xfimpg

Hey Everyone,
Does anyone have the "truth" as to how much pressure a 16gram CO2 cartridge can inflate to?
Thanks
Mike

banerjek

If you're riding 700x23, it provides sufficient inflation. Otherwise, not quite enough but certainly enough to get you somewhere.

rduffy

i can get at least 100psi out of one 16g cart. but generally speaking, more psi than any mere mortal can get into a tire with a hand pump.
not sure what adding a 2nd cart would push it up to, but certainly not another 100psi since the more pressure in the tire the harder it is to get more air in. but i wouldn't doubt with 2 carts you could get up to 140-150 if your tires allowed that.

banerjek

With a Road Morph, even 120psi is pretty easy. However, it's much heavier than CO2 and takes much longer.

Dubbayoo

I believe 12g will get you to 95psi and 16g to 115'ish.

DonDenver

Mike, not sure what the ‘truth’ is regarding a 16g cart outside of what the manufacture quotes [YMMV] What I do know is nothing is accurate other than what you measure by your own skill getting that cartridge air into that clincher. Hot sun, dirt and dust, sweaty hands, and being a long way from home finds a way to waste some pressure even challenging the best…often why many still carry a pump. I have stopped many times to assist some folks who have wasted practically an entire cartridge because of many related failures due to inexperience in fixing a flat and properly inflating. Best way to know the actual inflation number is to buy a couple and try your own hand measuring the results on your tires.

badkarma

That's one reason why I carry 2 CO2 cartridges on me.

Psimet2001 

+1 - 12g are much cheaper and will get you home on a 700X23. Carry 2 in case you're not handy with using it. Even with 2 it is much cheaper than 1 16g cartridge.

predat0r

+1

I have used 16g a few times and they seem to fill to about 115.

xfimpg

Thanks guys.

DScott

Genuine Innovations says up to 130psi...

I'm not sure if that is accurate, but I do know that you can blow up a tube with one if you're not careful. Sounds like a gunshot.

banerjek

It does sound like a gunshot, but I've never had a tire blow from CO2. I only use 16g (as a matter of fact, I had to today thanks to a cut I picked up on my commute). I know they say 130psi, but the tire never feels that hard. Over 100, sure.

Scorer75

When I carry CO2, I carry one 12 and one 16. I use the 12 to give the tube some form making it easier to get in the tire, and then to make sure everything is seated properly.

I then go to the 16 to inflate the tire. This gives me pretty close to the 120 psi I like on a 700 x 25 tire.

If you use 16g cartridges like I do, you know they are much more expensive than the 12g. Check Ebay for some deals on the threaded 16g cartridges. I saved a lot of money like that.

Socalcycling

Dude save your 12. No need to use it to "form" your tube. Just stick in your mouth and blow.

2manybikes

The "truth" is, it depends. There is no fixed number.

It will change with the size of the tire and the ambient temperatue. Below freezing it's hard to get them to work at all. All 23mm tires are not the exact same size or the same volume either. All rims are not the same width, that changes things too. If you do have a 23mm tire even a 12g cartridge will give you enough to ride home on.

Look at the chart that Innovations has on the web site for different size tires and different pressures.

Cain

...and what kind of forum is this again?

CastIron

It's enough. What else matters at that point?

2Many offers great explanation (as always), though.

zac

I go the expensive 16g threaded route...that way I carry 3 bottles and only the head of the inflator. But either a 12 or 16 will get you home on a 700x. But recall that PV=nRT, so for all things being equal (ie same tube/tire same 16oz bottle), temperature will effect how much pressure you end up with. So the lower the temp, the lower the pressure; higher temp, higher pressure.

zac

Seamus

Well I can tell you that when your replacement tube has a hole in it, 16g isn't enough.

"Hi Honey? I need a ride. I have a flat. Yes, I have my repair kit with me. Yes, I was able to install a replacement - it didn't hold air. Yes I have a patch, but I'm out of CO2. Thanks."

<off to www.nashbar.com to order a mini-pump...>

Jim

predat0r

I got a "controlled inflater" on sale (it was a hurricane one or something) that came with 2 cartridges and was the same price as 2 cartridges so I thought what the hell.

It actually works really well. I was on a team ride the other day and a teammate was attempting to use his inflater but it blew off the valve and wasted most of his co2. He used mine and worked perfect.

banerjek

That's why I carry 3 carts, 2 tubes, and a patch kit. One to screw up, one to discover I didn't get all the glass out of my tire, and one to keep in reserve just in case I'm extra unlucky. I've never needed more than 2 (just bad luck, not a botched repair)

ovoleg

Socal speaks from experience

CastIron

So your new nickname is "Presta" then.

DScott

It might have been a pinched tube, wasn't my tire. When it blew up, the guy i was "helping" wasn't happy about it either. He was having the devil of a time with his new pump, I offered to help using my new CO2 doohickie, and well, you can guess the rest.



I did learn to go more slowly when filling up the tire. CO2 isn't quite at the "fire and forget" stage.

Dubbayoo

nashbar had ten 12g's for $10 recently. I carry one of each. If I'm on the way home I use the 12. If i've got a ways to go I use the 16.