Tire PSI too low?
07-08-06, 09:50 PM
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Tire PSI too low?
Forgive me if this is often asked.. but I recently decided to start getting to know my bike in an intimate manner. I recently purchased all the tools that I need so I can start working on things myself rather then always have a shop fix or change things for me. I noticed that my armadillo tires are rated at around 100-115 psi? I purchased a floor pump today with gauge included - as I never realized until now how much better those are rather then using frame pumps, which I've always used. The floor pump is rating my tire(s) at about 60 psi - and it is somewhat hard to push the handle down to force more air in. I tried pressing on the tire and it feels pretty solid and firm.
But I'd like to get the maximum float/performance out of my tires when I ride. So does this mean that despite how full of air the tires feel - that I could go all the way to 100 or so on the tire pump gauge? I just don't want to blow a tube or something. Thanks!
But I'd like to get the maximum float/performance out of my tires when I ride. So does this mean that despite how full of air the tires feel - that I could go all the way to 100 or so on the tire pump gauge? I just don't want to blow a tube or something. Thanks!
07-08-06, 09:57 PM
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Ill be waiting for this answer to. My tires are rated from 50-75psi. 65 is all I can push in.
07-08-06, 10:00 PM
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Sorry I can't help with this, I'm too busy trying to figure out if your avatar is a winged vampire bunny 
When the pump is attached, it may let some of the air out of the tire as you're getting it attached to the valve. So the reading you see may not be what was in the tire just before you attached the pump. But if you begin pumping and watch the needle on the valve, it's going to show how much the tire's got in there as you go. Unless the gauge is inaccurate, keep pumping them up to the pressure you want.
At 175 pounds and sometimes with weight on my rear rack, I usually max out my road tires to their highest rated pressure to help insure against pinch flats from hitting nasty pothole edges. If you're light, you might want to try something like 100 in the rear, 90 in the front, so the bike puts down a little more contact patch in front and doesn't skip and skitter as easily in corners when you hit little bits of gravel or something. There's nothing set in stone, so experiment if you feel like it
By the way, if you're not able to force a full stroke of air into the tire, try only lifting the plunger about 1/4 of the stroke, then down again.
When the pump is attached, it may let some of the air out of the tire as you're getting it attached to the valve. So the reading you see may not be what was in the tire just before you attached the pump. But if you begin pumping and watch the needle on the valve, it's going to show how much the tire's got in there as you go. Unless the gauge is inaccurate, keep pumping them up to the pressure you want.
At 175 pounds and sometimes with weight on my rear rack, I usually max out my road tires to their highest rated pressure to help insure against pinch flats from hitting nasty pothole edges. If you're light, you might want to try something like 100 in the rear, 90 in the front, so the bike puts down a little more contact patch in front and doesn't skip and skitter as easily in corners when you hit little bits of gravel or something. There's nothing set in stone, so experiment if you feel like it
By the way, if you're not able to force a full stroke of air into the tire, try only lifting the plunger about 1/4 of the stroke, then down again.
07-08-06, 10:07 PM
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Thanks - I'm just so afraid of the tube/tire bursting...but I guess these thinner tubes and tires are made to be super firm and full? And as far as the icon goes - it's a kangaroo, actually. XD
07-08-06, 10:09 PM
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Originally Posted by PanzerGirl
Forgive me if this is often asked.. but I recently decided to start getting to know my bike in an intimate manner. I recently purchased all the tools that I need so I can start working on things myself rather then always have a shop fix or change things for me. I noticed that my armadillo tires are rated at around 100-115 psi? I purchased a floor pump today with gauge included - as I never realized until now how much better those are rather then using frame pumps, which I've always used. The floor pump is rating my tire(s) at about 60 psi - and it is somewhat hard to push the handle down to force more air in. I tried pressing on the tire and it feels pretty solid and firm.
But I'd like to get the maximum float/performance out of my tires when I ride. So does this mean that despite how full of air the tires feel - that I could go all the way to 100 or so on the tire pump gauge? I just don't want to blow a tube or something. Thanks!
But I'd like to get the maximum float/performance out of my tires when I ride. So does this mean that despite how full of air the tires feel - that I could go all the way to 100 or so on the tire pump gauge? I just don't want to blow a tube or something. Thanks!
Sheldon "Disregard The Printed Numbers" Brown
07-08-06, 10:33 PM
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I recommend our customers go by their body weight/tire size more than the "max" pressure. My tires are rated at 140psi, but with my 150lbs they will be bone jarring and provide poor traction at that pressure, ergo I run my tires at 90-100psi and have to date never had a pinch flat. Race day I may go up to 110 just for a little edge (which is probably mental more than anything).
