pls help, tire pressure for mud...?

[Dan]

got a race on this weekend. just went and got a pair of Tioga White Tigers. last season on this same track it was muddy as hell (just what its gonna be like this weekend). and i remember an expert rider talking about how his white tigers are gripping so much better then everything else i nthe mud, hens the reason i got some white tigers.

anyway. obviously u get more grip in the dry by running low pressure. i usually run about 25-27psi in the rear and 16-20psi in the front depending on how rocky the track is (i ride hardtail).

but for mud would it be better for higher pressure? im talkin sticky, yucky, australian Clay. sticks to everything, very messy and slippery. coz i kno its good for a mud tire to penetrate the mud and get to the hard stuff bellow it. so does that mean running higher PSI? doing that the tire wouldnt be so flat on the ground and it would go to the bottom of the mud easier.

OR, run lower pressure and have more surface contact, but i think that wouldnt get to the bottom of the mud as easy.

im confused on this one...

cheers.

ps, i dont want this to be a discussion on what is a good mud tire, i wanna kno about pressure.

[the flying moose]

in the mud i find its not really a pressure problem its a thickness problem.

say you are racing in mud, whats gonna go throught the mud better a 2.1 or a 2.7-3.0? obviously the 2.1 cuts through the mud better than a fat tire which will just gather alot of mud slowing you down.

in conclusion, i have no idea.

[IFO]

i'd try running higher pressure first...

see how the tires work...

then if your not happy try a softer tire pressure....

but skinny tires generally work better with higher pressure...

[ReCkLeSs RiDeR]

I would think proboably a bit lower than normal, not low pressure, just lower

[Mountain Dewd]

Depends on the course i think, like if there are exposed slimie rocks or roots that are off camber and stuff you will need to have good and low pressure so the tire will conform to the terrain, but if it is just a mud bog or super wet grass a little higher preasure might not hurt, just so you get lots of penitration. i would just go and during practise experiment with different settings.

[Keefer]

Originally posted by wisc fr-rider
just so you get lots of penitration.

I concur. Penetration is definitely good.

Skinny tires at a high pressure is what I'd do.