I'm sure this topic has been discussed here but I couldn't really find the information I was looking for with the search function. The question is what tire pressures do you guys/gals suggest. I ride a hard tail with a 150mm fork up front and I haven't made the jump to tubeless. I'm getting back into the sport after about a 4-year hiatus and have ridden a couple of the trails around charlotte (you all have built some great trails here by the way). All geared up I weigh about 200 lbs; which is what really kicked me off to get back behind the bars. 

I think that is enough info for some of you gurus to steer me in the right direction on this topic.

I ride about 28-30 Front and Rear.  Any less and the tire starts to roll over on itself a bit.

No problem, now on my rigid single speed I did ride the front as low as like 22-24, and that is with tubeless.

You guys run it that high?

I'm about 165lbs, probably 175-180 with a Camelbak and gear on, and run 20PSI with 29x2.3s (and only about 22PSI when I had a 29x2.1 in the rear); I've safely run down to 17PSI or so but the bike felt too bouncy.  I run tubes all the time and have never had a pinch flat on this bike.  I'm thinking maybe my 23mm wide rims help, but I can't believe it's that big of a difference!

Ridefour15 wrote on 06/27/14 at 10:42pm:

Maybe the tube provides some stability but my rear tire gets squirrelly in the low 20s tubeless with a 2.1

Wow yeah some of y'all run really low. I run about 30psi on my hardtail and squishy with 26mm width rim and 2.4 maxxis tires. Much less than that and I feel they start pushing and rolling over in hard cornering situations. 

I'm not super picky either though I find it crazy to gauge your tire pressure down to a 1/2psi there is no way that can be felt

It's subjective. Play around a little bit with psi. Start around 30 ride it a few times then try 25 a few times and see how it feels. Adjust it up and down a bit until you find the right one for you. What someone else does really doesn't matter much because their style and setup might be completely different from yours. As an example I run a hard tail SS with 80 mm of travel. I run tubeless with arch ex wheels and maxxis ikons 2.35 at 25-27 psi I weigh 180. None of that is what you are are have so what I run isn't a good comparison for you. You have to find what works best for you .

sager wrote on 06/27/14 at 11:52pm:


Either that or my pump gauge is screwed up.  I also run my road bike tires lower than most; 700x23 usually 90-95PSI to start but I've had them down to 80 before without issues.  It's been years since I've had a pinch flat on any bike, too.