Hi, I’m not looking for an actual PSI, as there are so many things to factor in. I have a 2.5" tire that I am running at a mildly low pressure. Today, I noticed that I am able to ride into-therfore over a square-cornered curb. This is due to the wider/lower PSI. My question is…if I bottom out on this corner, is my pressure too low? If I inflate to not bottom out on this corner, will my other riding (where I need low pressure) be affected poorly?
Over all, what should I expect to bottom out on?
Here’s a thought, How 'bout hopping over the curb.
-David Kaplan
.
Tire pressure is a compromise. There is no such thing as an ideal tire pressure for all situations.
It is best to avoid bottoming out the tire on the corner of a curb cause that risks causing a pinch flat. If you bottom out hard enough it could also damage the rim. If you’re going to be rolling up curbs on a ride you should consider pumping up the tire a bit more for that ride. After you’re done playing on the curbs you can let out a little air to get back to a more plush bouncy tire for the rest of the ride.
I have been using a think DH tube (an Intense tube) in my muni to help prevent pinch flats. That lets me use a lower tire pressure without worrying too much about pinch flats for when I bottom out. With an anti pinch flat DH tire and a thick tube you can get away with bottoming out a bit.
Rolling smoothly up a curb is way more cool than hopping up. Anyone can hop up. Not as many people can roll up. If you have ever seen George Peck roll up a curb it is a thing of beauty.
RE: Help me find ‘ideal’ tire pressure
> Today, I noticed that I am able to ride
> into-therfore over a square-cornered curb.
> This is due to the wider/lower PSI.
> My question is…if I bottom out on this corner,
> is my pressure too low? If I inflate to not
> bottom out on this corner, will my other
> riding (where I need low pressure) be affected poorly?
>
> Over all, what should I expect to bottom out on?
Your goal is to avoid bottoming out, as this can pinch-flat your tire. No
matter what pressure you use, there may be a combination of drop and bump
that could cause you to bottom out, so you must adjust it to a reasonable
level for your riding. If riding up the square-cornered curb is a regular
part of your ride, make sure you have enough air to cover that (or hop up
it).
As with so many of these things people seek hard answers on, it very much
depends on your environment, riding style, tire width, and your weight.
Stay on top,
John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
jfoss@unicycling.com
“It takes four times the man to ride twice the half the bike.” - Scott
Kurland, on Coker unicycles
Altitude also might have some play in this discussion.
Re: Help me find ‘ideal’ tire pressure
Take that along with you if you go out for a long ride :
http://www.unicycle.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=411
Put some pressure if you expect to need more and deflate the tire if you
need less and so on…
Christ.
Sofa wrote:
> Hi, I’m not looking for an actual PSI, as there are so many things to
> factor in. I have a 2.5" tire that I am running at a mildly low
> pressure. Today, I noticed that I am able to ride into-therfore over a
> square-cornered curb. This is due to the wider/lower PSI. My question
> is…if I bottom out on this corner, is my pressure too low? If I
> inflate to not bottom out on this corner, will my other riding (where I
> need low pressure) be affected poorly?
>
> Over all, what should I expect to bottom out on?
>
> –
> Sofa
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Sofa’s Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/706
> View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/17250
Re: Help me find ‘ideal’ tire pressure
On Wed, 3 Apr 2002 13:41:11 -0600, AccordNSX
<AccordNSX.2juhm@timelimit.unicyclist.com> wrote:
>Altitude also might have some play in this discussion.
Not much. I would have to check the numbers but I think 3000 feet of
difference amounts to about 3 psi. Your tyre gets slightly harder at
height. But this will be offset (at least partly) by the lower
temperatures up there.
“To trigger/fool/saturate/overload Echelon, the following has been picked automagically from a database:”
“Ali Saed Bin Ali El-Hoorie, Cherokee, redheads”
I ride the majority of the time at sea level, so I don’t know how it is for everyone way up. 
Re: Help me find ‘ideal’ tire pressure
On Thu, 4 Apr 2002 00:13:06 -0600, AccordNSX
<AccordNSX.2knnn@timelimit.unicyclist.com> wrote:
>I ride the majority of the time at sea level, so I don’t know how it is
>for everyone way up.
Hey, I usually ride even below sea level. No kidding.
“To trigger/fool/saturate/overload Echelon, the following has been picked automagically from a database:”
“utopia, 3M, ABC”