PSI for bike tires?

[Mucman]

The weather is gettin good and I am going to do some biking! The tires on my bike are a little low and I am wondering what they should be at? I bike on pavement and on trails, I am not an experienced biker so I am not sure what to have it at...

thanks

 

[HoopDogg]

if you do a lot of road riding, or non-aggressive trail riding, on a non-suspension equipped bike, then you are going to want to run the PSI fairly high. My 'beater' bike that I ride around the city has Tioga City Slickers on it, recommended for like 60-80 or something like that, but I run about 100 PSI. But, you want some flexibility of tire for grip off road, so run about 50-60 PSI in both, and you should be fine.

 

[Mucman]

Good think I asked! Mine are at 30... gonna fill em up right now

 

[jonnyGURU]

WHOA! Stop right there.

You didn't even say what size/type your tires are!!!

Look on the side of the tire. There should be a PSI range.

If you have a Mt. Bike with knobbies, the low end is what you would use off road for serious off road terrain. The high number would be your on-the-street pressure. A point right in the middle would be your casual, sometimes off, sometimes on road pressure.

Too much air pressure (putting 65 PSI in a tire rated for 45, for example) will cause cracking in the tire casing. Too little air will also cause cracking and could cause tube pinches or rim dings if you nail a curb, etc.

Hybrid tires have a tighter range (like 65 to 80 PSI as opposed to 35 to 70 PSI) and road tires only have one high pressure (for example: 120 PSI).

 

[Mucman]

I didn't see a PSI range on the tires, but I will get back to you on what type of bikes they are and the sizes...

 

[Mucman]

woops, you were right they PSI's are on the tires ... I swear I looked!!!

Here are the bikes :

Specialized Hard Rock Ultra
Tires : Crossroads II 26 x 1.95 PSI 35-80

Trek 7000
Tires : Matrix 26 x 2.0 PSI 35-65

I have both of em at 65 right now.

 

[yakko]

<< If you have a Mt. Bike with knobbies, the low end is what you would use off road for serious off road terrain >>

unless you are me. I run mine about 55 - 60 all the time on my mountians bikes. My road bikes vary depending on the tire.