high or low pressure in dry conditions?

[trail worker]

Just wondering if it is better to run a high pressure in your tires on really dry, loose conditions or are lower pressures still good?

Ive always ridden with lower pressure no matter what the terrain, but am just curious to what works best in the drier climates such as the interior of BC or the kootenays?

[Nelson]

Higher PSI will roll faster, but low PSI will grip a bit better. Keep in mind with low PSI, it'll roll over the rim a little at speed and wear out much faster.

[trail worker]

yeah for sure, I'm just wondering if the conditions are already dusty and loose, like your riding on ball bearings almost..lower pressure probably won't help with traction right?

I'm just thinking back to some of my rides in the kootenays last year towards the end of the summer when I couldn't seem to get traction with lower psi, just wondering if I was just shooting myself in the foot and limiting my rolling resistance by running lower pressure?

[Desloc]

What front tire were you running? Maybe it's not great in the dry?


Des

[trail worker]

haha yeah the tire is largely to blame..

tire brand aside, i'm just wondering if giving up the rolling resistance with low PSI is even worth it when it's super dry out? I rode high psi on a snow ride last weekend and the speed I could roll at was amazing, compared to when I run super low pressure.

[Desloc]

Haha... cmon, what tires?


I say keep making them harder to the point of washing out and then get back to us :)


Des

[trail worker]

hehe the front is a super old, near bald 243 racing tire, similiar in design to the gazalodi.

I ran about 29psi front and rear this past ride and found it had just as good traction as at 20 psi, only the bike pedalled and accelerated alot easier.

[Desloc]

Well then...


... you need new tires :P



Des

[Loopie]

Low pressure is so the tire can conform.
The compound is the compound...I don't think it cares too much what pressure you are at. If the ground is irregular enough that a low pressure is giving lots of conformity...you technically now have more tire in contact with the ground.
I like to start at higher pressure and work my way down the scale in 2psi increments until I notice negative feedback, then I'll concentrate on the 2-4psi above that.

For around here...I can recommend 26-28 as good starting point. I now never run below 25 or above 30. So that might be helpful:)

[HIBuLlitT]

Over here when it gets dry (please stop raining), I find I roll faster w/ less
pressure because I get more "floatation" through the soft sanndy stuff. Low
pressure kills you though in the hardpack.

[Loopie]

Over here when it gets dry (please stop raining), I find I roll faster w/ less
pressure because I get more "floatation" through the soft sanndy stuff. Low
pressure kills you though in the hardpack.

That brings up a good point.
We're all talking about "dry" here...but sand is different from anything else. (except maybe snow)
Sand is ALL about floatation.

[TheGiggler]

i recommend to just play with the pressure.

every tire is different due to the variation in stiffness of the sidewall/casing.

and every trail is different, and even the same trail is different on different days.

but as general recommendation, i would stay between 27-35 psi with a little more in the rear tire unless its a hardtail.

[trail worker]

perfect. I just went to a set of folding bead tires and don't want to have to drop the pressure much lower than 29psi...

Ive been known to run as low as 12-15psi up front, and I always thought it was giving me great traction, even in the dry dusty stuff..but after riding with high pressure this past weekend I didn't notice a really big change, so it got me thinking.

[NooNer]

35psi f/r year round.

high roller hard comp for summer
nevegal soft comp for wet