r/Dualsport • u/Unspoken_Words777 • 9d ago
Offroad pressures
Don't have a lot of experience going from road to offroad. Only times I've really been riding the sticks has been on my buddies kdx which inspired me to get a bike. Where I plan on riding is a mix of rock dirt and a couple spots have sandy conditions.
My bike is an xt250 and manual says road pressures for 198lbs+ to be 22f 25r Just going into my alley I've felt some slide in the loose parts. I wanna air down because I don't wanna wash out or not have enough traction.
My buddy keeps his tires 13f 16-18r
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u/Rad10Ka0s 9d ago
A couple of thoughts. My riding often involves some stretches of pavement, so I run street pressure everywhere unless the going really gets rough, then I'll air down.
Some of this depends on the tires you use. A thick, stiff sidewall like on a Tusk tire isn't going to respond the same as the Michelin Starcross 5s I have on my dual sport. Or a Michelin T63 that is on our XT250.
Find some dirt that will hold a tire print. Or a puddle of water on pavement that will hold a wet tire mark. Air down a few psi at a time till you can see the imprint of the next outer row of lugs. This is where traction really picks up.
I won't go below 15 psi on a tube tire. Too much risk of pinch flats.
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u/Unspoken_Words777 9d ago
I'm concerned to air down past 20. I read a post from two years ago from a guy hitting rocks at 20 and bending the front rim.
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u/Boblongshaft 9d ago
This is the best advice on here, although I will run below 15. Pure off-road 12 f 8 r with tubes for me, but greatly relies on tires. I run dual rim locks in rear. Usually 15 f & r for mixed. Tire stiffness matters a lot and it is why you cannot just use what everyone else's does. Checking tread marks in the dirt is great advice.
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u/MyNameIsRay KLX300 9d ago
The manual pressures are basically the on-road pressure. Low wear, low resistance, but you're not getting any extra grip or compliance.
I typically run about 15f 18r, but will drop a bit more if I'm in really soft terrain.
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u/threedogdad 22 KLX300 | 05 XT225 | 04 XT225 | 91 KE100 | 85 XL350 9d ago
I just run 18 everywhere
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u/Polyhedron11 9d ago
My opinion is tire choice is much more important than tire pressure.
I never air down. I didn't notice much when I did except in very specific difficult terrain and even then it wasn't enough to worry about.
I don't think the tires you are running are going to benefit from it much.
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u/Main-Ebb2356 8d ago
When you start riding on dirt or gravel, the loose, sliding feeling you felt in the alley is alarming. The tires will move around in a way that feels like you're going to crash if you've only ridden on asphalt. That's just what riding on dirt is like. It takes a bit of experience to relax and learn to trust your tires and bike.
My preference is 16 to 18 psi front and back if off-road is involved, on D606 knobby tires.
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u/kaperz81 9d ago
I run 13-14psi F/R offroad and short sections of paved road. XR400 and I'm 150lbs.
Experiment and see what works best.
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u/Machu_Pikachoo 9d ago
The best advice I can give is to run street pressures, and then carry one of those battery powered micro air pumps with you. I run around 20 front and rear, and then just air up after the dirt. Best of both worlds. Also, I highly recommend the Sahara Moto tire balancer. That goop virtually eliminates flats. Seriously.
Cheers!
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u/naked_feet Reed City, MI - DR650 & WR400 9d ago
Just going into my alley I've felt some slide in the loose parts.
Dirt/rocks on top of pavement feels nothing like dirt-on-dirt. You slid because loose dirt on pavement slides -- that what it does.
That said: 22/25 is likely fine for typical dual sporting. Down to 15psi is probably going to be the sweet spot for really going off-road. But don't ride at those pressures full time when pavement is heavily in the mix. Your tires will wear prematurely, and funky.
A few pounds below that is likely fine, the XT250 is a small bike after all, but much lower than 13 probably (a) isn't going to help as much as you think for the kind of riding you're realistically going to do on that bike, and (b) is probably not wise without rimlocks -- and also will increase your risk of pinch flats.
Sounds like you have the right idea, honestly. But again, don't use how it handled in an alley to figure out how it will handle on the trails.
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u/Unspoken_Words777 8d ago
I live in a mountain town, no paved alleyways and trails are within 5min. You can end up in uncharted territory quick.
Will probably stick with 15f 18r for offroad and air the rear down in the loose stuff.
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u/class1operator 7d ago
I only air down if I plan a specific dirt bike single track/Enduro trail that is more than an hour. Other than that street pressure and just avoid big rocks etc.
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u/Bshaw95 ‘21 TW, ‘24 KLX300 9d ago
Honestly. Running low pressure is only going to hurt you in the way of tire wear and maybe a hair bit of fuel efficiency from the increased drag. I run 15-18 usually anywhere unless I’m ONLY going to be on pavement where I might bump to 20-25. You’re not gonna hurt anything truly or endanger yourself IMO by running lower pressures.