Specialized BICYCLE - Tires and Tubes

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G. Tires and Tubes
1. Tires
Bicycle tires are available in
many designs and specications,
ranging from general-purpose
designs to tires designed to
perform best under very speci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 specic recommended use, are
marked on the sidewall of the tire
(see g. 17). The part of this information which is most important to you is Tire
Pressure.
 
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 inate 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 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. In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 sufciently 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.