The Importance Of Tire Pressure In Mountain Bikes
Alastair Hamilton
Tire pressure is a very important facet of riding any kind of
bike, including mountain bikes. By learning how to set the
tire pressure, you can give yourself more control and help to
make the ride down the mountain smoother. If the tire pressure
is too low, then you will find that it is much harder to cycle
and it can increase the chance of a flat, too. Tire pressure
that is too high can make your ride very bumpy and out of
control, as well.
Tire pressure can vary from person to person, because it is
dependent upon the personal preference of the bicycler, the
tire’s condition, and the terrain that you will be riding on.
The tire pressure can be easily modified simply by using a high
quality pump on the tires. A tire pressure gauge is also an
essential part of keeping your tires at the optimum pressure.
The manufacturer of the tire will have a recommended tire
pressure for your particular tires and this is where you can
start. You can then adjust the tire pressure as needed from
there. It is best to use the same tire pressure gauge and pump
when you check your tires, because you may get different
readings depending upon the tire pressure gauge that you
choose.
A good rule of thumb is to start with a higher tire pressure
for your bike. This means that you want to be around 40-50 psi
(3-3.5 bar), and then lower the tire pressure a little at a time
to find which tire pressure is best for your particular bike,
terrain, and yourself. If you are a little heavier, then you
will want to use a higher tire pressure for sure.
Taking a test bike ride is the best way to check the tire
pressure. You will want to notice how the tire behaves, how it
rides on the terrain, how it slides down the mountain, and how
it hooks in the corners. If you have too much tire pressure,
then drop it in increments of 5 psi in both tires. If the bike
gains grip and is more stable at this tire pressure, then you
will want to keep it at this standard pressure. If not, then
you will continue dropping the tire pressure in small
increments and redoing the test until your bike rides the way
you want and need it to.
If you want to determine the lowest possible tire pressure,
then gradually decrease the tire pressure until you see how it
feels when you ride on almost flat tires. This will help you
to learn how it feels so that you can keep your tubes from
getting damaged.
If your mountain bike tires are tubeless, then you will want to
stay with a lower tire pressure. The advised tire pressure for
tubeless tires is between 30 and 40 psi. This is because
tubeless tires experience fewer pinch flats and even rim
contact occasionally is okay. This is why you can ride on
tires with a much lower tire pressure than normal. If the tire
pressure is too low, you will find that if you are cornering
hard that the tire will roll under the rim.
Another thing that you need to be on the lookout for is rolling
resistance. The increased rolling resistance will take more
effort, but it will offer you greater control and better
traction to allow you to climb easier. For racers who race
cross-country, they would rather have a more efficient bike
versus greater control, so you have to take into consideration
what kind of biking that you will be doing.
Using your hand to squeeze the tire will help you determine
what the right tire pressure feels like so that you do not have
to rely so much on the tire pressure gauge.
About The Author: Alastair Hamilton writes for
http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com . Find more publications
about mountain bike reviews at
http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/mountainbikes.html
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