This is likely a discussion best held with a few libations. Definately NOT a "what tire pressure do you recommend" thread!
Regardless of the tire pressure one regularly runs (from the Owner's Manual recommended pressures one-up and two-up w/luggage to the 38/42 we often see recommended for the RT) what does one do at altitude?
Situation: We live at 6500 feet elevation in the Sierras. Most of our rides take us over 7400 feet through the passes to either 4500 feet in the Nevada deserts or to 300 feet in the California central valley in the course of a single day.
Is there a general rule of thumb for setting air pressure to compensate for altitude changes? Does 40 psi inside a tire at 6500 feet (all other things being equal) mean 36 psi at sea level due to more ambient pressure at sea level?
I've been giving the tires about 10% over what I regularly run to compensate for the lower altitude of my destinations w/o seriously over-inflating for altitude and getting great overall tire mileage and traction, but I still have that back-of-the-head question no one has ever really answered.
Thanks for your thoughts, rants, or insights?
Stan Moore
South Lake Tahoe
Regardless of the tire pressure one regularly runs (from the Owner's Manual recommended pressures one-up and two-up w/luggage to the 38/42 we often see recommended for the RT) what does one do at altitude?
Situation: We live at 6500 feet elevation in the Sierras. Most of our rides take us over 7400 feet through the passes to either 4500 feet in the Nevada deserts or to 300 feet in the California central valley in the course of a single day.
Is there a general rule of thumb for setting air pressure to compensate for altitude changes? Does 40 psi inside a tire at 6500 feet (all other things being equal) mean 36 psi at sea level due to more ambient pressure at sea level?
I've been giving the tires about 10% over what I regularly run to compensate for the lower altitude of my destinations w/o seriously over-inflating for altitude and getting great overall tire mileage and traction, but I still have that back-of-the-head question no one has ever really answered.
Thanks for your thoughts, rants, or insights?
Stan Moore
South Lake Tahoe