[mlorenz242 offline]

I thought I remembered a past thread on this topic but couldn't find it. I checked my tire pressure today and found I was running 18lbs. I felt like I could use a little more pressure, but it didn't feel too bad. I have 29X2.2 Geax Saguaro tires, I'm 5'6" tall and 177lbs, and ride XC. The tires say 37lbs min.???? That seem like way too much. Any thoughts?

[GoldenGoose]

If you aren't getting pinch flats or blowing tires off the rim I think I wouldn't worry about it. You may want a little more air if you are riding rough stuff and banging the wheels all the way down to your rim. If not, leave good enough alone. The lower tire pressure will actually help you with grip.

[mesjulia offline]

Do you have tubeless? They can be ridden at a lower tire pressure than tires with tubes

[stephensondl4 offline]

I have to say I feel that 18lbs. is kinda low. I would think you might want somewhere in the 35 lbs range to help eliminate some rolling resistance. Just my thought.

[fat_billy offline]

Fat people like higher pressures. Just Saying. Later,

[maddslacker offline]

I have to say I feel that 18lbs. is kinda low. I would think you might want somewhere in the 35 lbs range to help eliminate some rolling resistance. Just my thought.

35psi is really high for offroad. I weigh 185 and run mine at 27ish. (with tubes)

18 is pretty low, but as mentioned, if you're not banging the rims on rocks, then you're good.

However, at 177lbs, and not banging the rims on rocks, I would suspect that your pressure gauge is off.

[dgaddis offline]

However, at 177lbs, and not banging the rims on rocks, I would suspect that your pressure gauge is off.

Maybe not...if he's really smooth, and it was a front tire. Certainly possible the guage is off though.

I use 18psi in the front tire of my rigid 29er and weigh 175 in birthday suit. But I'm using a 2.55" wide tire, set up tubeless. And since it's rigid I tend to "ride light" to keep from banging the rims on roots and rocks. I'll occassionally bottom out the rim, but it's really rare. I run low 20's in the rear tire, which is a 2.0"

On my geared HT 29er I use a little more pressure since I tend to charge through stuff vs float over it like I do on the rigid bike.

But like others have said, as long as you're not bottoming out the rim often and the tire doesn't feel like it's squirming in corners/g-outs then don't worry about it.