I have the Hutchinson Scorpion 26x2.0 tires on my bike. These tires are made with a Kevlar beads which makes it what is known as a folding tire. I'm curious as to whether the Kevlar beads decrease the chances of getting pinch flats at low pressures. I haven't gone Mtbing with these tires yet so I'm kind of cautious about what tire pressure I should use. The sidewall says Recommended competion pressure: 29 PSI. Maximum 85 PSI. I haven't gone as low as 29 but I have gone to about 38 and, while looking at the tire while biking around, was scared to death to continue on at such a low PSI. I'm going MTBing this weekend and would like to settle a few things once and for all.

What is the safe zone of PSI for me? I weigh ~140lbs with all my gear on including the bike. Maybe 120lbs without the bike.

Do Kevlar beads increase or decrease the chances of getting pinch flats? What about Kevlar sidewalls.

What exactly causes a pinch flat in the first place?

Thanks in advance,

Josh