Tyre Pressures (Mountain Bike)

[David87]

I've had a 2011 Specialized Hardrock Disc for a few months now and am really enjoying it. One thing I haven't yet played about with is tyre pressures - I've simply left them with what was in them when it was delivered and I was shocked to discover just now that they're currently at 18 PSI! Guess I should have checked them sooner! Did think it was quite hard work.

Anyway, what would you recommend I should put in them? The tyre walls state anywhere between 35-80 PSI, so I'm thinking somewhere around 55 PSI for the type of riding I generally do (tarmac / dirt paths). Am I on the right lines? Thanks! For reference, here's a picture of one of the tyres:

[RRS_Staffs]

Snakebites are the enemy of MTBers
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_p.html#pinchflat

If you are seriously taking a mountain bike off road then youve done well to have avoided them so far
On the other hand if you arent so brave/reckless then what you have described sounds fine

For what its worth I run my MTB tubeless so I can get away with far far lower pressures and still avoid snakebites
Rock hard tyres on a MTB = minimal compliance and comfort over the rocks

Cheers

[Thom987]

I use my MTB mainly on the road and checked my tyre pressure on Friday. I was surprised that it was down to almost 20psi. Its now at 60, but its a little hard, will probably try 55 tomorrow.
I`m surprised that the tyres lost so much pressure over the winter.

[David87]

I've luckily managed to avoid any pinch flats as I've not done any mental off-roading and I'm reasonably light, but having tried 55 PSI today it's too hard. Had a search around and discovered that Halfords recommend 35 PSI front and 45 PSI rear. Will give that a shot now.

[PLamborghini]

I do mostly roads, rocky/dirt paths and I run 70 psi, 5 over the recommended. 12 months of riding every day and I have had 1 puncture resulting in a new tyre as I hit a huge shard of glass and my tyre literally blew up, bending my wheel

[Vladimir]

On my hardpacked route - 60PSI, on my much more technical route - 40PSI.

I run 1.8" Nobby Nics (very light) and very rarely suffer from flats.

[MrTom]

tyre pressure guide

[shalmaneser]

It's always going to be a compromise between grip (lower pressure better) and efficiency and puncture resistance (high pressures better).

Personally I run my 2.3 tyres (so quite a big air volume) at about 30psi. Much more than that an you start to loose too much grip imo. But that is 'proper' mtbing, so roots, rocks, going fast etc, towpaths and stuff you can get away with higher pressures.

[Parrot of Doom]

I've always gone for 40psi in both tyres, doing a mix of tarmac, dirt track and mud.

[anniesdad]

shalmaneser said:

It's always going to be a compromise between grip (lower pressure better) and efficiency and puncture resistance (high pressures better).

Personally I run my 2.3 tyres (so quite a big air volume) at about 30psi. Much more than that an you start to loose too much grip imo. But that is 'proper' mtbing, so roots, rocks, going fast etc, towpaths and stuff you can get away with higher pressures.

I'm with Shalmaneser, if your MTB'ing involves mainly Blue routes/fire roads etc then run the pressures higher to reduce rolling resistance but if venturing onto Red/Black routes then really pressures need to be around the 30-35psi mark for better grip. I run my tubeless 2.25 Nobby Nic's on my Blur LT at around 32 psi. My riding involves mainly aggressive XC and/or Red/black trail routes.

It always surprises me how many riders never check their pressures before setting out. It's the first thing I do before every ride.

[MElliottUK]

40psi for me

[zebedee]

anniesdad said:

I'm with Shalmaneser, if your MTB'ing involves mainly Blue routes/fire roads etc then run the pressures higher to reduce rolling resistance but if venturing onto Red/Black routes then really pressures need to be around the 30-35psi mark for better grip. I run my tubeless 2.25 Nobby Nic's on my Blur LT at around 32 psi. My riding involves mainly aggressive XC and/or Red/black trail routes.

It always surprises me how many riders never check their pressures before setting out. It's the first thing I do before every ride.

this is the proper advice.

[mackie1]

I generally run 35-40 psi for general riding. I'm using normal tyres but without tubes so the recommended max pressure is 40psi anyway (they can blow off the rim at higher pressures).

[zebedee]

also, on a hardtail the bike will be more skittish on certain terrain (most of it!) so will be more sensitive to pressure. Try 40 psi on a hardtail at decent speed on a rough trail, drop 5 psi and you will be amazed how more composed the bike is. In snow and mud run lower pressures to increase the contact patch, although in certain conditions a skinnier tyre and hard pressures can help cut through.

Experiment, play, have fun!

[Gooby]

zebedee said:

also, on a hardtail the bike will be more skittish on certain terrain (most of it!) so will be more sensitive to pressure. Try 40 psi on a hardtail at decent speed on a rough trail, drop 5 psi and you will be amazed how more composed the bike is. In snow and mud run lower pressures to increase the contact patch, although in certain conditions a skinnier tyre and hard pressures can help cut through.

Experiment, play, have fun!

wot he said.
I cant think of any reason to use MTB tyres at above 45psi. If you are running higher then a simple puncture would probably blow out the innertube. For the type of riding you suggest I would start playing at about 35psi. Good enough for decent rolling, hard enough to stop pinch flats and compliant enough to help prevent rim damage for the inexperienced rider. If you are spending more time off road then I would drop to 30psi

I keep my tyres at about 30psi but I am running tubeless and they are more compliant and a million times more puncture resistent! I am running on Nobby Nic evo's (2.1), spring / summer running pressure is about 30psi. Deals with the odd bit of wet and mud well and holds the bends well while resisting the sharp / flinty rocks that have been un earthed by winter rain, In the winter I am up at about 40psi to cut through the mud. My old mountain kings were kept at 30psi all year round at they like to float over everything and such a large volume of air protected the rim.

[E21_Ross]

zebedee said:

anniesdad said:

I'm with Shalmaneser, if your MTB'ing involves mainly Blue routes/fire roads etc then run the pressures higher to reduce rolling resistance but if venturing onto Red/Black routes then really pressures need to be around the 30-35psi mark for better grip. I run my tubeless 2.25 Nobby Nic's on my Blur LT at around 32 psi. My riding involves mainly aggressive XC and/or Red/black trail routes.

It always surprises me how many riders never check their pressures before setting out. It's the first thing I do before every ride.

this is the proper advice.

this exactly. i always pump mine up to about 55-60 when riding on road or fire roads etc, but when doing red/black trails i never go past 40psi, if it's wet i'll usually run it a little lower.