Tire Pressure
06-04-18, 04:54 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 40
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Tire Pressure
I have a Kona Explosif 27.5 MTB, Fox 34 shock, it is a hard tail steel framed bike. It has stock tires Maxxis Tommack 2.30 I am riding mostly for exercise on easier trails and gravel roads and climb lots of hill for the workout. What tire pressure would you recommend front and rear? I weigh 194 lbs. I had the rear at 32 and the front at 30 psi with tubes. My bike shop suggested 23 psi front and rear, what do you guys with experience think and what about front shock pressure? Thanks in advance, Cheers Roscoe
06-04-18, 05:47 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Middletown NY
Posts: 1,493
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix EVO w Hi-Mod frame, Raleigh Tamland 1 and Giant Anthem X
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 352 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
6 Posts
Your weight,speed, tire size and terrain will dictate tire pressure needed to prevent pinch flats yet maintain traction.
I weigh 20 pounds more than you, ride at a B+/A level on rough single track and run 28 psi on similar tires.
Your shop suggestion is too low, stick with yours unless you feel you are loosing traction, then drop 2 psi at a time and continue until you are satisfied with the roll/traction of the tires or experience flats.
I weigh 20 pounds more than you, ride at a B+/A level on rough single track and run 28 psi on similar tires.
Your shop suggestion is too low, stick with yours unless you feel you are loosing traction, then drop 2 psi at a time and continue until you are satisfied with the roll/traction of the tires or experience flats.
06-05-18, 06:44 AM
#3
Advanced Slacker
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,210
Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2762 Post(s)
Liked 2,537 Times
in
1,433 Posts
At your weight, tire size, and tubes, 23 psi sounds a bit too low in my experience.
I weigh less than you (~175 lbs), and my rear tires have typically been around 2.3 since forever.
Back when I ran tubes, anyrhing below 28 in the rear was asking for a pinch flat.
You might get away with 23 in the front.
To echo what NYMXer said.....I think the best method for finding optimum pressure is to start just a little high, and then lower the pressure 2 psi each ride (or a couple rides). When you start getting pich flats, bump it back up 2 psi.
In your case I would start where you are at now and go down.
I weigh less than you (~175 lbs), and my rear tires have typically been around 2.3 since forever.
Back when I ran tubes, anyrhing below 28 in the rear was asking for a pinch flat.
You might get away with 23 in the front.
To echo what NYMXer said.....I think the best method for finding optimum pressure is to start just a little high, and then lower the pressure 2 psi each ride (or a couple rides). When you start getting pich flats, bump it back up 2 psi.
In your case I would start where you are at now and go down.
Last edited by Kapusta; 06-05-18 at 07:02 AM.
06-05-18, 09:10 AM
#4
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 40
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for the advice, it sounds more reasonable to me. I am going to try 30-28 next ride and also recheck the front sag and rebound. Cheers
06-05-18, 09:23 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,552
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,584 Times
in
2,344 Posts
I'm amazed at how low some of you guys go. can you show some photos of the how the tires look when your full weight is on them? I'm picturing them really flat, but they can't be if you are riding around on them, right? 
06-05-18, 09:44 AM
#6
Very Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Always on the Run
Posts: 1,211
Bikes: Giant Quasar & Fuji Roubaix
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Liked 343 Times
in
244 Posts
If you keep the pressure as high as possible and still maintain good traction you've found your sweet spot. If the front feels too harsh but the traction is good, soften the front suspension. I'm changing pressures all the time because I usually ride asphalt to get to the trails. I run 2.35 Bontragers up front and a 2.5 Delium on the rear. I like the traction I get from the Delium when climbing loose grades and it's a heavy, indestructable tire. I ride for the work out so the weight isn't an issue.
06-05-18, 10:36 AM
#7
Advanced Slacker
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,210
Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2762 Post(s)
Liked 2,537 Times
in
1,433 Posts
Remember, we are talking about 2.3” tires, here. If I tried to run a set of 23mm tires as low as my 2.3” tires (23F / 27R), they would look pretty much flat - and would quickly BE flat when I hit my first bump.
06-07-18, 05:35 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Eastern VA
Posts: 1,724
Bikes: 2022 Fuel EX 8, 2021 Domane SL6, Black Beta (Nashbar frame), 2004 Trek 1000C for the trainer
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 270 Post(s)
Liked 447 Times
in
266 Posts
With Older Wheels
I have an older bike with 26 inch wheels. Tires are 2.1. I now. I used to run 1.9 in the old days. I’d run those 45 to 55. With the wider tires I can run lower. I weight about 210. I have run down to 25 without issues on rooty trails. But run 32 now for fear of a flat. The tires do compress but traction and ride are better. I just had to get used to the tires flexing more in corners.
06-07-18, 07:51 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sunny Tampa, Florida
Posts: 1,542
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 101 Post(s)
Liked 49 Times
in
41 Posts
A lot depends on how you ride. With a similar weight and tire size I was riding about 22 rear - 18psi front. No rocks around here. Might go a few pounds more or less, but not much.
