Tyre pressures of the worlds top riders

robertpb

There has been many threads on the subject of the correct tyre pressure.

After posting my views on low pressure was the way to go, I then backed that up with some information from Schwalbe.

Many were a bit sceptical of the facts that low pressure was the faster tyre off road.

So I asked some of best riders on the planet and these are their tyre pressures.

Julien Absolon 29-30 psi

Cedric Garcia 27.5 front 29 back

Brian Lopes 28 psi

Thomas Frischknecht 23.5 psi

Florian Vogel 24.5 - 26 psi

Nino Schurter 24.5 - 26

John Tomac thought that my pressures of 24 - 26 were probably OK for my weight of 63 kg

Burry Stander 23 front 25 rear

Keith Bontrager says that 35 psi is a relatively high pressure and he rode in Scotland at 28 psi

These guys are looking for the fastest way round a course, grip and speed and not one is over 30 psi.

With that I rest my case

nicklouse

and these pressures were with what tyres? what width?

and tubeless or tubed?


more info needed or the info is only partially valid.

supersonic

As far as I am concerned the only correct pressure is the one you get on best with. Which should vary depending tyre/size.conditions.type/etc.

The above data set shows it varies a lot.

toasty

Surely rider weight has a big impact on this as well. Those riders are all drastically lighter than me or running wider tyres, like CG will be.

supersonic

Yep, weight too!

Some stats from Spesh riders, XC course at Pietermaritzburg:

Christoph’s Bike:
Bike: Specialized S Works Epic
Tyres: Specialized Renegade 1.8 (Front and Rear)
Tyre Pressure: 31 PSI (Front and Rear)
Fork: 65 PSI
Rear Shock: 165 PSI

Burry’s Bike:
Bike: Specialized S Works Epic
Tyres: Specialized SLK 2.0 (Front)
Specialized Rengade 1.8 (Rear)
Tyre Pressure: 26 PSI (Front)
34 PSI (Rear)
Fork: 75 PSI
Rear Shock: 170 PSI

Todd’s Bike:
Bike: Specialized S Works Epic
Tyres: Specialized SLK 2.0 (Front)
Specialized Rengade 1.8 (Rear)
Tyre Pressure: 28 PSI (Front)
32 PSI (Rear)
Fork: 80 PSI
Rear Shock: 190 PSI

So upto 34psi there.

toasty

Ooh, first I'd heard of the Specialized Renegade, wonder if that will be available to the public next year. The already did a decent wet/rough race tyre with the Sauserwind, did wonder why their only light/dry racey tyre was the Fast Trak.

I do like my Specialized tyres

supersonic

I've never tried one! But hear good things.

Have to say I am a bit, erm, old fashioned with pressures. I squeeze the tyre until it feels right! I have checked though lol, and with the 2.3 verts I would run 40psi on road and hard pack, 35psi on ballast sort of stuff, and 30psi for softer slidier terrain.

realnumber 1

I also think the wheel rim makes a big difference in this too. I had to run 5 psi higher or so on my 719's compared to my old cheapo mavic rims. I also found that I was forever getting pinch flats when using tubes below 40psi so how people manage with less than 30psi using tubes I'll never know.