Old 04-19-21, 07:13 AM
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Originally Posted by nlerner
If I can’t feel every micron of gravel in the road, my tires are too soft.

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Old 04-19-21, 11:01 AM
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For someone the OP's weight, closer to min pressure should be OK, providing that he or she rides light. Riding light means taking it easy over harsh roads, bumps or cracks in the road. At close to 200 pounds, myself, I used to go max rated pressure on a given tire. I used to opt for skinny but these days prefer the ride quality of 28mm or even greater. I went from 28mm to 32mm on my Jamaica ride and there will be no turning back for me. Go wide and ride more is now, sort of, my moto.

The wider tire and lower pressure means a bit slower for me, but the ride quality is so much better that I do not mind a bit more of a work out as I enjoy the ride.
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Old 04-19-21, 01:02 PM
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I have a quarrel with the calculator which uses the static weight over each wheel to determine the recommended tire pressure. When the bicycle is rolling forward, the front tire needs higher pressure. The reason is that the front tire hits a bump, the full weight of the bike and rider are behind it. The front tire in effect crashes into the bump. By the time the rear tire hits the bump, most of the weight of the bike and rider are already ahead of the bump. So in effect the rear tire is just dragged over the bump.
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Old 04-19-21, 01:14 PM
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Lighter pressures and as others have said, “ride light”. I have a mental block convincing myself that 60 front an 65 rear is probably fine on my 32s and 165-170 weight. I just go 65 front and 70 rear and call in good on 28-32 and plus or minus 5 on the 25s and 35s. As a youngster I put 85 in the Kendas and Schwinn approved tires and it seemed faster in my mind. 32s and 35s at 70 or less make me happy now.
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Old 04-19-21, 01:19 PM
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I'm the same weight as the OP and run my Conti Grand Prix 4-Seasons 700x28's at 80/84psi
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Old 04-19-21, 07:12 PM
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Originally Posted by icemilkcoffee
I have a quarrel with the calculator which uses the static weight over each wheel to determine the recommended tire pressure. When the bicycle is rolling forward, the front tire needs higher pressure. The reason is that the front tire hits a bump, the full weight of the bike and rider are behind it. The front tire in effect crashes into the bump. By the time the rear tire hits the bump, most of the weight of the bike and rider are already ahead of the bump. So in effect the rear tire is just dragged over the bump.
I am not convinced. Seems to me you are underestimating the effects of the weight differential. To illustrate, imagine a scenario where 1 pound was on the front wheel and the remainder on the rear.
If that doesn’t do it, ask someone who rides stoker on a tandem. That rear wheel hits bumps pretty hard, even though it has 2 riders in front of it.
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Old 04-19-21, 08:37 PM
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If you're riding a vintage bike you have vintage tire pressure. In the 70s, we pumped them to the max.
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Old 04-20-21, 12:07 AM
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Originally Posted by jon c.
If you're riding a vintage bike you have vintage tire pressure. In the 70s, we pumped them to the max.
First of all, that was definitely not a universal practice. Second of all, that's just plain dumb.
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Old 04-20-21, 05:18 AM
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In the 70s we also wore bell bottoms.
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Old 04-20-21, 05:39 AM
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I only use period correct air to inflate my tyres.
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Old 04-20-21, 06:24 AM
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Most pinch flats could have been avoided if there was more air in the tires. My 22-23s have 110 pounds in them. 85-90 in 28s should be good.
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Old 04-20-21, 06:50 AM
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I’ve been using the Berto chart (and other info from this Rene Herse page) for awhile. I think the pressures may be a bit low compared to other recommendations, but they work for me.
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