by Andrew G » Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:37 pm
[quote="Dombo"]Maybe pump them a bit higher. I'm 65kg and run the same pressure as you, and I don't get pinch punctures. That's with Conti 4000S tyres, which have a recommended max of 120psi. Vredestein Fortezza Tricomps are maxed at 175psi. Both probably have a margin of safety a few psi over.
No don't go too high. 100psi to 120psi is good for just about everyone, if you go too high they the ride quality will be terrible as they'll bounce off every piece of grit and you'll lower the contact patch and reduce grip. don't pay too much attention to what the tyre says as they give a maximum rating, my TT tubs have a max of 220psi but you wouldn't want to ride the things like that.
I vary between 10.5 to 11 stone and tend to use 100psi front and 110psi rear, slightly lower in bad conditions - i.e. very wet or potentially icy to give a slightly bigger contact patch but only 5-10psi lower. Sounds like you're at about the right psi for your size.
The most important thing to help avoid punctures is to de-flint your tyres regularly. Depending on how much you use the bike and the conditions then either once a week, or fortnight, go round both tyres and remove all the little bits of grit and glass that are embedded in the tyres. Some are worse that others for it, but just flick them out with the end of a pointed knife.