I really like Pathfinders (previously I had Kenda Flintridge), but Specialized recommend tire pressure of 35-65 PSI (2.5-4.5atm), which is 0.5 atm more than on Kenda. In addition Kenda is 45mm wide, while Specialized is 47mm.
The difference is quite huge for me as I mostly ride on rough terrain, so I would really like to go back to 2.0atm, but can I?
How even companies can have such different standards for quite similar products? And what is the point of limiting pressure to 2.5atm for a tire that is supposed to be used in rough terrain?
I weigh around 165 lbs and I've ridden various 44 to 48 mm tires at 30 psi on reasonable terrain with no problems. With appropriate (25 to 30 mm inside) rims I've noticed no handling problems at that pressure.
Much lower pressures could lead to tire or rim damage from impacts and to unsteady handling on pavement. Also if the tire is on the stiff side, like some touring tires, rolling resistance may increase to unacceptable levels at lower pressures.
The pressure recommendations are a product of the legal department as well as the technical one. Specialized doesn’t want to deal with claims from riders who ran low pressures and damaged the tires, their bikes, or themselves. Also, the lowest pressure listed may be what they consider the safe minimum for the maximum recommended load. Most riders & bikes weigh much less than that.
I feel safe dropping the pressure slowly until it works for me & the way I ride.
Their recommended pressure has always been pretty high, especially for a tubeless set up. I run 28/30 on Nox Teocali rims and sometime it feels too much on rough terrains. According to Enve site, I should be at 23 psi but that felt a bit mush for me. I weight about 185lbs.
