What Are Your Tire Pressures for eMTB?

[Oscar56]

From all of the articles that i have read the appropriate pressure for eMTB tires is a very personal issue. The general train of thought is to keep lowering your pressure until your control starts to get a bit soft or squishy then dial it back up. So this morning I went out to the local hill and found a ~700m test loop where I could test a variety of pressures. I started at 26 lbs front and back and went from there. So far I have ended up at 15psi front and 18psi rear.

Here are my details:

- Giant Fathom hard tail
- bike weight: 55 lbs
- rider weight: 170 lbs
- Tires: Maxxus Forekaster 27.5" X 2.6". rated at 40lbs
- front 15psi
- rear 18psi

edit: recently changed to tubeless

What are your details?

 

[JRA]

You did the right procedure to get to your “personal” psi. What others use is going to be all over the map due to their testing with their equipment on their terrain or lots seem happy to just stay within the recommendation on the sidewall.

 

[Browneye]

Trance E+2 Pro
bike - I have no idea
rider - 185
Tires - Maxxis DHF and DHR, 2.6F and 2.8R
With tubes

I was running right about 20-22psi and they seemed fine - grip like velcro. Then I was reading about recommended pressures elsewhere, and particularly that tubeless can get away with slightly less pressure, but that tubes should run mid-20's, or thereabouts. So I put a little more in them, and got a proper 0-50psi gauge so I can actually tell - you can't get a good read with a 0-25 or a 0-100.

At 25psi they grip just as well but the bike feels more responsive, lighter on it's feet. My regular trail ride from home is about 3.5 miles to the dirt, so the 22-23 mile loop has about a third tar. The bike just rides overall better with a little more pressure in the tires.

I should really try tubeless. It seems like it's kind of like kegging vs bottling craft beer - once you start kegging you wonder why you ever filled bottles.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

With tubes

Did your Trance come tubed? Mine was tubeless from the factory.

 

[Browneye]

Yeah, tubes. They supplied the sealant and stems. Maybe I should give it a shot.
Like teaching an old dog new tricks. LOL

 

[FlatSix911]

I am still running my OEM tubes and will probably give tubeless a try on the EMTB.

I was waiting for my first flat to switch, but that may be a long time for this old dog...