Classic & Vintage - Max Pressure for Non Hooked Edge Rims

It's been suggested to me that my blowout on my fixed gear was not a case of the tube going so hard it blew the tyre off the rim, but instead of the tyre coming off the rim, and thereby allowing the tube to blow. Having checked, the bike does indeed lack hooked edges on the rim, meaning that my 100 psi may have been a little high. What can I get away with, do you think? 80?

I've been getting away with 90 on my old Atala using non-hooked Weinman rims and el cheapo wallyworld 27x1 1/4" tires. Two years with no problems. However, I suspect this will be a case by case issue. YMMV
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Here's a link to a thread I started on the same subject: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=238897

don't mean to be critical, but why the heck are are you using hookless rims?

Well, if you insist on using them, even after a blowout, I'd say use wider tires, and lower pressure than 100.

don't mean to be critical, but why the heck are are you using hookless rims?

Well, if you insist on using them, even after a blowout, I'd say use wider tires, and lower pressure than 100.

Because I've got them. I had a pair of flip/flop wheels on a vintage road bike I parted out, and wanted to build a fixed gear, so, rather than spend £100 on a set of track wheels, I threw them on there.

I have a set that almost look like hooked rims, but they have more of a bead than a hook. I've learned to stop pumping at 80 (though I don't really know how accurate the gauge on my pump is). They run fine at that point, but just one more stroke of the pump sometimes blows them off.

I have one set of non-hooked rims (on the UO-8), and I keep the tire pressure below 80 PSI, which also requires me to buy tires designed for lower pressure. Running high-pressure tires underinflated is to invite sidewall breakdown.

Well, the ones I have (cheapola) are rated from 80 to 100. I reckon I could get away with 75 no problem.

I've been using 80 to 85lb on the bikes I have with unhooked rims and that seems to be working well. It goes without saying that you need to use steel beaded tires, not kevlar.

I'm pretty sure that the cheapo £5 tyres I'm using are not kevlar!

using tires that tend to fit rims tightly helps allow higher pressure too.. your budget might not fit new tires
but i've heard panaracers are sized a bit small.. i find contis to be tough to get on some rims too..

Contis are a bear to get on.

Beware running pressure too low. That's when the snakes come out. :(

Well, I certainly can't run 100 psi! I proved that. I'll try 80.

Just for future reference, the Continental Sport 1000 seems well suited for this use. Conti's recommended operating pressure for the 27x1-1/8 is 80 psi, and for 27 x 1-1/4 it's just 75.

I concur with GCRyder. The Conti Sport is a great choice for a non-hooked rim, and I believe Sheldon sells them.