So it seems you have two things you're doing wrong, first is that you're not making sure as you inflate that the tire is properly seated. There's a bead seat mark, usually a thin strip of rubber, around the whole tire that's designed to tell you if the tire is equal all the way around. Check it at 30, 60, and 90psi, doing so will let you see that the tire isn't slipping off.
Your next issue is that you're over-inflating the tires and they don't like it. Most tires list a max inflation of 120psi and there's really no good reason to go over that. Going higher just increases the risk of a blow off.
Originally Posted by
LarrySellerz
I pinchflatted 25s because they were underinflated for the type of riding I was doing (hauling groceries.) I needed 130+ in them, and frankly in terms of historical tire pressures this isn't even abnormally high. Back in the day much lighter people went to higher pressures. Thin tires for heavy riders are perfectly fine as long as they are inflated properly
No, your tires weren't underinflated, and you don't need 130+ psi in them. In the past they didn't run higher unless they were tubulars. Road tubulars would be run as high as 130-135psi, 160psi was for track only, and only tubulars were/are capable of running that high. As two others have rightly mentioned, there's every possibility you're attempting to exceed the limit of the rim. Having the rim blow apart from over inflation will sound like a literal cannon going off near you, and if you're riding will create issues. Anything from the now flattened sidewalls slamming into the stays to the rim being split in half along the spoke holes and coming apart catastrophically, both are impressive to see.
Originally Posted by
icemilkcoffee
Most folks are fine with 25mm. Most of my bikes are on 25mm. The problem is that Larry is pushing 300lb.s. That is the crux of the issue. What works for a 160lb TdF rider, is not going to work for a 300lb rider. At that weight he should be riding 32mm. It's not a conspiracy by Big Gravel. It's just fundamental physics. Large rider needs wide tires. You don't put 185/60/14 tires on a F150 truck, do you?
BS, I toss on my shoes, phone, saddle bag, keys, helmet, and water bottles and the weight of the rider and bike well exceeds 300#. My road bike doesn't take wider than 23c and it has never been an issue. Currently running 25c on my cross bike for riding with the kids. I haven't had a flat yet this year and haven't had a pinch flat in several years. 32c has its place, and while I would consider it appropriate for a grocery getter or general use bike it isn't required at his weight.
Originally Posted by
tomato coupe
As a representative of Big Gravel, I just want to emphasize one point -- whenever someone buys a 23mm or 25mm tire, a kitten dies. Do the right thing, buy wide tires.
At least its not puppies.
Originally Posted by
LarrySellerz
shouldn't matter if its properly inflated, evidently there wasn't enough pressure because I managed to get a pinch flat. Thats like saying "you shouldn't have hopped the curb if you didn't want a pinch flat" like youre kind of right but its ignoring the root cause,
Yeah, if you're getting that many pinch flats, learn to ride. Until you learn to hop the curb right, expect pinch flats. Learn to dodge potholes, cracks, grates and any other obstacles or properly hop them, or expect pinch flats; that's just how it works. Pressure won't matter, at too high a pressure, hitting edges will just force the tire to unseat and blow and potentially dent your rim. At the right pressure, you'll just pinch and potentially dent the rim. Technique in your case matters more than pressure. I'm probably every bit your size, I run my 23c at 110r/100f, my 25c at 100r/95f on the road. At the track I run my 25c at 120r/110f unless I'm at Kissena when I stick with road pressures. Pinch flats and blow outs aren't an issue, but you have to watch how you ride.
Originally Posted by
smd4
Why do you think a tire rated for 145 psi would “let go” at 140? You guys sure seem like a nervous bunch!
Show me a tire rated to 145psi that isn't a tubular. And at 140psi I'd be more worried about the rim letting go.