| If you're planning to go mountain biking, one of | | | | behavior. How does it run on the dirt track? Does |
| the most basic things you need to be able to do | | | | it slide on the mountain? Does it ride smoothly |
| is set your tire pressure correctly. A correctly | | | | around corners? Then try the same trail again |
| inflated tire gives you better control and a | | | | after you've dropped the pressure by 5 psi in |
| smoother rise. If the tire pressure is too low, | | | | each tire. If you find the bike is more stable and |
| however, you're more likely to get a flat tire, as | | | | the grip on the ground has improved, then stick |
| well as just having to work harder. A high tire | | | | with that pressure. Otherwise, drop the tire |
| pressure makes the bike hard to control and | | | | pressure a little further and try again. Be careful |
| gives you a bumpy ride.Unfortunately there's no | | | | not to go too low, however, or you'll end up with |
| one tire pressure that you should use, because it | | | | flat tires. A tire goes flat if the tire compresses |
| varies according to your personal preference, the | | | | against an object and gets damaged.If you're |
| condition of the tire, the type of terrain and the | | | | using tubeless tires, you might want to start with |
| condition of the trail. If you have a good quality | | | | a lower pressure, such as 30 to 40 psi. With |
| bicycle pump you can regulate your tire pressure, | | | | tubeless tires, occasional rim contact isn't a |
| and you also need an accurate gauge for taking | | | | problem and the risk of pinch flats is greatly |
| pressure readings.Start by inflating the tire to the | | | | reduced. So it's okay to run on much lower |
| manufacturer's specifications, and give it a test | | | | pressures. You still need to be careful not to dent |
| run. Then you can decide what adjustments are | | | | the rims or burp air out from the bead. If the |
| required. Always try and use the same pump and | | | | pressure is too low, you'll see the tire rolling out |
| gauge, because using different gauges may give | | | | from under the rim on hard corners.Check for |
| you different readings.It's often a good idea to | | | | rolling resistance when you're using lower |
| start with the pressure on the high side, so | | | | pressures. This extra rolling resistance means you |
| around 40-50 psi (3-3.5 bar), then gradually lower | | | | have to work harder, but it improves the level of |
| the pressure a little at a time until you find the | | | | control and gives better climbing traction. |
| pressure that best suits your bike. If you're a | | | | Cross-country racers want better efficiency |
| heavier rider, or carrying extra weight, then you | | | | rather than control, however.You can always |
| should also keep the tire pressure a little higher.As | | | | resort to old-fashioned methods and give the tire |
| you're going on your test ride, carefully observe | | | | a good squeeze. This is a good way of feeling the |
| the performance of the bike and the tire | | | | pressure and determining if air is required. |