Hardtail PSI question

[Cowboy]

I finally took my new toy out for a mild trail ride, (back story: Just got a new Kona hardtail "cinder cone", and after 15 years just started ridin agian); anyway... the back tire was bouncin all over the place, the front tire wasn't bad, but the bike was "set up" at the bike shop, and they had 50(ish) psi in each.

Tires are Nokian NBT 26"x2.1" that came on the bike.

I'm thinkin' 30 psi in the rear, and 35 in the front. Will this be a good place to start, or will I be pinchin tubes and gettin flats? oh, and I'm around 165-175lbs, depending on how many rocks are in my pockets...or if I'm soaking wet or both, lol.

-Cowboy

[redclayrambler]

I'm no expert but 50 psi sounds way too high. I think starting in the 30's is a much better bet.

[redclayrambler]

Oh yeah, I usually run a little more in the rear and a little less in the front. This helps with traction and avoiding pinch flats. JMO

[soreback]

every time i take my bike to a shop, when i get it home, the tires are pumped to a ridicuous high PSI. i think they get a little carried away with the compressed air replacing a hand pump.

[jed]

It depends on the terrain and conditions, as well as the size and type of tires you are running, but if you are smooth and running 2.0 tires with tubes a good place to start would be mid 30's for the front and and upper 30's for the rear. If you like to rip the descents without worrying so much about flatting add 3-5 psi. If you are going to Gambrill add another 3-5 psi unless you are really smooth. Also, you can run lower pressures in larger tires without pinching because they hold more air.

This is a pretty individual thing. I know lots of guys who get away with really low pressures, but that has never worked for me. I'm pretty middle of the pack when it comes to tire pressure. I weigh 155, so I'm a little smaller than you, but close to your size, and I like to rip the descents without worrying too much about flatting.

Tires of the same size by different manufacturers react differently to various pressures; one tire's pinch flat pressure is another's sweet spot.