Another Tire PSI Question - About The Effects Of Running Too Low Of Pressure.

[3speed]

I've read Many times about people running as low of PSI as possible for traction, etc. Today my PSI was low when I got out to the trails. I rode anyway since I had enough air to keep from pinching, but the tire seemed squishy side to side if I pushed on the fork or chain stay to the side. I ended up landing a jump a little off and my front tire washed out upon landing and I wiped out. A couple of times my front tire seemed to push out more than it should have in the turns. It was only my second time out this season, though, and I was riding harder than last time, so I'm not sure if it was that or because of the low PSI. When I checked my PSI back at home It was ~20. Will pressure that low give you more traction or is it so low that it may have been why my front tire seemed to have less traction than it should have?

[dminor]

That depends on the tire itself. A 2-ply DH casing tire will benefit from low pressures like that. But the sidewalls on single-wall folding-bead tires run real low can buckle or deform, which negates your traction and compromises handling.

[3speed]

Awesome. Thanks. I'm running the "Race" version of WTB MotoRaptors, which I'm pretty certain fall into the second category.

[rumrunn6]

judge pressure by performance. you didn't like the performance of the pressure you used today so go higher next time. soon you will know what works best for you. I did the same with studded snow tires while bike commuting through the winter. some days I liked max pressure, other days I let 2lbs out.

[cryptid01]

But the sidewalls on single-wall folding-bead tires run real low can buckle or deform, which negates your traction and compromises handling.

...and also makes you ruin your shorts when it rolls over during hard cornering.

[dminor]

...and also makes you ruin your shorts when it rolls over during hard cornering.

Yeah and that too.