Yeah. I looked at manuals and took it apart. Couldn't figure it out. Just added a dab of glue
Specialized Turbo Vado SL: An Incredible E-Bike (User Club)
- Thread starter Stefan Mikes
- Start date
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
The SL 1 makes a pretty good flat-bar gravel bike. Good discussion of gravel tire options and trade-offs.
My recent SL 1 makeover was mainly to get a better-for-purpose tubeless rear gravel tire (a 40 mm Tracer) than the existing semi-slick 38 mm Pathfinder Pro.
40 mm Tracer with low center lugs.
38 mm Pathfinder with center slicks.
Not pretending that the Tracer's the best possible tire for me, but definitely a big improvement in rear traction and a noticeable bump in comfort. No obvious hit in pavement rolling resistance, just a little more tire noise at speed.
My recent SL 1 makeover was mainly to get a better-for-purpose tubeless rear gravel tire (a 40 mm Tracer) than the existing semi-slick 38 mm Pathfinder Pro.
40 mm Tracer with low center lugs.
38 mm Pathfinder with center slicks.
Not pretending that the Tracer's the best possible tire for me, but definitely a big improvement in rear traction and a noticeable bump in comfort. No obvious hit in pavement rolling resistance, just a little more tire noise at speed.
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Well, Jeremy, I was happy with Pathfinder Pro when I had my Fearless "equipped". Many gravel cyclist value the 45 mm Pathfinders as these are very fast rolling on asphalt and are quiet. My idea of "de-equipping" my Vado SL 1 was to be able to install the 42 tyres of choice. At that time, Specialized Rhombus Pro were available both in 42 and 47 mm, so I installed that model on both my Specialized e-bikes and intend to keep them until they are worn (these look to be very durable). Unfortunately, Rhombus are discontinued, and the market gave up the size 42.
Where the Pathfinders were performing miserably was mud and sand. Now, I can ride through patches of sand on the Rhombus with full confidence! And I have at least next two warm seasons to enjoy them!
Interestingly, it was Schwalbe Smart Sam 47 mm that safely brought me through the mud of Sudovia Gravel 2025...
Where the Pathfinders were performing miserably was mud and sand. Now, I can ride through patches of sand on the Rhombus with full confidence! And I have at least next two warm seasons to enjoy them!
Interestingly, it was Schwalbe Smart Sam 47 mm that safely brought me through the mud of Sudovia Gravel 2025...
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
My situation's a little different. Most offroad surfaces here are hardpack with anywhere from a fraction of a millimeter to several inches of loose dry sand on top. We also have a lot of grades above 8%.
Traction-wise, the 40 mm Tracers are VASTLY better than 38 mm Pathfinders on that stuff — especially when braking downhill.
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Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Starting to experiment with Tracer tire pressures. The sidewalls say 30-65 psi.
First try was 40 psi, where I usually ran my 38 mm Pathfinders. The 40 mm Tracers were noticeably cushier on all surfaces and definitely grabbier — especially on dirt. As predicted by drum tests at www.bicyclerollingresistance.com, rolling resistance (RR) felt about the same.
Seeing no reason to go higher than 40 psi, tried 30 psi on flattist pavement next, going over every bump and dip I could find. WAY cushier than 40 psi but too bouncy for my taste. Maybe a little RR penalty but hard to say. Will see what it offers on dirt today, but don't see myself running 30 psi routinely.
Then on to 35 psi and play it by ear from there. Once I've picked a favorite for routine use just by feel, will see what the Silca, Rene Herse, and Pirelli pressure calculators have to say.
How do you guys dial in pressure?
First try was 40 psi, where I usually ran my 38 mm Pathfinders. The 40 mm Tracers were noticeably cushier on all surfaces and definitely grabbier — especially on dirt. As predicted by drum tests at www.bicyclerollingresistance.com, rolling resistance (RR) felt about the same.
Seeing no reason to go higher than 40 psi, tried 30 psi on flattist pavement next, going over every bump and dip I could find. WAY cushier than 40 psi but too bouncy for my taste. Maybe a little RR penalty but hard to say. Will see what it offers on dirt today, but don't see myself running 30 psi routinely.
Then on to 35 psi and play it by ear from there. Once I've picked a favorite for routine use just by feel, will see what the Silca, Rene Herse, and Pirelli pressure calculators have to say.
How do you guys dial in pressure?
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
It is the Wolf Tooth Bike Tire Pressure Calculator, Jeremy. Two examples, metric.
Vado 6.0
Vado SL 1
As I might expect some segments on the ride even more demanding, I set R/F to 2.7/2.6 bar (40/38 psi) for either e-bike for a weekend ride and never look back
Vado 6.0
- Bike Type: Gravel
- Weight: 133 kg (26 + 99 + 8)
- Tire setup: Tubed
- Casing type: Medium
- Riding conditions: Medium gravel/Rocks
- Inflation/Riding Temperature; 18/14 C
- Tire/Wheel Size: 29" (700c)
- Measured tire width (R/F): 48/49 mm
Vado SL 1
- Bike Type: Gravel
- Weight: 124 kg (17 + 99 + 8)
- Tire setup: Tubed
- Casing type: Medium
- Riding conditions:
- Medium gravel/Rocks
- Inflation/Riding Temperature; 18/14 C
- Tire/Wheel Size: 29" (700c)
- Measured tire width (R/F): 43/43 mm
As I might expect some segments on the ride even more demanding, I set R/F to 2.7/2.6 bar (40/38 psi) for either e-bike for a weekend ride and never look back
edobici_forza
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- San Mateo, CA
Jeremy, I have a bunch of different tire sizes across various bikes, so I need a cheat sheet. So I use Notes on my phone and computer to have reference. No spreadsheet, just text and sections.
I went through all of the calculators over the years and have each listed to see similarities and differences.
Wolftooth
Bike Tire Pressure Calculator
The Bike Tire Pressure Calculator allows cyclists to find their ideal tire pressure based on terrain and riding conditions for the route ahead for mountain bikes, gravel bikes, and fat bikes.
www.wolftoothcomponents.com
SRAM is simple
SRAM | AXS
Vittoria is more complete
Bicycle Tire Pressure Calculator | Vittoria
The Vittoria Tire Pressure Calculator is a step-by-step tool that provides optimal tire pressure for your tires according to the variables that affect your performance.
vittoria.com
Silca is advanced as well
SILCA Professional Tire Pressure Calculator
Dial in your ride with the SILCA Pro Tire Pressure Calculator. Get data-driven pressure recommendations for speed, comfort, and efficiency.
silca.cc
Pirelli
Pirelli Cycling: Tires & Accessories Velo for Bike
Bike tires and accessories for all types of bicycles: MTB, road bikes, hybrid bikes and others
www.pirelli.com
Note: these links may be stale
For each calculator, I have two pressures per tire listed: Dirt/gravel trail and pavement.
it is a very long file with many tires across 4 bikes.
I have a separate file with only the latest preferred pressures (after many rides) for both surfaces, for quick reference:
Grav 45: Creo, RD: 41f-42r, DT: 34f-37r
Grav 55: Creo, RD: 36f-38r, DT: 25f-26r
Road 32: Hakka, RD: 60f-62r, DT: 47f-48r
MTB 2.4: Exie, DT: 24f-25r, RD+GVL: 30f-32r
I always have a mini electric tire inflator with me on all rides -also functions as a gauge. So, if I come across a surface that is very different I change the pressure accordingly.
Occasionally, I will remember the preferred pressure, without referring to my reference file
