Owner`s manual

22
Cervélo Owner’s Manual
F. Tires and Tubes
1. Tires
Bicycle tires are available in many designs and
specifications, ranging
from general-purpose designs to tires
designed to perform best under very
specific weather or terrain conditions. If,
once you’ve gained experience with your
new bike, you feel that a different tire
might better suit your riding needs, your dealer
can help you select the most appropriate design.
The size, pressure rating, and on some high-
performance tires the specific recommended
use, are marked on the sidewall of the tire (see
fig. 11). The part of this information which is most important to you is
Tire Pressure.
WARNING: Never inflate a tire beyond the maximum pressure
marked on the
tire’s sidewall. Exceeding the recom-
mended maximum pressure may blow the tire off the rim,
which could cause damage to the bike and injury to the rider
and bystanders.
The best and safest way to inflate a bicycle tire to the correct pressure
is with a bicycle pump which has a built-in pressure gauge.
WARNING: There is a safety risk in using gas station air hoses
or other air compressors. They are not made for bicycle tires.
They move a large volume of air very rapidly, and will raise
the pressure in your tire very rapidly, which could cause
the tube to explode.
Tire pressure is given either as maximum pressure or as a
pressure range. How a tire performs under different terrain or weather
conditions depends largely on tire pressure. Inflating the tire to near
its maximum recommended pressure gives the lowest rolling
resistance; but also produces the harshest ride. High pressures
work best on smooth, dry pavement.
Very low pressures, at the bottom of the recommended pressure
range, give the best performance on smooth, slick terrain such as
hard-packed clay, and on deep, loose surfaces such as deep, dry
sand.
Tire pressure that is too low for your weight and the riding conditions
can cause a puncture of the tube by allowing the tire to deform sufficiently
to pinch the inner tube between the rim and the riding surface.
CAUTION: Pencil type automotive tire gauges can be inaccurate
and should not be relied upon for consistent, accurate pressure
readings. Instead, use a high quality dial gauge.
Ask your dealer to recommend the best tire pressure for the kind of
riding you will most often do, and have the dealer inflate your tires
to that pressure. Then, check inflation as described in Section 1.C so
you’ll know how correctly inflated tires should look and feel when you
don’t have access to a gauge. Some tires may need to be brought up to
pressure every week or two.
Some special high-performance tires have unidirectional treads: their
f ig. 11