MTB tire pressure

BusyRaeNOTBusty

Do you think this little calculator is accurate?

http://mtb.ubiqyou.com/

allaboutthecake

Don't know but I'll give it a bump. :drinker:

kcjchang

Gives similar results as other calculators. See
http://sheldonbrown.com/tyres-husband.html
http://www.biketinker.com/2010/bike-resources/optimal-tire-pressure-for-bicycles/
http://www.vittoria.com/tech/recom-tyre-pressure/
http://www.dorkypantsr.us/bike-tire-pressure-calculator.html
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edisongauss.bertotirepressure.demo

Probably all based of Frank Berto’s 2007 research on proper inflation for best efficiency, http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/images/TireDrop.pdf.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

Thanks.

Also, this post may or maybe not have been inspired by arguments with my husband (who is, of course, NEVER wrong about MTB stuff) over tire pressure....

jacksonpt

It lines up reasonably well with how I run my bikes, for as unscientific as that is.

sheclimber

Maybe I should ask him about psi for my CX bike because I can't decide

blackcoffeeandcherrypie

The correct pressure is often printed on the side of the tyre but, especially for heavier cyclists, I like to go higher. I use sheldon brown's calculations and they work for me.

People used to worry about tubes exploding on them, but this almost never happens with modern tubes. The main downsides to really hard tyres are that you get flats more easily and it might be a little less comfortable on the *kitten*. There's also some argument to be made about softer tyres gripping slightly better, especially on slippery surfaces.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

That's the argument I've heard, lower pressure = more traction = better, faster, etc, on dirt/rock trails anyway.

cowbellsandcoffee

I'd love to hear thoughts on pressure for CX bikes. :bigsmile:

I race with psi in the high 20's.

blackcoffeeandcherrypie

For racing, I'd go as high as you can comfortably go as this will increase your speed.

Somewhere, I think sheldon brown, they recommend pumping the back tyre up more than the front tyre. So you get the increased grip from the front tyre, and then the increased speed from the back tyre, which takes most of your weight anyway.

patrickblo13

Seems a bit off for me. I usually run my tire pressure between 19-21psi depending on the conditions. The worse the conditions the lower the tire pressure...