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, but the rest of your post is about loose hillclimbs.Airing down definetly helps on rocks
I said it helps on rocks and even loose dirt. I have gone thousands of miles in the Sierras and the Mojave with only one incident that I can blame on low tire pressure. As to being in a group or close to a tire store or civilization, I don't understand what you are getting at? I carry a repair kit a with tire plugs, fix-a-flat, cheapo compressor and i have a fully funcional spare tire. If you cant do a field repair you should not be out on the trail. I have had sidewall blowouts 4 inches long that I was able to use plugs plus fix-aflat on and get me home no problem. There is no question that you run a slightly higher risk of side wall damage but there is also no question as to the great benefits of airing down. If your argument is that you shouldn't air down because you run a risk of tire damage then I think that is a weak argument. You run the risk of tire damage at any pressure.
Kevin, this is Lightning Peak trail near Big Bear City - you can give it a shot. Your additional excitement comes from off-camber on this climb - so you can't get a full benefit of airing down (treads wrap under the wheels), but your sidewalls are exposed and grinding against these sharp little rocks (between football and basketball size). Any wrinkle in the sidewall gets caught and gashed, just like on Perry's photo. That is exactly how I ripped the sidewall of a Futura in Colorado, and three others in other places.kellymoe said:That is a tire shredder for sure but I can just imagine tires spinning at full pressure, shredding the luggs on the tread.
Discokayaker said:Nobody airs down on difficult trails. . .
DiscoDino said:airing down is important, just know that the sidewalls will be beaten to death, and then some.