Whats the best pressure to run my tyres on?

[Alex12]

Just a quick one, whats the best pressure to run my MTB tyres at? i do mostly trail and all mountain biking.

what difference does the tyre pressure make to the way the bike rides?

cheers

[v8 jago]

It depends on what weight you are ! The heavier you are the more pressure you will need to stop pinch punctures etc. Also depends on what thickness your side walls are on the tyres as to how low the pressure you can get away with. If you run low pressure you will get more grip as your tyre will have more rubber on the floor and it will grip better but it will give you less rolling resistance so it will be harder to pedal on the trails.

[omega man]

Depends on what you want from it, anywhere from 15-50 psi, lower pressure will give you more grip in mud and rocks but increase resistance on faster sections, slowing you down, you also risk pinch punctures with lower pressures in your tyres.
There are several variables, your weight, the tyres, how you want the bike to grip, ride and handle.
I run 15-25 psi but I don't weight a lot and prefer grip to speed.

[SystemParanoia]

recently dropped from 40psi to 25 after testing lots of different pressures, and it made a huge difference in the quagmire that became Sandwell valley park after the rains!

i could actually grip in the gloop great! ( me = 13st )

25psi for me is an absolute mare on the tarmac though, and the bike sounds like a hive of angry wasps lol

[P-Jay]

35psi for me with a little less if it's very muddy, but 60psi if I'm riding on the roads. I'm a stately 16st

[pdV6]

P-Jay said:

35psi for me with a little less if it's very muddy, but 60psi if I'm riding on the roads. I'm a stately 16st

That's pretty much what I use (17st)

Any less than 35ish for me off-road leads to pinch flats galore.
Any less than 60ish on-road and the tyres (slick) get very draggy.

[Gooby]

Depends if you have tubeless or traditional innertubes.
With innertubes, I wouldnt go below 40 - 50 PSI. Too many pinch flats.

[pdV6]

Gooby said:

Depends if you have tubeless or traditional innertubes.
With innertubes, I wouldnt go below 40 - 50 PSI. Too many pinch flats.

On- or off-road?

You'll not get much grip in the dirt with those sorts of pressures.

[v8 jago]

Gooby said:

Depends if you have tubeless or traditional innertubes.
With innertubes, I wouldnt go below 40 - 50 PSI. Too many pinch flats.

I wouldnt use anymore than 40psi off road, And go to about 34-35psi when muddy But with 3ly down hill tyres on i can get away with 25psi, But they are very heavy and wide so they are hard work to keep going at a decent pace.

[P-Jay]

Gooby said:

Depends if you have tubeless or traditional innertubes.
With innertubes, I wouldnt go below 40 - 50 PSI. Too many pinch flats.

That's really high IMHO. I suppose it's horses for courses but I wouldn't get the "bite" I need that high, bet it rolls forever though.

Edited by P-Jay on Friday 22 August 12:28

[P-Jay]

Do you know what? I've only ever pinch flatted once in 3 years riding. Cheap DH tube at Cwmcarn.

I use Maxxis Highroller 2.3's with Schwalbe tubes for XC and 2.7 Highrollers or Minions for DH with Maxxis DH tubes. They'll take a hell of a pounding.

[WildCards]

What an absolute piss boiler of a subject!

How long is a piece of sting? How do you like your steak? How many sheets do you use to wipe your arse?

[P-Jay]

WildCards said:

What an absolute piss boiler of a subject!

How long is a piece of sting? How do you like your steak? How many sheets do you use to wipe your arse?

I KNOW! Asking people their opinions on a technical subject on an forum! The dirty bd.

[Mr_C]

I think the OP was just curious to what we all used so he had an idea of where to start experimenting. What's wrong with that?

For the record I run 18PSI ish in the back and 25PSI in the front on my DJ bike.

On my trials bike I have run as low as 9psi in the back, but you'd not actually want to ride it anywhere!

My work/pub/leave it anywhere bike is at about 30PSI both ends.

[Mr_C]

P-Jay said:

Do you know what? I've only ever pinch flatted once in 3 years riding. Cheap DH tube at Cwmcarn.

I use Maxxis Highroller 2.3's with Schwalbe tubes for XC and 2.7 Highrollers or Minions for DH with Maxxis DH tubes. They'll take a hell of a pounding.

Aren't those DH tubes heavy though?

[WildCards]

Alex12 said:

whats the best pressure to run my MTB tyres at?

P-Jay said:

technical subject

[v8 jago]

WildCards said:

What an absolute piss boiler of a subject!

How long is a piece of sting? How do you like your steak? How many sheets do you use to wipe your arse?

[Gooby]

P-Jay said:

Gooby said:

Depends if you have tubeless or traditional innertubes.
With innertubes, I wouldnt go below 40 - 50 PSI. Too many pinch flats.

That's really high IMHO. I suppose it's horses for courses but I wouldn't get the "bite" I need that high, but it rolls for ever though.

I would agree but you also cant grip the dirt when you are sat on your arse reparing a puncture

[P-Jay]

Mr_C said:

P-Jay said:

Do you know what? I've only ever pinch flatted once in 3 years riding. Cheap DH tube at Cwmcarn.

I use Maxxis Highroller 2.3's with Schwalbe tubes for XC and 2.7 Highrollers or Minions for DH with Maxxis DH tubes. They'll take a hell of a pounding.

Aren't those DH tubes heavy though?

You're not wrong. They come in a box about 3 times the size of a normal tube and weigh a tonne. Not so much of a drama when you're DH'ing, if anything the extra rotational mass helps the wheel stay straight over rocks and loose stones etc.

[P-Jay]

WildCards said:

Alex12 said:

whats the best pressure to run my MTB tyres at?

P-Jay said:

technical subject

I'd say so. Tyre pressure effects the grip, handling and rolling speed as much as tyre choice it's self. Getting it right for the terrain you're riding can give you as much "speed" as the latest and greatest mega bucks forks and a whole lot more than spending hundreds of pounds on Carbon / Ti go-faster bike bling.

Edited by P-Jay on Friday 22 August 11:47