How low can I go? clincher pressures

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Permalink Reply by Carl Ring on October 26, 2009 at 12:51pm

I've run as low as 30 psi racing on Michelin Muds with out a flat, but I weigh 140 lbs. I know that pro's weighing 15-20 lbs. more than I will go a few psi lower, but they don't run clinchers very often. I don't know why you'd want to go over about 45 psi unless it was a completely flat hard packed dirt course.

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Permalink Reply by Hamilton on October 26, 2009 at 1:38pm

I weigh about 185 lbs, I think that's around 13 stone. I usually run around 32 psi in the front and 35-38 in the rear, lower if there aren't any rocks or other obstacles that may cause a pinch flat. I've never pinch flatted so I may be able to go even lower, but so far this suits me pretty well.

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Permalink Reply by Blaine Krueger on October 26, 2009 at 10:10pm

I weigh in about 180. I have pinch flatted twice.
Now both times were on a transfer to pavement with a turn invloved.
I was running right at 50-55 psi.
I am real reluctant to go any lower, let alone stay at this pressure.
My local shop recomends tubeless.

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Permalink Reply by andrew on October 27, 2009 at 4:55am

I run clinchers pretty low with great success. 160 pounds, in the high 20s psi sometimes. I did one race recently with 26 psi in the front, 29 in the rear, with tubes, not tubeless (bumpy Star Crossed). It was with Racing Ralphs, which are a little stiffer than some.

The course didn't have any rocks, roots, but had some bumps and transitions to pavement. I firmly believe that some careful course inspection can relieve you of most dangers of pinch flatting.

That being said, I have been mostly racing tubeless and tubulars over the last two years. But two seasons ago I rode mostly clinchers and flatted only once when botching a curb jump in a race.

A pressure gauge is a good tool too if you use different pumps.

I doubt you'd need anything higher than high 30s even though SpeedKings aren't the widest tire. Speed is a part of it though, and so if you're flying with the As, you'll certain hit things with more force than me!

Consider going a little wider perhaps?

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Permalink Reply by Cameron Marshall on October 27, 2009 at 6:45am

I've run around 28-30psi on Ritchey Speedmax's 32c and I'm around 145lbs (10.35 stone?). Pinch flatted the front in one race, but I smoked a root so it's hard to say. I run my tubulars around there too, may be a tad lower. Definitely don't want to run 70psu though, that would definitely rattle your cage.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Bailey on October 27, 2009 at 7:41am

I weigh 195-200lbs., ride Michelin Mud2 CX tires. Last race, I ran about 40 psi front and rear, and things went really well. Previously, I'd been running Conti Twisters, and anything below 70 psi and it was Pinch Flat City.

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Permalink Reply by Carl keen on October 27, 2009 at 9:42am

Thanks for the input, I think I'll progressively try lower pressures. I considered tubs but they're pretty expensive in the UK and with a six race season it seemed prohibative.
But based on the info above I'm going to jump in at 45/50psi.

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