How would 40 PSI "feel"? (Filling a tire and don't have a pressure gauge.)
12-17-07, 08:41 PM
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How would 40 PSI "feel"? (Filling a tire and don't have a pressure gauge.)
This is sort of a crosspost with the Winter forum but there are more people in here and I'm looking for some quick assistance.
I'm filling some new, just-installed tires (Nokian M&G) and the only pump I have now has no pressure gauge. If I were to press down on the tire with my palms with the weight of my upper body, how would ~40 PSI feel? I realize this is a crappy question but I'd like to get these things in good enough shape to test them out, or maybe to go to the store and actually get a gauge.
I'm filling some new, just-installed tires (Nokian M&G) and the only pump I have now has no pressure gauge. If I were to press down on the tire with my palms with the weight of my upper body, how would ~40 PSI feel? I realize this is a crappy question but I'd like to get these things in good enough shape to test them out, or maybe to go to the store and actually get a gauge.
12-17-07, 09:15 PM
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Squeeze a ripe orange, then squeeze your tire. Do they feel similar? They shouldn't.
12-17-07, 09:15 PM
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2" Mountain bike tires (assuming the size based on desired PSI), will feel sort of firm but deflect a few mm. Many MTB tires have a range of 40-65 PSI, so it's okay to over-estimate a little...at least to get you on the road to get yourself a gauge!
12-17-07, 09:20 PM
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12-17-07, 11:44 PM
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I filled them up so that they have a couple millimeters of give. It was too late to go get a gauge by the time I was ready to hit the street, but I took them out anyway. They roll, and my tube didn't explode. Success. This was my first time changing tires, and indeed my first time removing the wheels for any reason, so I'm pleased with myself. If I were to take a wild guess I'd say they're probably at around 50 PSI now.
Removing the fair weather tires (1.75" Vittoria Randonneur Cross) was very hard and took a lot of musclem, but installing the Nokians was almost effortless, and so was removing them (which I had to do when I found I'd installed one backwards).
Removing the fair weather tires (1.75" Vittoria Randonneur Cross) was very hard and took a lot of musclem, but installing the Nokians was almost effortless, and so was removing them (which I had to do when I found I'd installed one backwards).
12-17-07, 11:47 PM
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When I was a kid, we never used a gauge, just the "squeeze" method. Of course, I weighed a 100 lbs, then, too. But I have since discovered that is highly inaccurate. 40 psi feels an awful lot like 30 psi and an awful lot like 50 psi. Spend the $3 and get a gauge.
12-17-07, 11:47 PM
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This is sort of a crosspost with the Winter forum but there are more people in here and I'm looking for some quick assistance.
I'm filling some new, just-installed tires (Nokian M&G) and the only pump I have now has no pressure gauge. If I were to press down on the tire with my palms with the weight of my upper body, how would ~40 PSI feel? I realize this is a crappy question but I'd like to get these things in good enough shape to test them out, or maybe to go to the store and actually get a gauge.
I'm filling some new, just-installed tires (Nokian M&G) and the only pump I have now has no pressure gauge. If I were to press down on the tire with my palms with the weight of my upper body, how would ~40 PSI feel? I realize this is a crappy question but I'd like to get these things in good enough shape to test them out, or maybe to go to the store and actually get a gauge.
12-18-07, 10:10 AM
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This is sort of a crosspost with the Winter forum but there are more people in here and I'm looking for some quick assistance.
I'm filling some new, just-installed tires (Nokian M&G) and the only pump I have now has no pressure gauge. If I were to press down on the tire with my palms with the weight of my upper body, how would ~40 PSI feel? I realize this is a crappy question but I'd like to get these things in good enough shape to test them out, or maybe to go to the store and actually get a gauge.
I'm filling some new, just-installed tires (Nokian M&G) and the only pump I have now has no pressure gauge. If I were to press down on the tire with my palms with the weight of my upper body, how would ~40 PSI feel? I realize this is a crappy question but I'd like to get these things in good enough shape to test them out, or maybe to go to the store and actually get a gauge.
See also: https://sheldonbrown.com/pressure
Sheldon "Like An Analogy" Brown
12-18-07, 02:09 PM
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Destro'. For your future convenience, next time you add air to a known compression, test it "by feel" with your thumb and commit that "feel" to memory. Repeat for all your tire types. . .mountain, road, cyclocross. Not perfect mind, but it'll get you home 'til you can put a gauge on it.
12-18-07, 11:10 PM
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This is sort of a crosspost with the Winter forum but there are more people in here and I'm looking for some quick assistance.
I'm filling some new, just-installed tires (Nokian M&G) and the only pump I have now has no pressure gauge. If I were to press down on the tire with my palms with the weight of my upper body, how would ~40 PSI feel? I realize this is a crappy question but I'd like to get these things in good enough shape to test them out, or maybe to go to the store and actually get a gauge.
I'm filling some new, just-installed tires (Nokian M&G) and the only pump I have now has no pressure gauge. If I were to press down on the tire with my palms with the weight of my upper body, how would ~40 PSI feel? I realize this is a crappy question but I'd like to get these things in good enough shape to test them out, or maybe to go to the store and actually get a gauge.
?ed rader
