Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Big Apple (tire) tips

got a pair of Big Apple 50mm tires for my folder. not sure what pressure I should run them at. lots of folks say you can get away with 30psi for a dreamy ride, but for a 270#er like me I start to worrry about pinch flats and the like. moreover, I hate the feel of a squishy rear tire.

right now I've got the back tire fully inflated at 70 and the front at 50. it's not exactly a plush ride, so I'm thinking of going to 60-back/40-front. am I being too conservative?

Typical standard is to set tyre-pressure so you have 15% of sink when loaded. So use a ruler/calipers to measure the edge of the rim down to the ground when the bike's vertical and not loaded. Then sit on the bike and have an assistant measure again. Adjust tyre-pressure so that the tyre is compressed by 15% when you're sitting on the bike.

Many other variables of course, road conditions, riding style, etc. Pinch flats occur most often with new riders in their 1st year or so. Those same riders end up with much lower rates of pinch flats a couple years later? What's the difference? They learn to watch where they're going and not run over potholes, rocks and sharp edges. Also rising up out of the saddle and putting your weight on the pedals help use your knees as suspension and lessens the impact when doing such unspeakable things.

If you want to figure out the lowest pressure for your weight and tires, do the following.

Measure the sidewall height fully inflated, and off the bike. (Ground to rim)

Then with you sitting on bike, have someone else slowly release air until you lose 15% of the height - that is your lowest 'safe' air pressure.

I weigh 310lbs (today) and on my tadpole trike I use 2.00X20 Big Apples, and found 45psi rear, and 50psi front was my lowest safe pressure. I usually ride at 60psi out of paranoia. Lighter friends ride at 40psi all the time (bout 250lbs)...

If you want to figure out the lowest pressure for your weight and tires, do the following.

Measure the sidewall height fully inflated, and off the bike. (Ground to rim)

Then with you sitting on bike, have someone else slowly release air until you lose 15% of the height - that is your lowest 'safe' air pressure.

I weigh 310lbs (today) and on my tadpole trike I use 2.00X20 Big Apples, and found 45psi rear, and 50psi front was my lowest safe pressure. I usually ride at 60psi out of paranoia. Lighter friends ride at 40psi all the time (bout 250lbs)...

Peter_C, thanks for your very helpful comment. I sit pretty much between you and your buddy, so maybe I will try 50 as a happy medium.

Btw you set higher pressure in the front than the back? I always assumed there was more weight on the tires in the back. Interesting...

Different trikes/bikes have different balance points, and on the Rover, you can also move the seat forward and/or back - so everyone will be slightly different. But yes, for me, more than half my weight is on the forward half of the trike, and even with two wheels up front, following the 15% rule I needed more air up front. You may want to try this as it does give you a nice base point for minimum safe air pressure on *your* bike with *your* tires on it.