Vam Monaco Posted July 9, 2023 Share Posted July 9, 2023 Is there any downside to riding with a significantly less psi than is recommended? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrelwood Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 (edited) Yes. Snake bites (tube puncture) and rim damage, from for example a sudden pot hole. And of course possible instability issues. But, “recommendations” are generally all over the place. I haven’t seen any that would properly cover all tire sizes, rider weights and riding styles. Not even the spreadsheet I myself shared here a few years back… So following “recommendations” doesn’t tell us anything about the pressures you are using. Edited July 10, 2023 by mrelwood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alcatraz Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 If you don't bottom out, and you don't have unpredictable steering, then it's not a terrible thing. You can take advantage of the extra comfort. But if you do lots of hard accelerations/braking, jumps, and only check your pressure once every month or two, then best not go too low. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rawnei Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 Lots of people ride with high PSI (myself included) and get no speed wobbles whatsoever, so that is not a great reason to ride at low PSI IMO. Of course you can ride at whatever PSI you choose and a lot of people find it more comfortable riding with low PSI I'm just taking argument with your reason of doing so which sounds like an excuse. 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcgldr Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 Youtuber Duf (EUC Army) is so bow-legged that he can't touch the upper pads without strain, so he lowers tire pressure to avoid wobbles, but does not do drops off curbs, and mostly rides on the bike lanes of paved streets without potholes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldFartRides Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 Lower T.P. = bigger footprint = more traction = not as nimble = little bit harder going in reverse. I run my two trail wheels ( s18 & McM5v2) at lower pressures, and my street s18 at around 30 PSI. I’m guessing I’m around 175 lbs geared up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadpower Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 Really you always want to be in the Goldilocks zone of TP. What that is is something you're going to have to figure out for yourself but I would generally err away from being too low. IE I'd rather error on the high side than the low side. And from what I've experienced there is a pretty narrow margin of PSI range to work within. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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