Cycling and bicycle racing discussion forums.   View New Forum Topics
Today's Forum Topics

Set as homepage


Go Back   Cycling Forums > Regional Cycling Forums > Australia and New Zealand
User Name
Password
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Welcome to CyclingForums.com

You are currently viewing our website as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions. You will have to register before you can post to this thread.

By joining our free online community you will have access to post new topics, communicate privately with other cyclingforums.com members (PM), respond to polls, upload photos and access other special features like product reviews and classifieds.


Over-inflating

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 15-10.-2005, 01:18 PM   #1
Twig
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 16
Default Over-inflating

Having only a fairly new and efficient mountain bike, i have taken to only using the thing on longish road rides - and not taking the thing offroad. I'm planning on getting a road bike in a few months - but until then, since i am only on the road the whole time, i have inflated the tyres to obviously high pressures.

I'm not exactly sure what the point of over-inflating exactly is (what psi figure), but IF i have overinflated them, what is the danger? Aside from bursting an inner tube?
Does it put more pressure on the rims? Could i have a catastrophic failure at high speeds? What is the problem?
Twig is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 15-10.-2005, 01:57 PM   #2
Robert Gardner
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Sierra Madre, CA, USA
Posts: 34
Send a message via AIM to Robert Gardner
Default Re: Over-inflating

You didn’t say how much you over inflate. However for years on my road bikes I have made it a habit to inflate my tires to 130 PSI. I started this with tires that were rated at 90 PSI. However my modern tires are rated at 120 PSI. The higher your tire pressure the less is the rolling resistance or friction. Years ago the Bicycle magazine contacted tire manufacturers to find out how they determined the recommended tire pressure for their tires. They only got a response from one and that one essentially said it was just a guess. That is when I started over inflating my tires. At the time I liked the feel of crisp tires rolling over the pavement with my steel framed bikes. However today with my carbon framed bike and the bad pavement I am riding on, I do not think it is such a good idea. As far as danger of blow out, I think that depends on your rims. If they have a lip that engages the bead of the tire, I don’t think there is any danger of blow out no matter how high you go.
Robert Gardner is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 15-10.-2005, 02:21 PM   #3
gclark8
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Perth (Basso), West Australia
Posts: 3,515
Default Re: Over-inflating

My sugggestion is buy some MTB slicks, Conti make 2,
GP in 26x1 and Sport Contact in 26x1.3 Use the GPs for road only, the Sport contact are ok on road and light off-road.
http://www.conti-online.com/generat...rix_mtb_en.html

All Conti tyres have the max pressure printed on the tyre. Rims can stretch with high pressures if they are the real cheap roll-formed alloy ones and not extruded. What brand is the bike?
__________________
Cheers,
George.
gclark8 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 15-10.-2005, 04:55 PM   #4
Twig
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 16
Default Re: Over-inflating

It's a Trek 4700.

And the reason i didn't say how much i overinflated - was that with my French valve adapter - i can't get a reading.
Twig is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 15-10.-2005, 05:56 PM   #5
scotty72
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Strathfield, (Sydney), Australia
Posts: 813
Default Re: Over-inflating

Quote:
Originally Posted by Twig
It's a Trek 4700.

And the reason i didn't say how much i overinflated - was that with my French valve adapter - i can't get a reading.
Why not?

I can - French valve. No probs.

Scotty

Last edited by scotty72 : 15-10.-2005 at 06:16 PM.
scotty72 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 15-10.-2005, 06:03 PM   #6
gclark8
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Perth (Basso), West Australia
Posts: 3,515
Default Re: Over-inflating

Trek rims will be OK.

Buy a decent floor pump with a gauge. Know your tyres, they are your only point of contact with the road.

Read this topic: http://www.cyclingforums.com/t287868-.html it's not rocket science!
__________________
Cheers,
George.
gclark8 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 15-10.-2005, 06:38 PM   #7
scotty72
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Strathfield, (Sydney), Australia
Posts: 813
Default Re: Over-inflating

Quote:
Originally Posted by gclark8
Know your tyres, they are your only point of contact with the road.
So you hope.
scotty72 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 16-10.-2005, 07:55 PM   #8
artemidorus
Registered User
 
artemidorus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 2,183
Default Re: Over-inflating

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Gardner
You didn’t say how much you over inflate. However for years on my road bikes I have made it a habit to inflate my tires to 130 PSI. I started this with tires that were rated at 90 PSI. However my modern tires are rated at 120 PSI. The higher your tire pressure the less is the rolling resistance or friction. Years ago the Bicycle magazine contacted tire manufacturers to find out how they determined the recommended tire pressure for their tires. They only got a response from one and that one essentially said it was just a guess. That is when I started over inflating my tires. At the time I liked the feel of crisp tires rolling over the pavement with my steel framed bikes. However today with my carbon framed bike and the bad pavement I am riding on, I do not think it is such a good idea. As far as danger of blow out, I think that depends on your rims. If they have a lip that engages the bead of the tire, I don’t think there is any danger of blow out no matter how high you go.

If you overinflate the tyre, it can blow off the rim. If this happens at speed, your rim can fracture and jam in your brakes or frame. How do I know? - I've done it.
Any rim has a maximum rated pressure. Not just cheap rims, but all rims. It is not usually written on the damn thing.
All tyres have a maximally efficient pressure which is usually within the rated pressure range. Exceed that and the wheel bounces around on the road suface and wastes energy. For fat tyres, the most efficient pressure is quite low, well under 100psi.
artemidorus is offline  
Reply With Quote

Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



All times are GMT +10. The time now is 07:41 PM.


Powered by: vBulletin Copyright © 2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2001 - 2006 cyclingforums.com

Links to websites we like:
Pezcyclingnews | Cyclingnews.com | Wine Zone | iinet