Originally Posted by
FatBottomedGirl
The "wizard" on Vittoria website recommends 9.2 bar in front and 9.7 in rear.
I guess I will gave to test it all out by myself.
I still don't understand the whole pressure concept in a tubular though.
I mean I understood you can and should run higher pressures than on clinchers but why?
At equal pressure, will a tubular work a lot differently than a clincher?
There's a lot of Voodoo in tire advice.
IME (45+ yars riding tubulars), at the same width, tubulars can be run with slightly less pressure than a clincher because all of the tire is outside the rim so there's reduced chance of bottoming on a pothole (important on east coast roads). Plus since they're more supple there's less rolling resistance from tire deflection.
I've always ridden at about 7 bars or so, and if would prefer a wider tire to more pressure, but everybody needs to experiment and decide for themselves because we all ride under different conditions.
Higher pressure, means lower rolling drag on smooth roads but the benefit flattens out as you get near zero. On roads that aren't as smooth, excess pressure can actually increase drag because of the power lost to hitting bumps. Higher pressure also reduces the risk of the rim bottomong on potholes.
OTOH, higher pressure means less traction, and handling skittishness. It also gives a harsher ride and can lead to hand fatigue.
My preference is to stay well below the maximum pressure, because I prefer the improved traction and ride quality over squeezing the vry last bit of road resistance possible.
Start with Vittoria's advice and consider that the Max. Consider 6-7 bars the minimum to ensure the tire stays on the rim, and within that range find your own balance of ride quality and low drag.