Despite requiring a more complicated installation, tubeless mountain bike tires benefit from being both lower weight and lower maintenance than their tubular counterparts. Though their lack of tubes helps to avoid some issues common to tubular tires, both tire types perform best within a certain range of tire pressures. With a combination of professional recommendations and some tweaking to suit personal preferences, determining the best tire pressure for your tubeless tires is a relatively easy process.
Pinch Flats and Burping
In tubular tires, low tire pressure is associated with an increased risk of pinch flats, which occur when the tube of a tire is pinched between an object and the tire's rim. Lacking tubes, tubeless tires can comfortably and safely operate at lower tire pressures than tubular tires with no risk of pinch flats. However, severely low tubeless tire pressure can result in 'burping,' or air escaping the tire when you ride over bumps or small objects. In addition to the risk of burping, low tubeless tire pressure can expose the rims to damage, potentially resulting in a poor seal between your tire and the rim.
High Pressure Risks
With no risk of pinch flats, tubeless tires ride optimally at considerably lower pressures than tubular tires. As such, you should never have to ride on tubeless tires at higher pressures. If, however, you prefer riding on tires at higher pressures, you should know that the associated risks are the same for both tubular and tubeless tires. At higher pressures, both tire types will provide poor control, poor cornering and handling, and an increased risk of punctures.
Tubular vs. Tubeless Tire Pressure
Though ideal tire pressure ranges vary depending on tire size, tire wall thickness and rider weight, the pros at Bike 198 recommend riding at the lowest tire pressure possible regardless of these factors. Pete Prebus of Mountain Bike Riding recommends that tubeless tires operate at a maximum pressure 5 to 7 psi lower than that recommended for tubular tires. The recommended maximum pressures for tubeless tires range from approximately 30 psi for riders between 100 and 150 pounds to approximately 45 psi for riders between 200 and 225 pounds. Whether or not your tires are designed to withstand pressures greater than these, these ranges are a safe starting point for all tubeless tire types.
Adjusting Tubeless Tire Pressure
To find the optimal pressure for your tubeless tires, test them out at the previously mentioned maximum pressures recommended by Pete Prebus. Remove 5 psi from this maximum pressure, then take your bike for another test ride. If you do not find your ride to be smoother or more comfortable, try adding 2 to 3 psi before riding again. If you find the lower pressure to be an improvement, continue removing 3 to 5 psi and testing your tires until you find your ideal range. Again, you should be trying to find the lowest possible tire pressure that provides you with the greatest amount of control and comfort without presenting risks of burping or rim damage. Once you find your ideal range, feel free to adjust your tire pressure by ±3 to 5 psi around this range to suit different riding conditions.
General Considerations
As mentioned above, the ideal pressure for your tires varies depending on a number of factors. According to the pros at Bike 198, as the width of a tire increases, its optimal pressure decreases. Similarly, tires with thicker sidewalls operate best at lower pressures than tires with thinner sidewalls. Regardless of these factors, heavier riders should attempt to ride at higher pressures, with lighter riders aiming for lower optimal pressures. In addition to these general considerations, it is recommended that your front tire be inflated to a pressure approximately 10 percent higher than your rear. According to cycling enthusiast Sheldon Brown, this pressure disparity between your front and rear tires helps to compensate for the majority of your weight resting on the rear tire.
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