Yeah, they list min and max, but "ideal" is really somewhere in-between and a personal preference.
My current tires are 115-175, but I couldn't imagine going anywhere close to the max. That'd be crazy.
I run them in the 120-130 range. Vredestein Gran Fondo 25's from Western Cycle.

S

Tyres are tested to about twice the stated max psi so don't worry about over inflating but i always think it's a balancing between speed and comfort and i like to feel my tyres flexing under me and soaking up the bumps. I'm 6'3" and i'm gradually changing all my road tyres to wider ones, typically changing from 23c to 25c, the new thinking as i understand it is that there is no speed penalty with making this change and a definate grip, safety and comfort benefit. On the pump question i can recommend anything by Lezyne, i'm using a steel drive at the moment and it's fantastic.

+1 to all this.

Because of the climbing/sprinting/descending part, I stick to a 45%/55% weight distribution when figuring out my pressures, and haven't had a pinch flat in a long time.

I like this tool, based on the Berto/Heine article: https://www.dorkypantsr.us/bike-tire-...alculator.html

This: https://www.bikequarterly.com/images/TireDrop.pdf: As referenced in prior post.

Normally, the PSI on tires is the maximum recommended for the tire. A 125 lb rider does not need the same PSI as a 250 lb rider, as this article points out.

For folks who have run the gamut of sizes, from someone who has been on 28s pretty much always, are the 25 or 23 section options notably faster, or is it not worth the comfort and puncture trade-offs for most of you? I'm not racing anyone, as one would suspect, but I wasn't sure whether I wanted to try something skinnier out the next time they wear out.

I cannot see any speed difference between 23 and 25. There does seem to be a lower operating pressure when one gets to 28's. Most look to drop to around 80 PSI. By no means does this apply to every tire out there.

23 and 25's are available in just about every LBS in my area. 28's supply is spotty, so that is probably the #1 reason for me that I stick with the skinnier tires.

Since I use Vittoria tires, I went to their chart Recommend Tire Pressure « Vittoria. It indicated that I should use 115 front and 120 rear. By dumb luck that's exactly what I've been using and it's been working well. Go figure.

But in the #41 it needs to be broken down ad nauseum until you're brain hurts for the senseless drivel

This is true

Fixed

This is why the 15% tire drop based on proportion front/rear weight while seated doesn't work well. You need more pressure in the front for situations where the front is under a higher load like in the situations described. I suggest trying it, and see how it works for you. I did and wound up adding more pressure to the front that what that article recommended.

Pretty sure the 15% drop is just a good recommended base line for normal riding conditions (rec riding etc.). I agree for aggressive riding/racing, modifications need to be made pending course and conditions... I'd never want to race a crit on smooth roads with a squishy front end. YMMV.