Tyre pressure

Andymtb

I've got a Gt Avalanche 1.0 disc with Kenda Nevegal 26" 2.1 tyres. On the tyres they recommend them at 40-65 psi, I've got mine about 35 psi, but I find they bounce me around a lot.
I ride around Afan and Cwmcarn in Wales and I weigh around 80kg (12 Stoneish), should I lower the pressure a bit more? I'm a little bit wary of getting punctures. So far I've been lucky and only had one in 6 months of riding.

Just hoping there are a few of you out there with the same experience and could advise what pressures you run at. Thanks

clas

its a horses for courses thing.
the more rubber in contact with the ground the higher the grip.
If you want uber grip in mud etc then lower the pressures
lower pressures mean a squirmy feel to the ride and more rolling resistance meaning more effort expended you also run a risk of pinch flats if you hit anything hard.
So raise the pressures to improve rolling resistance avoid flats and remove the squirmy feel but lose grip...
the bouncy bit may simply be the back end battering over roots and rocks on the descent. You have a hardtail it will do that!

dirtbiker100

cwmcarn I'd be careful about pinch flats on that rocky section coming round the hill back home. mind you I go flat out through there so I do need to be careful. My tyres 2.35" wtb somethings an I run at about 35-40, I'm 11 stone.
I think I'd leave them as they are if I were you. I think trail centre riding is normally tougher and more likely to have pinch flats than normal XC. try dropping the pressure if you want and see how you get on, not too much bad can happen.

the bouncy bit may simply be the back end battering over roots and rocks on the descent. You have a hardtail it will do that!/

I do cwmcarn on a on-one inbred (steel hardtail) and the rocky section is brutal! gotta keep the fingers well off the brakes though!

Andymtb

Thanks guys, I wanted to get a ballpark idea around the pressures that people use. Is there a case where you would inflate up to the max pressure (60+psi) on a MTB?

I was riding Penrydd yesterday and it sounded like the chain was trying to beat the bike to death on a few sections.

I do cwmcarn on a on-one inbred (steel hardtail) and the rocky section is brutal! gotta keep the fingers well off the brakes though!

My fingers refuse to do anything but hold onto the brakes!

clas

The chain WILL beat the bike to death thats what chainstay protectors are for
the symphony of chainstay and chain clattering together rocks spitting out from beneath the tyres, heavy breathing and grunting with swearwords is a tune to get anyone going.
Its supposed to be a violent and physically demanding pastime!
I can think of no reason to go beyond 50PSI under any circumstances on a bike. If you pinch flat through a 50psi tyre nevermind that will be the very least of your worries.

try letting go of the brakes for five seconds at a time. :shock:

dirtbiker100

heh heh did penrydd a couple of weekends ago nice trail. Best idea is to get something like a lizard skin to go round the frame on the chainstay. I've got one on my inbred and most of the way round cwmcarn its silent as its really only the chain on frame that makes the noise. Gives me more confidence in the bike. without one it sounds like i'm killing the bike and its crying.
On an XC mtb I'd never go higher than 45 for my riding I don't think. a friend uses his mtb at skateparks and its best to go as high as poss for that and road riding.
my bmx runs 60+psi and i'd like to have it higher but tyres won't allow.