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English => General Flatland Forum => Topic started by: Ultraman Zoffy on May 17, 2010, 07:26:02 PM

Title: Surface dependent tire pressure adjustments?
Post by: Ultraman Zoffy on May 17, 2010, 07:26:02 PM
As a general rule, I run my tires (Freq. G's) at 120 psi. Recently though I switched riding spots from a really nice basketball court to a parking lot at the university I work at... from what I think I know, most basketball and tennis courts are laid out with a somewhat forgiving, cushioning surface so that folks don't blow out their joints when playing on them. My rolling tricks feel REALLY good and solid at the bball court; the feedback from the ground when pushing forward into tricks is great at 120, and everything feels solid when rolling.
On the other hand, the university parking lot (where I moved to because the foot traffic at the courts started becoming a pain in the a*s to deal with) is a really hard, non-forgiving asphalt. At 120, pushing into tricks and rolling them just feels really squirrelly, and it seriously feels like I'm a beginner doing basic rolling tricks there. Tons different then the bball court... spinning is fine, but controlled rolling just seems harder there, and I'm suspecting I'll need to adjust my pressure.
So, long story short, do any of you folks adjust tire pressure regularly for different spots? And how much do you do it by depending on where you ride? I remember one of my Japanese bmx mags have a chart with surface pics and the recommended pressures you should run, but I think I lost that issue when I moved back from there... Thanks in advance!
Title: Re: Surface dependent tire pressure adjustments?
Post by: ortho on May 18, 2010, 03:29:30 AM
Seems like the rougher the surface, the harder i need to run my tires. Otherwise rough stuff is too slow or smooth stuff is too slippery.

driveway kind of grooved cement or asphalt lot = 130psi

typical parking garage semi-smooth concrete or tennis/bball court = 120psi

ultra smooth contest surface = 100psi

I could be crazy though.
Title: Re: Surface dependent tire pressure adjustments?
Post by: Ginman on May 18, 2010, 01:11:05 PM
smooth to ultra smooth surfaces (SUPER CLEAN) = 120 PSi (you wont ever skid without dust!)

smooth to ultra smooth surface (WITH DUST) = 100 PSi (anti skid)

semi rough or rougher surfaces = 120 PSi (prevents your tire from carving thus, loosing speed)

i use ares A-class 1.75 (white logo)
Title: Re: Surface dependent tire pressure adjustments?
Post by: mare on May 18, 2010, 03:18:08 PM
i always run my tires at 140psi. my main spot is covered with smooth concrete and its very slippery but i got used to it. so thats the reason why riding on any other surface is piece of cake. yeah other surfaces feel slower definetly bit i simply cant fall cause i have a feeling im riding on a sand papper hehe. this is just my experience not what u should do :beer:
Title: Re: Surface dependent tire pressure adjustments?
Post by: ortho on January 10, 2021, 09:26:03 PM
My new spot would be amazing but the surface is a grooved concrete, much like a sidewalk. I just can't get used to it no matter the tire pressure, even though i've ridden ok on even rougher asphalt. Seems like the higher pressure i go, it just brings out the wobbly imperfections in the concrete.

Riding regular Ares 1.75s. I think I will try just riding faster and keeping tricks shorter.
Title: Re: Surface dependent tire pressure adjustments?
Post by: rpl3000 on January 11, 2021, 08:35:59 PM
smooth to ultra smooth surfaces (SUPER CLEAN) = 120 PSi (you wont ever skid without dust!)

smooth to ultra smooth surface (WITH DUST) = 100 PSi (anti skid)

semi rough or rougher surfaces = 120 PSi (prevents your tire from carving thus, loosing speed)

i use ares A-class 1.75 (white logo)


This seems like a silly question, but does Ares just put 45PSI on their tires with an understanding that folks run them at 100-120? I have Ares A-class 1.9's (not sure if wire or kevlar bead) and I've been afraid to pump them up over 80. My ride spot is a newly surfaced basketball court.
Title: Re: Surface dependent tire pressure adjustments?
Post by: ortho on January 11, 2021, 08:40:57 PM
Weird. My Ares 1.75s say "inflate to 850 kPa, 125 psi". So yeah you can definitely take the pressure up. It's an imperfect world though and sometimes tires just decide to explode for one reason or another, despite being pressure-rated generally.
Title: Re: Surface dependent tire pressure adjustments?
Post by: rpl3000 on January 14, 2021, 03:49:50 PM
Mine definitely say 45psi. I'm guessing it is just one of the ways that they keep costs down a complete bike.
Title: Re: Surface dependent tire pressure adjustments?
Post by: Mambocowboy on January 14, 2021, 08:31:38 PM
Mine definitely say 45psi. I'm guessing it is just one of the ways that they keep costs down a complete bike.
Exactly.
Title: Re: Surface dependent tire pressure adjustments?
Post by: ortho on January 14, 2021, 08:53:10 PM
Huh, I have never seen Ares tires with that on them. Do you think they're actually a different tire than regular A-classes?
Title: Re: Surface dependent tire pressure adjustments?
Post by: Mambocowboy on January 27, 2021, 09:29:58 PM
Huh, I have never seen Ares tires with that on them. Do you think they're actually a different tire than regular A-classes?
Yes. I don't have them anymore but the tires that came with my Ares complete were sluggish.