Rear wheel dusty spinouts when climbing

[Becky]

Thank you for this information - my LBS guy today already went there. I didn't realize that 30psi was so high - especially since the range on my sidewalls starts at 35... He got my attention when he told me that he could almost ride that and he is twice my height, not going to guess his weight.

It was suggested I try 28 and will see what that feels like. Here is a link to my new rear tire - though the knobbies look closer together in person than they do in the link photo.

I'm glad to hear that you purchased a new tire. I think you'll find that you do want a beefier tire up front as well, but I certainly understand the money thing! Your LBS is often the best source for tire recommendations, as the employees are riding the same trails and roads as you.

Hijack Becky, it seems that the wider the tires, the lower the pressure we can run. What width tires are you running at 22-24psi? Mine are 2.1. I've been running them at about 30 psi and would like to try lower but I'm not sure what's too low for 2.1's and a 130# rider.

Y'know, it's funny...I'm running two different sets of tires, in two different sizes, on two different bikes, and one tubeless, one not. And yet I find that I use very similar pressures (when measured on my pump). FWIW, I'm ~126 lbs right now, maybe more like 135 lbs. with gear and Camelbak.

Full-suspension bike:
26 x 2.1 Schwalbe Racing Ralphs with tubes
These are new tires for me, so I'm still fiddling with pressures. Right now, I'm liking the front at 22psi or so, and a smidge more in the rear. This particular tire gets really "squirmy" in the rear when it's too low, so it's pretty obvious to me when I need more air. I always run new tires with tubes until I decide if I like them and what pressure I prefer, and then I do the tubeless conversion.

Rigid bike:
29 x 2.55 (2.35) WTB Weirwolf LT, tubeless.
I love these tires for our local trails during the summer. Fast, with great side knobs for cornering grip, and lots of volume for shock absorption. They're labeled as 2.55, but they measure more like a 2.35. 24psi seems to be just about right for these.

My MO, whenever I install new tires, is to start at 25 psi front and rear. I will then make small adjustments (usually downward) until I find the lowest pressure that allows me to corner comfortably without rolling a tire, feeling it "squirm", or pinch flatting.

Don't be afraid to play with your tire pressures in small increments. It's the cheapest experiment that you can do to a bike, and it may lead to greatly-improved handling.