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7. Tech.indd
Last Modifi ed June 23, 2014 5:18 PM
Tech
Tires and tubes
Tires and tubes
Tires
Bicycle tires are available in many designs and specifi cations, ranging from gener-
al-purpose designs to tires designed to perform best under very specifi c weather or
terrain conditions. If, once you’ve gained experience with your new bike, you feel that
a different tire might better suit your riding needs, your dealer can help you select the
most appropriate design.
The size, pressure rating, and on some
high-performance tires the specifi c recom-
mended use, are marked on the sidewall of the
tire (see fi g. 4-11 ). The part of this information
which is most important to you is Tire Pressure.
Never infl ate a tire beyond the maximum
pressure marked on the tire’s sidewall.
Exceeding the recommended maximum
pressure may blow the tire off the rim,
which could cause damage to the bike and
injury to the rider and bystanders.
The best and safest way to infl ate a bicy-
cle tire to the correct pressure is with a
bicycle pump which has a built-in pres-
sure gauge.
There is a safety risk in using gas sta-
tion 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 pres-
sure. Infl ating 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 suffi ciently to pinch the inner tube
between the rim and the riding surface.
fig. 4-11
