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PART I
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WARNING
TheRe Is A sAfeTy RIsk In UsInG GAs
sTATIon AIR hoses oR oTheR AIR
ComPRessoRs.
They are not made for bicycle tires. They move
a large volume of air very rapidly, and will raise
the pressure in your tire very rapidly, which could
cause the tube to explode.
Tire pressure is given either as maximum pressure
or as a pressure range. How a tire performs under
different terrain or weather conditions depends
largely on tire pressure. Inflating the tire to near its
maximum recommended pressure gives the lowest
rolling resistance; but also produces the harshest
ride. High pressures work best on smooth, dry
pavement.
Very low pressures, at the bottom of the
recommended pressure range, give the best
performance on smooth, slick terrain such as hard-
packed clay, and on deep, loose surfaces such as
deep, dry sand.
Tire pressure that is too low for your weight and the
riding conditions can cause a puncture of the tube by
allowing the tire to deform sufficiently to pinch the
inner tube between the rim and the riding surface.
CAUTION
Pencil type automotive tire gauges can be
inaccurate and should not be relied upon for
consistent, accurate pressure readings. Instead,
use a high quality dial gauge.
Ask your dealer to recommend the best tire pressure
for the kind of riding you will most often do, and
have the dealer inflate your tires to that pressure.
Then, check inflation as described in SECTION 1.C so
you’ll know how correctly inflated tires should look
and feel when you don’t have access to a gauge.
some tires may need to be brought up to pressure
every week or two. so, it is important to check your
tire pressures before every ride.
Some special high-performance tires have
unidirectional treads: their tread pattern is designed
to work better in one direction than in the other. The
sidewall marking of a unidirectional tire will have an
arrow showing the correct rotation direction. If your
bike has unidirectional tires, be sure that they are
mounted to rotate in the correct direction.
