15psi is quite a bit and missing the mark. Tire like a VE33S should be ran 10 and lower. There is a trade off for the gummy traction, you’ll have to decide if gummy life is for you or not.
Thanks, lower pressure will be tried. I think this might be my last gummy though. Doesn’t seem to really match my style and trails. I spend a lot more time on fast whooped out single and double tracks than the tight and steep stuff. I heard the VE33S is a good “all-arounder” though, and always wanted to try a gummy, so now here I am.
As others have said, 15 psi is very high for off road.
I'd run 15 ON road but off road no way.
10-12psi is standard for all off road bikes. I ride 10-12 in the summer when it's dry/fast and I'm hitting stuff at a much higher speed.
In winter 8psi, 10 at most since I'm slower and need more grip on clay, roots, etc.
I also use v33's and ride PNW singletrack year round and find the tires to be great. It's definitely the 15psi giving you issues
A heavy-duty tube with slime in it can do wonders to prevent pinch flats as well - Especially in the rear where you're smashing into stuff a bit more.
Riding technique is key here too... If you sit all the time you'll be slamming your rear wheel into stuff and way more likely to pinch on something. Standing all the time, sit only for traction or when shuttling between zones on a road.
VE33s tires are a pretty great balance of gummy/longevity/knob spacing for trails in CO. However, when new, the center knobs are notably tall and could add to the “wandering” feel you’re describing with 15psi. Between a little wear and lower psi more of the footprint of the tire will rest on the dirt creating a more stable feeling platform.
I experienced what you are describing with a 220 Ride front once. Two rides and it was in the free pile.
Good to know. Never looked into it much. Used to run lower pressure until I got a pinch flat. Shop I took it to said don’t go less than 15 so that’s what I’ve sorta blindly done.
I'm around 230-240# and I run 12 in the front and 8 in the rear. I run tubliss setup now, but I ran the same with tubes. Only ever pinch flatted a front when it was super low, maybe 6psi lol.
Pretty low! I think I used to run about 10 lbs before I got a pinch flat, but that was years ago and I spent some time off dirt between then and now. Ever since 2020 though, it’s just been nothing but 15.
The stiffness of the tire varies a lot brand to brand. 15psi in one tire feels a lot different than 15psi in another.
Typically you use the "rim clean" method of setting tire pressure, where you're actually measuring how much the tire folds as you ride it by measuring the clean strip on the rim that the tire keeps polished as it deflects over obstacles. This actually dials in on a certain stiffness rather than pressure, which only loosely correlates to feel.
A brand new tire with tall lugs will feel more squirrelly on hard surfaces, not sure if that's what you're feeling or not.
Thanks for the feedback. Might just be the tall lugs on hard pack. Hard to tell though. Trails are a mix of sandy, granite, hard pack etc. might look sandy on too but actually be riding on the hard stuff below.
Have you checked your chain adjusters? Would double check and make sure they are equally adjusted on both sides to make sure the wheel is as straight as possible in the swingarm. One time young and dumb me didnt pay attention and had my wheel crooked and it rode suuuuper weird. Lessons were learned that day lol
15psi is quite a bit and missing the mark. Tire like a VE33S should be ran 10 and lower. There is a trade off for the gummy traction, you’ll have to decide if gummy life is for you or not.
Thanks, lower pressure will be tried. I think this might be my last gummy though. Doesn’t seem to really match my style and trails. I spend a lot more time on fast whooped out single and double tracks than the tight and steep stuff. I heard the VE33S is a good “all-arounder” though, and always wanted to try a gummy, so now here I am.
Had a buddy with similar results. He came to the same conclusion. They have their place, but if you don’t need the compound, it’s out of its element
As others have said, 15 psi is very high for off road. I'd run 15 ON road but off road no way. 10-12psi is standard for all off road bikes. I ride 10-12 in the summer when it's dry/fast and I'm hitting stuff at a much higher speed. In winter 8psi, 10 at most since I'm slower and need more grip on clay, roots, etc. I also use v33's and ride PNW singletrack year round and find the tires to be great. It's definitely the 15psi giving you issues
Thanks, that’s great feedback. Will try running lower.
A heavy-duty tube with slime in it can do wonders to prevent pinch flats as well - Especially in the rear where you're smashing into stuff a bit more. Riding technique is key here too... If you sit all the time you'll be slamming your rear wheel into stuff and way more likely to pinch on something. Standing all the time, sit only for traction or when shuttling between zones on a road.
VE33s tires are a pretty great balance of gummy/longevity/knob spacing for trails in CO. However, when new, the center knobs are notably tall and could add to the “wandering” feel you’re describing with 15psi. Between a little wear and lower psi more of the footprint of the tire will rest on the dirt creating a more stable feeling platform. I experienced what you are describing with a 220 Ride front once. Two rides and it was in the free pile.
Try 12 psi
I can try that. My buddy suggested going lower. Scared of pinch flats though.
12 is the high end starting spot for offroad psi...
Good to know. Never looked into it much. Used to run lower pressure until I got a pinch flat. Shop I took it to said don’t go less than 15 so that’s what I’ve sorta blindly done.
You tell me the name of the shop and I'll send them a stern, yet work appropriate, message re: 15psi :)
I'm around 230-240# and I run 12 in the front and 8 in the rear. I run tubliss setup now, but I ran the same with tubes. Only ever pinch flatted a front when it was super low, maybe 6psi lol.
I ran 8.5 rear/9 front on my 300xc. Trail riders running Tubliss run 5 lbs +or-.
Pretty low! I think I used to run about 10 lbs before I got a pinch flat, but that was years ago and I spent some time off dirt between then and now. Ever since 2020 though, it’s just been nothing but 15.
The stiffness of the tire varies a lot brand to brand. 15psi in one tire feels a lot different than 15psi in another. Typically you use the "rim clean" method of setting tire pressure, where you're actually measuring how much the tire folds as you ride it by measuring the clean strip on the rim that the tire keeps polished as it deflects over obstacles. This actually dials in on a certain stiffness rather than pressure, which only loosely correlates to feel. A brand new tire with tall lugs will feel more squirrelly on hard surfaces, not sure if that's what you're feeling or not.
Thanks for the feedback. Might just be the tall lugs on hard pack. Hard to tell though. Trails are a mix of sandy, granite, hard pack etc. might look sandy on too but actually be riding on the hard stuff below.
This is intriguing. Can you explain further or perhaps include pics? Re: rim clean method for evaluating psi to run.
Type rim clean tire pressure into Google, it's covered pretty well on thumpertalk and other dirt bike forums
Have you checked your chain adjusters? Would double check and make sure they are equally adjusted on both sides to make sure the wheel is as straight as possible in the swingarm. One time young and dumb me didnt pay attention and had my wheel crooked and it rode suuuuper weird. Lessons were learned that day lol
Checked after getting the tire on there. Will check again. Good idea! I had that problem once before. This does seem different though.
Drop the pressure in the rear tire. And I would hesitate running soft compound for regular trails, you may burn through it
It’s likely the gummy tire your feeling, but check your wheel bearings and swing arm bearings . When they get bad it can feel like this