Bicycle Tire Pressure - Just How Much Pressure to Put in Bike Tires?
One question we get asked all the time is “How much air should I put in my bike tires?” Whilst this is often a point of contention and one where people have varying opinions, we jump straight into it in this post.
We will focus on the importance of inflation, the amount of pressure your tire needs and the frequency with which you need to check the tire’s air pressure.
We will focus on the importance of inflation, the amount of pressure your tire needs and the frequency with which you need to check the tire’s air pressure.
Tire Maintenance – Understanding Its Importance
When you own a bike, one of the most important things to remember to do is maintenance. One critical part of maintaining your bicycle is looking after your tires. Properly inflated tires ensure that you will have an optimal ride and also help to keep you safe when on your bike.
Whether you are riding high speed on a road bike or dropping down a slope on a mountain bike, properly inflated tires will help ensure you get the best performance from your bike as a whole. There is no point in having the latest carbon fibre forks if your tires are not enhancing the experience.
Whether you are riding high speed on a road bike or dropping down a slope on a mountain bike, properly inflated tires will help ensure you get the best performance from your bike as a whole. There is no point in having the latest carbon fibre forks if your tires are not enhancing the experience.
Really? Does Tire Inflation Have That Much Impact On My Ride?
In our opinion, Yes! It does... Inflation determines how much tire is on the riding surface (such as a road) and this impacts on things like rolling resistance and puncture susceptibility. Highly inflated tires have less tire area on the riding surface meaning they roll easier and also have less chance of a pinch type puncture (where your tube is pressed against the wheel rim) when hitting debris or potholes.
However, on the other hand, a lower pressure can aid with grip for both on road and off road cyclists, especially in rough or wet terrain. Ultimately it comes down to 4 things.
1. How much weight will be on your bike
2. What type of bike tires you have
3. What type of riding you are going to be doing
4. Any additional circumstances like rain
Remember to take some time to think about your riding needs and the points above and adjust pressure accordingly.
However, on the other hand, a lower pressure can aid with grip for both on road and off road cyclists, especially in rough or wet terrain. Ultimately it comes down to 4 things.
1. How much weight will be on your bike
2. What type of bike tires you have
3. What type of riding you are going to be doing
4. Any additional circumstances like rain
Remember to take some time to think about your riding needs and the points above and adjust pressure accordingly.
How Much Air to Put in Road Bike Tires
As mentioned earlier, getting the optimal pressure is important. If you put in too much pressure your grip while cornering will be compromised. Whereas as in the case with mountain bikes, if you put too little air in then you also run the risk of getting pinch punctures when you hit debris or make contact with a divot or pothole in the road. Again we suggest starting by looking at the tire walls for the manufacturers recommended pressure range. These would normally fall between 80 to 130 psi. With road cycling, conditions play a big factor. If you are cycling on very smooth road or track surfaces then a higher pressure is good as you will have less surface resistance – great for speed. If the road is rougher or slippery, then a lower pressure is recommended. A lower pressure will allow the tire to absorb more bumps and in the wet give you a bit more grip – especially while cornering. If inflation is too low the tire can be at risk of wearing out quickly, suffering from rim contact punctures and can even be dangerous with a “rolling” type motion being experienced while cornering.
How Much Air to Put in Mountain Bike Tires
For mountain bikes the average pressure is around 30 to 50 psi. Again this depends on a number of factors including the type or riding you are going to do. Always check your tire walls for the pressure range.
Then consider the type of mountain bike riding you are going to do. If you have smooth rolling type of tracks then you should choose from the higher end of the range as a higher pressure will give you less resistance for smoother tracks. If you are riding downhill over rocks and roots and other challenging terrain, then grip is more important - so a lower pressure will enhance grip.
Then consider the type of mountain bike riding you are going to do. If you have smooth rolling type of tracks then you should choose from the higher end of the range as a higher pressure will give you less resistance for smoother tracks. If you are riding downhill over rocks and roots and other challenging terrain, then grip is more important - so a lower pressure will enhance grip.
How Much Air to Put in Hybrid Bike Tires
A hybrid bike is designed for multiple riding conditions and often is dubbed as a “general purpose” bike. Hybrid bike tires tend to be in the pressure range of 50 to 70 psi. Again, as with road bikes and mountain bikes, it is important to read the tire wall to see the manufacturers recommendation. The factors discussed under road and mountain bike sections above also apply.
how to measure bike tire pressure
The oldest and easiest way of checking pressure is the thumb test method. You can simply press your tire and if it feels hard and firm it means your tire has about 28-30 psi of pressure. If you are an experienced cyclist then maybe, just maybe you can get away with doing this. However, we highly recommend that you invest in a tire pressure gauge. To measure bike tire pressure accurately you need a tire pressure gauge that is designed for bicycle tires. We would recommend that if you have a daily commuter that you check your tire pressure a least once a week and possibly make adjustments according to weather such as rain.
If you have a weekend “performance” mountain or road bike, then it is really important to check your tire pressure before each ride. When it comes to pumping, we recommend having a floor pump at home so you can make quick adjustments before you go out. We also recommend having a mini pump such as our Micro CCX with you when out cycling in case you get caught with a flat while out riding.
If you have a weekend “performance” mountain or road bike, then it is really important to check your tire pressure before each ride. When it comes to pumping, we recommend having a floor pump at home so you can make quick adjustments before you go out. We also recommend having a mini pump such as our Micro CCX with you when out cycling in case you get caught with a flat while out riding.
the weight factor
Obviously we all come in different shapes and sizes, so weight can play a part in tire pressure too.
The more weight on the bike the more force that will be exerted on the tires. Normally the heavier you are the more pressure will be required. If you prefer to run some testing based on your weight, here are some options to get you started. Remember to always make sure to check the walls of your tires and do not go outside of those recommended pressures. If need be, you might have to see your local bike shop to upgrade your tires if you want a better spec tire. For example you can get special heavy duty downhill mountain bike tires that are designed to run at very low pressures and resist punctures. We hope this article has helped. Ultimately there is nothing better than experimentation...but remember always experiment carefully and in low risk situations to start with to avoid dangerous high speed blow outs.
Feel free to drop us an email with any questions you might have…or submit a topic that you want us to post on.
The more weight on the bike the more force that will be exerted on the tires. Normally the heavier you are the more pressure will be required. If you prefer to run some testing based on your weight, here are some options to get you started. Remember to always make sure to check the walls of your tires and do not go outside of those recommended pressures. If need be, you might have to see your local bike shop to upgrade your tires if you want a better spec tire. For example you can get special heavy duty downhill mountain bike tires that are designed to run at very low pressures and resist punctures. We hope this article has helped. Ultimately there is nothing better than experimentation...but remember always experiment carefully and in low risk situations to start with to avoid dangerous high speed blow outs.
Feel free to drop us an email with any questions you might have…or submit a topic that you want us to post on.
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