Riding on worn tires

happytramp

Bit of a strange question, but my tires have crossed the point where they are now prone to puncture. None for a year then two the last couple of times out. Lots of little nicks and cuts appearing and I can tell they're on their last legs.

Anyway, I've ordered new tires but I've got to go for a ride today and was wondering does pressure effect the likely hood of a puncture on a worn tire? Does the theory of max pressure to prevent punctures hold true on very worn rubber? Or is it possible that running a lower pressure will make them more pliant and less likely to cut?

Wishbone Ash

happytramp wrote: »

...Or is it possible that running a lower pressure will make them more pliant and less likely to cut?

If they are more pliant the're more likely to allow easier entry to glass/flint etc. Tyres at the correct pressure will tend to 'reject' such debris.

mirv

Additional pressure only helps you avoid pinch flats.

I reckon higher pressure tends to make punctures from sharp objects more likely, as it'll be less supple and give sharp objects a more rigid surface to push against.

07Lapierre

The question is ....
"Do you feel lucky? Well...Do ya Punk?"

Pinch Flat

mirv wrote: »

Additional pressure only helps you avoid pinch flats.

Bane of my life

quozl

I run 70-75 PSI on the front tyre, and 75-85 on the back tyre with two different sets of 28mm tyres (GP4Seasons & Bontrager Hard-cases). I'm 75kg.

6000 km between them and still not had a single puncture.

So I really don't think pressure makes much of a difference once you have it high enough to avoid pinch flats.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Two punctures hardly indicates the tyres are beyond use! You could have just been unlucky. I rode on Zaffiros for a year and no punctures and then got 3 over two days but have none since. I replaced the tube each time rather than repairing them.