Fill up those tires!!

[bcipam]

Something I learned long ago... before every ride, I check my tires. The hand pressure test is just not accurate espceially if you run your tires at 100 psi like I do. Properly inflated tires will prevent pinch flats and other problems plus the bike will roll better. I have a floor pump I keep inthe garage and another is kept in the car so no excuses! Also... and yes I learned this the hard way... always remember to tighten up the stem valve after filling your tires.

[Running Mommy]

yep! Like everyone else.. The one time I said to myself "ehh.. my tires feel ok" is the time I got my first pinch flat! Never again!

[eclectic]

My LBS guy told me to keep them inflated not only to prevent pinch flats but also to save the rims.

I inflate to 120 on a normal basis, 110 on a hot day and 100 on a wet day.

I too check my tires every time as part of my preride ritual

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

We must remember that not all tires should be inflated to the same pressure.
My tires, for example, are 700c x 37cm, and have recommended pressure range of between 60 and 90 psi. So people shouldn't really recommend specific pressures assuming that all tires need similar pressure. If I inflated mine to 120 for instance, they'd probably blow! And I can run on mine at 70psi and not get pinch flats as would happen with maybe thinner 700 road tires like 25's.

[caligurl]

We must remember that not all tires should be inflated to the same pressure.
My tires, for example, are 700c x 37cm, and have recommended pressure range of between 60 and 90 psi. So people shouldn't really recommend specific pressures assuming that all tires need similar pressure. If I inflated mine to 120 for instance, they'd probably blow! And I can run on mine at 70psi and not get pinch flats as would happen with maybe thinner 700 road tires like 25's.

good point... i ASSUMED road tires... since that what i ride 99% of the time! so my 120 psi recommended tires (700X23) i run at 100 for a nicer ride! (and for my size, too.... no need for me to have 120 psi in my tires!)

my mtb tires.... hmmmmm.... my bad.... i have NO IDEA what is in them.... i ride it so rarely... and i have hubby take care of the air! but they are at less than recommended psi, too!

[Trekhawk]

good point... i ASSUMED road tires... since that what i ride 99% of the time! so my 120 psi recommended tires (700X23) i run at 100 for a nicer ride! (and for my size, too.... no need for me to have 120 psi in my tires!)

my mtb tires.... hmmmmm.... my bad.... i have NO IDEA what is in them.... i ride it so rarely... and i have hubby take care of the air! but they are at less than recommended psi, too!

LOL - dont do what I did and assume mtb tyres need to be super pumped like your road ones. I couldnt work out why my front wheel kept coming off the ground on hills when moutain biking (just assumed it was bad form on my part). I went riding with SK and she had a feel of my tyres and said hey they have way too much air in them. Dropped it down a tad and what do you know that front wheel didnt come up as soon as I hit a tree root on a climb. YIPEE

So what did I learn from this - different types of mountain biking require different air pressure in those tyres.

[bcipam]

My road tires are 700 X 25 and I pump them up to 100 (max is 120). The wider the tire the lower the pressure can be. 28's - 32's can run around 70 - 90 and mountain bike tire generally run around 40. It amazes me some of the really thin tires - 21's and 23's can be blown up to 150 or higher - get a puncture and KAPOW-Y!!!!!!

[roshelleuop]

I ride a specialized roubiax road bike and always keep them at 110. I check them every time I ride, no matter what the weather or temp.

Roshelle from Milwaukee