SilverBack SCALERA 1 - Tires and Tubes

44
WARNING: Never inflate 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 inflate a bicycle tire to the correct pressure is with a bicycle pump
which has a built-in pressure gauge.
WARNING: There is a safety risk in using gas station air hoses or other air com-
pressors. 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 dierent 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 pro-
duces 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 perfor-
mance 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 suciently to pinch the inner tube between the rim and
the riding surface.
G. Tires and Tubes
1. Tires
Bicycle tires are available in many designs and
specifications, ranging from general-purpose
designs to tires designed to perform best
under very specific weather or terrain
conditions. If, once you’ve gained experience
with your new bike, you feel that a dier-
ent 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 specific recommended
use, are marked on the sidewall of the tire (see
fig. 17). The part of this information which is-
most important to you is Tire Pressure.
g.16