One of the guys in our group deflates his road bike tires from 100 psi to about 20 psi after each ride to prevent the tires from stretching. I have never heard of this before. Any opinions on this?

I've never heard of that practice. Seems a little silly. I have 2500 miles on my tires; they still look good and perform well and I don't deflate them.

Dante.

I have not heard of that one before, but I suppose we all have our quirks that we have about our bikes or riding style. I have no factual basis for this, but I would think that the reinflation of the tube would cause more harm than leaving them at or near recommened pressure between rides.

I have heard of it in the summer when you are transporting bikes and in the winter when a bike is in storage, but not between rides. Different strokes.

DP

yes, its good practice if you run tubulars, but not necessary if you run clinchers. basically it helps to preserve the life of the tubular.

The wrench I go to does it. He's an ex-pro team mechanic.

Well, there ya go!

In my experience, there are just as many pros that are superstitious or get caught up in bizarre logic as non racers. But we don't listen to the guy that has no prestige because he's crazy...

I'm sure it does no harm.

Az

Clinchers or tubulars? Pros mostly use tubulars, don't they?

I had some mtb tire that sat around inflated and semi-inflated withought use for literally 10 years. the rim strips and tubes were crap. The tires were a bit stretched but I doubt it was due to inflation. I think it was just what happens with rubber over time. However with new rim strips and tubes they still work just fine. Of course they probably will have a shorted usage time. Maybe it's different when we're talking 120psi. I'm no mechanic but I'm pretty sure the only time you NEED to store deflated is when your bike is boarding an airplane. I guess if I was saving them for a museum I might do it though.

That is a myth. Even if the airplane cargo hold is completely unpressurized, the air pressure difference between there and sea level is at most 15psi. That won't make a difference unless your tires were grossly over inflated.

Yeah, but how many people actually train on tubulars. I mean regular people who don't have support car following them...

I doubt it makes any difference, but if it does stretch the tire that's a good thing. Its usually easier to get a tire on and off after its been used a bit. So if keeping them inflated, stretches them I'm all for it.

Largely a myth, according to Sheldon Brown at : https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/tubular-fables.html Valid for high level race quality tires, though - thinness of material.

I road tubulars - Wolber Invulnerables (far from it, in fact), variety of inexpensive (relative term when applied to tubulars) Clements, once upon a time - never deflated them between rides, never had a problem (from keeping them inflated, that is). The LBS in '74 had recommended the deflation practice, I never took the time. Their rationale was that keeping the tire inflated would cause the stitching to pull through the tire casing.

I don't always do what the Sheldon Brown site recommends, though - I'd never soak a Brooks Saddle in Proofhide or anything else and set it out in the sun, bake it, or otherwise infuse the protectant into the saddle. A little dab'll do ya, as the commercial used to say. I've read lots of posts from people who routinely do this, though, without the end of civilization as we know it. Different strokes, etc.

Sincerely,

Bill

I am new to this forum and this is the question I have. I know that your post was 3 years ago but bare with me.

I just put a new set of Conti Grand Prix 4k's 700x23c on my wheel set and noticed how easy it was to get the tire past the brake pad. Usually I have to pound the wheel past the brake pads and it is a pain in the ass. Ah-Ha I thought, what would happen if I take the pressure out when finished riding? It could'nt hurt!
What would the benifit be other than easy changing. Can the tires keep their narrow profile longer, would this help with performance, ie. less rolling resistance?

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks

The practice started when tubulars were made with silk (hence the term 'silks'). For these tires it was common practice to deflate them between rides to prevent stretching or deformation.

Modern tubulars or clincher are not prone to this (no silk) so there is absolutely no advantage whatsoever to deflating them between rides.

If you are going to put your bike in the trunk of your car and leave it in the sun for a while this may prevent the tube from bursting and damaging the tire but it has to be pretty darn hot to do so.

100% waste of time. Go ride your bike.

That's what brake quick releases are for... to avoid the problem in the first place.

Regular people carry spares, then they don't need support cars.


1) He's getting an upper body workout by pumping his tires everyday ?
2) He has lots of spare time.

I would think that deflating tubulars would affect the glue's adhesion over time...all that stretching and contracting of the contact area.

I let some (maybe 10 - 20psi) pressure out of my tyres after each ride, then pump them back up just before the next ride. If nothing else, I am confident of the tyre pressure every time. It's become habit, and one I picked up years ago, mostly because the other people I ride with did/do the same thing.

I also shift to the smallest chainring and cog to leave as little tension in the cables as possible.

You gotta fit in man. Don't want to be the lame duck out of the pack. Even if it means you're doing something for no reason.

I've never done this, and I mostly run tubulars and have for a long time. I don't see how it would help the tire. I do think excessive handling and possible twisting of the stem could stress the attachment of the stem to the innertube, and probably half of my flats ever have been stem interface leaks rather than punctures.

Road Fan

carm on!! It takes about a minute to pump up my tyres before each ride

I do it. I don't drop them to 20; probably more like 40psi.

I dunno if it's myth or not, but I had a lot of problems with my tyres going out of shape and 'out of round', and some had the tread separating a bit from the casing, well before they were worn, so i started doing it a couple of years ago.

What's the big deal anyway? As I said, it takes about a minute to pump up my tyres, the tyres cost a lot more than my Silca floor pump spare parts, and I reckon the rim tape lasts longer, not that I'm a tight-arse about rim tape, but it's annoying getting those punctures on the inside of the tube

Pumping your tires up to an exact psi before each ride = pro. Its the biz, the snap, its tight. (Whatever the farken trendy lingo you seppos are using right now).

Its part of your daily prep. Due diligence if you will.

Just hopping on your bike without checking (and adjusting) tire pressure before every single ride is uncivilized. Plain and simple.

Get realistic you lot.

+1. Every time.

Saves me finding out that I've got a slow leak an hour into my ride.

Are there really cyclists who don't pump up there tires before every ride?