I'd like your thoughts on what tire pressure to use for my daily rides on nice roads w/ Enve 3.4s & Conti Comps or Vittoria Evos. I usually have them at 140 psi with no wear or comfort issues but wonder if a lower pressure would be more adviseable.

What do you recommend for general riding for tubulars in good conditions?

Thanks!!

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Wilier Cento Uno, 13.25 lbs / 6.01 kilograms
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=95887

your weight is?

I run them 100/110 front/rear. I can't think of a situation for road use where a 140psi pressure would be advisable.

I like 9 bar on my tubulars. I've tried others but keep going back to 9. (130psi)

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RUEGAMER 5.21kg, 11.48lbs

CRUMPTON 4.40kg, 9.70lbs

I like the feel of 100psi but will usually start with 110psi on longer rides because tubular tires of cause can lose over 10psi on a 4 hour ride. I weigh 65kg-67kg depending on time of year.

I weigh 156 lbs. What are the advantages of a lower pressure?

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Wilier Cento Uno, 13.25 lbs / 6.01 kilograms
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=95887

There are many reasons, but the best reasons are:

1. Improved ride quality;
2. Decreased rolling resistance; and,
3. Better handling.

Wouldn't a higher pressure lower rolling resistence b/c of less tire-contact on the road and ever-so-slightly less deflection?

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Wilier Cento Uno, 13.25 lbs / 6.01 kilograms
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=95887

No. Higher pressure causes the tire to bounce off the road instead of smoothly roll over the road. A tire bouncing up and down on a surface is bad rolling resistance. You want the tire to remain in contact with the surface and flow over it.

Seems counter-intuitive. At some point the lower pressure must > resistence (think of a nearly flat tire). So, where's the cross-over point on nice/smooth roads?

I can understand how < pressure is > comfortable and has better cornering. Does pressure have any effect on tread wear?

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Wilier Cento Uno, 13.25 lbs / 6.01 kilograms
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=95887

It is definitely counter-intuitive. It is one of the reasons that tubulars are faster on the road and clinchers are faster on a steel drum.

Even a 'smooth' road isn't smooth at all. It is the supple nature of the tubular that allows it to roll over and around road imperfections, rather than bounce over them like a clincher. By over-inflating a tubular, you loose some of that suppleness and some of the advantages of the tubular to begin with.

I have never conducted an experiment where I deliberately over-inflated tires, but I can still wear a tubular tire down to the cords before it needs replacing.

Oh, I also believe that a properly inflated tubular brakes better, as the contact patch gets larger with the transfer of weight to the front tire.

Tried 115 psi today. No noticeable difference but that means next to nothing as I was even more dog-meat than usual. Will keep them at 115 for a while.

Would love other opinions/thoughts, etc.

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Wilier Cento Uno, 13.25 lbs / 6.01 kilograms
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=95887

I'm fat, (230 lbs) and run my Vittoria Corsa CX clinchers at 120 rear, and 110 front. They ride great at those pressures.

Michelin has a weight vs. inflation pressure chart for their tires which I've seen others reference. I'm not at all clear, however, on why the rider weight is the independent variable in that equation.

KAC

Each to his own...