LarrySellerz

Do any of you have like having hearing protection the pumping a tire? Recently ive had multiple blowouts (I sometimes get frustrated/rushed when patching tubes and reinstalling) and I have some anxiety around pumping tires up to pressure. Im pretty anal about hearing protection at work, and my ears have rung from blowouts, thinking of getting some earplugs to wear. Ive even been holding back on the pressure and keeping it at around 100-120 when I really want to be running 140+ on most tires because I just don't trust it not to explode.

livedarklions

No, and 140 is ridiculous.

smd4

140 is fine, but learn how to seat a tire properly.

LarrySellerz

I recently got a pinch flat (snakebite doesn't lie) on my rear tire that I pumped to 120 the same day, was hauling easily 40 pounds of groceries so the total weight on the bike was well over 300 lbs. 140 on 23-25 rims is not crazy or abnormal considering the weight

LarrySellerz

kinda wanna work at a bike shop 1 day a week just to get better at fixing bikes, would have to be saturday or sunday.

livedarklions

You say so. I wouldn't put 300 pounds on 25s if I had a choice.

HTupolev

If you want hearing protection, use hearing protection. Earplugs are widely-available and cheap.

Make sure you're putting a bit of air in your tubes before seating the tire, and make sure the tubes aren't being pinched after seating before inflating.

...Maybe use wider tires, if they'll fit.

ThermionicScott 

Slow is fast. Take the time to ensure that the tire is mounted straight and the tube isn't caught anywhere under the bead, and then you'll have more confidence taking it to full pressure. Earplugs aren't a bad idea, sometimes I stick them in if a tire needs a little extra pressure to seat.

LarrySellerz

Why do you guys think wider tires for heavier riders are ideal? Ive heard this but never understood it. I ride 23s just fine, my father also runs 23s and he is like 220-230 so a little smaller than me (262 currently) but still....

icemilkcoffee 

The big question is why are you running 23mm tires? At that weight you should be riding on ~32mm

koala logs

Try this, available in Walmart. Reusable, comfortable, and easy to clean and I use them to sleep when it's noisy.

It's also recommended for use in the shooting range. If gun users can use them, it can certainly work for exploding bike tires as well!

LarrySellerz

Because I want to be fast? Some of us dont trust the Big Gravel narrative that wide tires at lower pressure are just as fast as thin tires pumped up hard. Its really perverse frankly and its ruining your sport and nobody cares. its really sad tbh

Rolla

So wear protection if you're paranoid about it; I don't see why its popularity is relevant.

genejockey 

So, in one post you say you've pinchflatted 25s even at your ungodly high inflation pressures, and then you say you ride 23s just fine. Choose an opinion and stick with it.

As for why wider tires for heavier riders, because they compress less at the same pressure, so you don't have to pump them rock hard to avoid pinchflatting.

Rdmonster69

LOL ....ruining the sport ?? ..... and just the dozens of thread on tire pressure on BF shows that many people actually do care. There is some pretty good data out there that says that for your average rider a wider tire at lower PSI is faster up to a certain speed. I use the wider tires because a 32 at 70 psi is both faster and more comfortable for me that a 25 at 120 PSI. A lot more comfortable and quite a bit faster BTW.

Also if you need hearing protection from blowing out so many tires you need to work on your tire mounting skills.

koala logs

Heavy, fast, 23mm that's suicidal bro. You'll end up slower to your destination anyway if you're flatting often. But the critical issue here is safety.

Polaris OBark

Jawn.

genejockey 

As far as hearing protection, try pumping the tires to 40-60 psi, then checking all around both sides of the rim to see that the tire is seated properly and you haven't left any of the tube pinched between the rim and the bead. THEN pump it the rest of the way. I've been doing it that way longer than you've been alive and have had zero blowouts from pinched tubes.

genejockey 

My fastest bike runs on 28s pumped up to 80F/85R. The slowest is on 23s pumped up to 105/110.
Add to this that TdF riders are also riding wider tires at lower pressures, and achieving higher speeds.
What would your Scientist coworkers think of you if you told them you were denying empirical data to favor wishful thinking?

Sy Reene

Isn't it all relative? A 23 pumped to 140 psi will deflect (same tire drop) the same 15% as a 30mm tire pumped to 95psi. The same 'compressability' ?

LarrySellerz

I pinchflatted 25s because they were underinflated for the type of riding I was doing (hauling groceries.) I needed 130+ in them, and frankly in terms of historical tire pressures this isn't even abnormally high. Back in the day much lighter people went to higher pressures. Thin tires for heavy riders are perfectly fine as long as they are inflated properly

smd4

I'll ride 23s or less until I'm ready for some upright fuddy-duddy bike with upright bars, a massively-wide gel saddle and wide mushy tires--or a wheelchair, whichever comes first. What size tires do you recommend for the wheelchair, if you don't mind me asking?

genejockey 

Yes, hence "at the same pressure."

PV = nRT. It's not just a good idea. It's the Law.

genejockey 

Why not just get solid tires? No hearing protection needed, no pinchflats.

Rdmonster69

My bike with 32's is not a gravel bike, has drop bars and is strictly made for the road. Also has a pretty narrow saddle and isn't an "upright fuddy duddy" by a long shot..

Have fun on your 23s. I ran mine at 120-130 for years and the whole set up about rattled my teeth out. 32s at 70-80 psi are smooth as butter and fast. Far faster than my bikes with 23's and 25's.