Pressure recommendations for Marathon Winters?
12-16-09, 09:12 PM
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Pressure recommendations for Marathon Winters?
I just got my Marathon Winter (700x35) tires and put them on my Trek FX. I haven't ridden them yet.
I'm not sure what pressure I should be using, so I thought I'd ask those of you who have them to tell me about your experiences.
I'm a 250lb Clyde, and in my summer tires (Pasela Panaracers) I run max pressure (115 PSI). I don't want to got too low in pressure, for fear of pinch flats at my weight. On other hand these tire top out at 85 PSI. Should I just run them at 80 PSI or so, and let my weight flatten them out? Or can I run less pressure safely?
BTW, I didn't have all that much trouble getting them on, although I did use a bead jack on the front tire (my front rim is narrower than my rear rim). The tires were shipped in a "figure 8" coil, and they are stiff enough that they haven't completely recovered from their voyage through UPS yet.
That said, they are on the bike and inflated to roughly 50 PSI each. We'll see what they look like in the AM.
Forecast here is for bitter cold and wind for the next couple of days, but no additional rain or snow. The commute today (on the panaracers) was one of the slowest ones ever (from fighting the wind, mostly). It will be interesting to see the difference is (snow tires vs summer tires).
I'm not sure what pressure I should be using, so I thought I'd ask those of you who have them to tell me about your experiences.
I'm a 250lb Clyde, and in my summer tires (Pasela Panaracers) I run max pressure (115 PSI). I don't want to got too low in pressure, for fear of pinch flats at my weight. On other hand these tire top out at 85 PSI. Should I just run them at 80 PSI or so, and let my weight flatten them out? Or can I run less pressure safely?
BTW, I didn't have all that much trouble getting them on, although I did use a bead jack on the front tire (my front rim is narrower than my rear rim). The tires were shipped in a "figure 8" coil, and they are stiff enough that they haven't completely recovered from their voyage through UPS yet.
That said, they are on the bike and inflated to roughly 50 PSI each. We'll see what they look like in the AM.
Forecast here is for bitter cold and wind for the next couple of days, but no additional rain or snow. The commute today (on the panaracers) was one of the slowest ones ever (from fighting the wind, mostly). It will be interesting to see the difference is (snow tires vs summer tires).
12-16-09, 09:21 PM
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My 700x35 Klondikes have a max pressure of 85lbs and I weigh 240ish. I normally run them at 65 front 70 rear though I may run them higher if the roads seem dry and clear, lower when the snow and ice dictate. YMMV
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
12-17-09, 12:22 AM
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I'm and Uberclyde at 300 lbs (give or take a few depending on whether or not my commute takes me past the local Chinese food joint). I ran my Marathon Winters at 80 psi until the first snowfall and then I reduced them to 65 psi. No problems so far but this is my first winter on them and we haven't had any substantial snowfall yet. I find my self looking for frozen puddles on my commutes and smiling like a fool while traversing them. (Maybe if I stopped buying take-out I could afford a second winter bike with more aggressively-treaded, studded tires for the nasty stuff!)
