Tire pressure
 

I've been running my LWB recumbent eBike at 100 PSI in the tires. After being out of town for a while I went for a ride and thought wow, the bike is riding much smoother, as in the road bumps and dips seemed less jarring. When I got home I checked the tire pressure and sure enough they were down to 40 PSI.

What pressure do you all ride on?

I can tell you that at 100 PSI I feel every road surface imperfection, I'm thinking I could back down on the pressure but I have no idea how low is too low.

If 40psi gives you a good ride & the tire still sits up on the tread nicely with no sidewall overhang then I'd say that 40psi is perfect.

Perhaps you should make a few test runs at different pressures. See how the bike handles & keep an eye on how much rubber you have in contact with the road & find what you like best.

Wider tires can be run very efficiently at lower (and more comfortable) pressures. In the real world, wider tires are a great way to go.

Because of weight I run at the minimum pressure of 35 PSI listed on the tire. I have a 23lb NiMH batter, a 26 lb motor and I'm just over 300 on a steel bike.

Well OM:
I try to ride with the max pressure whether it's 100 psi or 45 psi. My trouble is all the potholes I don't get to see, and those things are murder on the rims and spokes. When I forgot to check the pressure, I blew a front bearing, bent the rim and broke a spoke just a week ago when I hit a pothole because I didn't see it until I hit it.

So I make sure the night before I have the max pressure going on. Just wish I could afford nitrogen.

anon
ray

max for me is 60 i ride with 45.

Max pressure for me is 65, I use 60.

So should a person be using max pressure? I've been using minimum because I have no suspension and it gives a smoother ride. As it is if I hit a couple big potholes or bumps I usually blow at least one connection a day and have to pull over and reattach everything,

I ride with 30 lbs in 2" tires. No bottoming out and very cushy. There is an article out there about using balloon tires and very low pressures instead of shocks.

Hey OM:

Let's put it this way, my front tire got dry rot on me so I had to reduce the pressure or take the chance of a blow out, thank god for slime strips. I rode that puppy on less than 10 pounds. Smooth ride for sure. Don't try and take no high speed corners. Or go over bumps at an angle other than straight on. It's your life if you like to take chances that you don't have to take, be my guest, ride low pressure.

Low pressure isn't safe. If you had to take a corner at high speed you'll be going straight. If you making that turn to avoid getting hit, oh well. Ever see a tire buckle because it's to soft when you are making that turn? You know like when that tree jumps out in front of you?

later OM,
ray

I did notice that at 35psi my cornering is sloppy and bumps on an angle are also sloppy but I assumed thats because I'm running knobby tires on a mountain bike. I still like to hit the dirt now and then and aside from the occasional connection coming loose on the bigger bumps I'm having a blast.

50 psi