I snicker now and then when I read magazine articles recommending a tire pressure with no regard to terrain and rider weight. I don't know what the weight for a mountain biker is, but at 195-200#...I know that the recommended pressures that I read are not enough. I was perusing an article about the Kenda Nevegal one day and the reviewer wrote that the "best pressure for this tire" was in the neighborhood of 32psi. How can that apply to everyone? A 270# rider would be sitting on rim!


So...what's your tire size / psi / rider weight / terrain?



I'm usually ballin 2.3-2.4" 26'ers at 38psi. As I said, I weigh around 195 in the summer. I ride Kansas singletrack with quite a few rocks and roots as well as some smooth terrain.

When I go downtown, I bump the pressure up to at least 42psi b/c the square edges of stairs like to eat rims.

2.5f, 2.3r, both at ~ 30-33 psi, and tubeless, rocky terrain with drops ect, full suspension

2.2f&r f: 35psi, r: 40psi singletrack, some rocks and more technical sections, but nothin crazy full suspension

29x 1.9 f&r f:40psi, r: 45-50 psi, smoother single track, rull rigid bike

im ~ 160 lbs

My weight is probably 175 with all the crap I carry on my back. Damp-30 up front in 2.35 Kinetics, 35 out back in 2.1 WTB V-raptors. Dry and dusty, 35-40 (depends where I'm riding) up front, 40-5 out back. Urban stuff, 40 up front (never know when you're going to drop in on some gravel or mulch) 50 out back.

I'm 140#s plus a backpack full of water and tools. I usually ride about 25 PSI (2.3 in front, 2.1 in back) on really rocky/rooty terrain. Sometimes I bump it up to 35 if I'm doing a lot of climbing on a relatively smooth trail.

I've got Fire XC front and rear both 2.1. 45 rear 35 front, because I hate understeer. my weight is 155# and I go for the trail rides with lots of climbing and lots of techy fast downhill.

185# with all my gear. Rigid. 2.1 Panaracer Fire rear, 2.4 Panaracer Fire Front. 35psi rear / 28psi front. Have never pinch flatted on this setup, even on rocky terrain with wheelie drops. There have been a couple hits where I just "knew" it was gonna pinch flat... nope.

I don't know much about the supposed Anti-Snakebite Chamfer that Panaracer uses for their tires, but something is working well here.

My bikes have 2.25-2.5 inch tires, various models of WTB, Schwalbe and Pacenti, usually run somewhere between 25-33 lbs depending on terrain, lower part of that range for the bigger tires unless extremely rocky. I weigh 200 plus gear.

Vis-a-vis Ed's point re: terrain:

I tend to roll out with my tires over-inflated, and back off PSI as the current conditions require.

I'm a fat guy, so i start out at 45, knowing i'm gonna end up somewhere just under 40. Minus around 10psi on my 29"x2.55s.

If i'm taking the knobbies to the pavement, i inflate to the max labeled on the rubber.

-rob

ps this thread makes an excellent point. reviews/article talking about optimal tire pressure are basically worthless

I'm 180 and ride 35-40 in the front 2.25 and 40 to 45 on the rear 2.0 ... on a full suspension bike

I could probably run less if I wanted, but I like the fast rolling and no worries on pinch flats.

I'm about 105, probably 112 with backpack and tools. I ride mostly cross country, like to do big climbs with long downhills. Usually start with firm tires (~35 lbs.) and the rear shock between 100 and 150 (no lockout), then let everything exhale for the downhill run. Probably run 20 lbs. or less in the tires going downhill, they have to be really soft at my weight or I can't get traction for braking and turns. Cannondale Jeckyl, FS, 26 X 2.25's on it now.

I roll on a 26 in the back and a 20 up front. The rear is a 1.5 at 60psi and the front is a 3.2 at 12psi.

buncha skinny monkeys!

235#'s plus gear

currently riding panracer fire xc's 2.1 front and rear at about 48psi on a hardtail zaskar

-all geared up w/rigid KM on shoulder = 275# +/-

-tubeless WTB WW LT 29"x2.55" front@35psi
-tubeless WTB Stout 29"x2.3" rear@40psi

-big bad pointy rocks of the Rockies.



*Sidewall tears are my main issue. I've felt/heard rock-rim collisions here & there, but the ghetto goop has done its job...........so far.

I ride 2.3 at around 30psi, and I am 170 - 175.

I think I am probably sitting just under 250lbs ATM. I run mine at about 40-45 when out on the same KS single track that Ed was talking about. When I go bomb around campus they are at 65.

Edit That is with tires ranging form 2.1 to 2.35.

Wow, I'm never over 30 PSI Tubeless, and often under twenty. 150lb's plus gear

weigh 165, 26 x 1.95

I run 32 - 35 for off roading and for going around on it i run 65. Though I tried running 65 a few weeks ago for singletrack, something completely different.

I weigh 195 and no clue what my tire pressure is as long as I don't feel the pebbles on the ground( could be the case with over or under inflated tires) I am good.
Me and my riding buddies are like stupid teenagers coming down the mountain, it's a sight to see.

Ed, I go 260-270 lbs and regularly run 32psi rear and 30psi front on Fat Alberts (rear) with a Big Betty front and have never had a flat of any type. On my 29er I generally run around 30psi on Saguaro rear and Rampage front. Again, no issues. I do tend to ride "light". I lift the front on square edged hits and unweight the rear as it rolls. I do not ride on the rim at all. When I was a newb I regularly inflated them much higher and got bounced around, so I lowered the psi as I got better....

Rear is now being replaced w/a Maxxis Crossmark as the latest Stout only survived 10 rides (about 275 miles)
Stout 2009.07.04 mini.jpg
It's not a tumor!

160lbs
2.3 Nevegal Front at 45psi
2.1 WTB Velociraptor Rear at 50psi
Typical New England roots, rocks, small drops (1 foot or so).

I haven't pinch flated in a LONG, LONG time so I probably am running far too much tire pressure.

tire size: ranges from 2.1-2.5

psi: ranges from 28 (sloppy steeps on dual ply sticky rubber) to 36 (railing smooth hardpack on semi-slick)

rider weight: 240

Let's not forget that rim width also factors into the equation. And to all you noobs and hacks who run these outrageously high tire pressures: you don't know what you're missing.

Tire Size: 1.9-1.95 (I like e'm skinny) Kenda Kosmic Lites I think is what I have on there now.
PSI: 45-55 (depending on trail and conditions)
Weight: 165-170
Trail: Pretty Smooth single track, some rooty areas, no drops.

Tires: 2.1 Panaracer Fire or Small Block 8
PSI: 35 or less
Weight 160-165
Trails: Rocks, roots and a little dirt...

Instead of answering this question, I'm going to ask one- because I recently started mountain biking, and am not sure.

I weigh 110#, and my tires are 2.1.
Ride single track: rooty, rocks, small drops, little sandy here and there...

so, what PSI?