![]() Quite often, tyre brands will supply the same tyre tread and width with a number of carcasses because different carcasses have pros and cons, depending on the intended use.Ī thicker carcass will have more puncture protection and may have a more ‘damped’ feel to it. ![]() The next key variable with the tyre is its carcass and this comes down to the construction. The EXO casing from Maxxis is an example of a single-ply carcass designed for low weight and fast-rolling speed, with some protection against punctures. Here, the bead of a tubeless tyre pulls away briefly from the rim, expelling air.įurthermore, running a higher-volume tyre at too high a pressure makes it more likely to feel pingy and skittery.Īs a rule of thumb, a higher-volume tyre can be run at slightly lower pressures than a lower-volume tyre setup. Likewise, a given tyre, on a wider rim, will inflate wider than the same tyre on a narrower rim.Īs a general rule, a larger-volume tyre can handle lower pressures before it feels imprecise and there’s excessive movement of the tyre on the rim, or before it becomes more susceptible to punctures or burping. This also relates to the overall shape and volume of the tyre, which itself is dependent on the internal width of the rim of the mountain bike wheel it is fitted to.Ī wider tyre will have a larger volume of air inside it. Russell Burton / Immediate Mediaįirst up is the obvious one – the width of the tyre. Here we have (from left to right) a 2.2in XC tyre, a 2.4in trail tyre and a 2.6in enduro tyre. The width of tyres will have an impact on the correct pressure. After all, even the best mountain bike tyres come in a wide range of widths, diameters, compounds and carcass types – all of which can influence the pressure required. How does a tyre’s construction influence tyre pressure? However, if you’re someone with more of a point-and-shoot style, you might need to pay a little more attention to puncture protection. If you’re a bit more precise with your riding, weaving smoothly through obstacles, you might get away with a couple of psi less. Though less ‘measurable’, a rider’s style might also be taken into account. Higher pressures mean less tyre deformation when you hit a rock, and so less chance of it puncturing – though if pressures are too high, you may increase the risk of tearing your tyre’s carcass on a sharp edge.Ĭonversely, if you’re riding on smoother terrain, or perhaps at lower speeds (think steep muddy and rooty tech trails), lower pressures will allow the tyre to deform more, enabling it to better mould to the ground’s shape, boosting grip.Īs you’ll notice, there’s also some nuance here to appreciate – a track in the dry might be very different when it’s wet, and so your pressures might have to change depending on the trail’s condition. Likewise, where are you going to ride? If you’re riding somewhere super-rocky and rooty, perhaps on fast terrain so you might be hitting those features at speed, you might need to up your pressure a touch. No one wants to spend time fixing punctures at the side of a trail. As we’ll come on to, numerous factors, including tyre width, rim width, rider weight, riding style and terrain, impact the ‘perfect’ pressure for you and your bike. ![]() It’s important to note this won’t be the same for every brand and model of tyre – nor will it reflect every riding style or type of terrain/conditions – so further experimentation will help you find the optimal pressure for you. Rolling resistance is a big factor, too – how can you find a trade-off between grip and rolling speed?īefore we delve deeper into all the factors at play, here is a rough starting point of suggested tyre pressures for a typical 80kg rider (including kit), riding a trail bike in typical UK conditions. It also needs to remain inflated when it suffers a big hit – nobody likes punctures! We want a tyre to remain stable and grip well in corners, and it needs to add some insulation from trail features, such as rocks and roots, again to help with grip. When trying to decide on the correct tyre pressure for your mountain bike, it’s all about balance. Well, it depends – unfortunately, there’s not an easy answer here. The right tyre pressure for you and your bike will provide a balance of comfort, grip, puncture protection and rolling speed. ![]()
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