The correct pressure of your bicycle tire has a huge impact on handling, comfort, and rolling resistance. If you want to get the best performance out of your bike, you should invest a little time in determining the right air pressure. It is probably not only the fastest but also the cheapest way to optimize your own riding performance.
Unlike cars, bicycle tire manufacturers do not specify the ideal air pressure but only indicate a maximum load. This is usually found alongside the tire size, brand, and type designation on the tire sidewall. There is no universal value when choosing the right pressure. Many factors such as tire width, size, rider's weight or the intended use play a major role.
The ideal tire pressure – a balancing act
Whether on gravel, road, or mountain bike – a good balance between grip and stability must be found for tire pressure.
High air pressure supports the sidewalls and provides stability to the tire and wheel. Particularly tires with conventional tubes are less prone to punctures with higher air pressure. Pinch flats, which sometimes hit the rim, are mostly avoided with increased air pressure. Besides the improved stability the tire also gets a better rolling resistance. Due to the reduced contact patch of the tire when fully inflated, there is less friction, and the bike rolls better. However, this advantage also brings a disadvantage: You lose grip due to the smaller contact area with the ground.
Low air pressure, on the other hand, causes the basic stability of the tire walls to diminish. A too low tire pressure is not recommended, especially with tube systems. With aggressive riding and rocky trails, pinch flats can occur very quickly, leading to flat tires and damaged rims. With tubeless tires, however, a tire foam can provide protection against pinch flats, although a certain balance should also be maintained here.
A low air pressure provides however enormous grip on the ground. Due to the increased contact patch of the tire, the bike practically sticks to the ground. However, those who overdo it complain about a spongy riding feel. Due to the unstable tire sidewalls, the tire floats and wobbles, resulting in an insecure riding feel despite the high grip.
The different air pressures also affect the damping properties and thus the ride comfort . A fully inflated tire is more likely to bounce over the trail than stick to the ground. You can feel every bump from roots and stones here. This is particularly noticeable on a gravel bike or mountain bike hardtail. The bouncing tire also results in a loss of grip.
The pros and cons of tire pressure at a glance
Low tire pressure
- Improved grip and therefore more traction
- Higher comfort due to more self-damping of the tires
- Higher rolling resistance
- Less puncture protection
High tire pressure
- Good rolling resistance
- Good puncture protection
- More stability in the tire
- Losses in damping and general riding characteristics
How do I find the right tire pressure for my bike?
You should find a compromise and weigh which characteristics benefit your riding style and the terrain. The best way to determine the right tire pressure is through multiple tests. For this, choose a test track that matches your usual routes. For enduro riders, it makes no sense to test only on the downhill track, as rolling resistance uphill also plays a major role. Downhill riders, on the other hand, rarely need long pedaling sections on the test track.
The most important questions you should answer during testing:
- Do I have enough grip in corners?
- How well does my bicycle tire roll?
- How does the tire behave with obstacles like roots and stones?
- Do I feel safe or is the bike too spongy?
- Do I have enough air in the tire to largely prevent rim impacts?
Choose an appropriate "starting value" and then reduce or increase it after each ride to find differences. You can use the following overview as a starting tire pressure. You can calculate approximately 1 PSI per 5 kg more or less body weight.
Tire pressure MTB
General recommendation for a rider weight of 80 kg
- 1.8 Bar | 26 PSI front and 2.0 Bar | 29 PSI rear for tubeless tires
- 2.3 Bar | 33 PSI front and 2.5 Bar | 36 PSI rear for tube tires
Tire pressure gravel bike
General recommendation for a rider weight of 80 kg
- 2.7 Bar | 39 PSI front and 2.8 Bar | 40 PSI rear for tubeless tires
- 3.5 Bar | 50 PSI front and 3.7 Bar | 53 PSI rear for tube tires
Tire pressure city bike
General recommendation for a rider weight of 80 kg
- 3.5 Bar | 50 PSI front and 3.8 Bar | 55 PSI rear for tubeless tires
- 3.8 Bar | 55 PSI front and 4 Bar | 58 PSI rear for tube tires
Tire pressure e-bike
General recommendation for a rider weight of 80 kg
- 1.8 Bar | 26 PSI front and 1.9 Bar | 27.5 PSI rear for tubeless tires
- 2.0 Bar | 29 PSI front and 2.1 Bar | 30 PSI rear for tube tires
Depending on the tire width or tire size, the tire pressure can of course vary by a few PSI.
Which measuring devices can I use to determine the correct air pressure?
To determine the correct tire pressure, we recommend high-quality measuring devices, which you can find in our online shop.
In addition, a well-functioning floor pump with a nanometer is recommended to inflate the tire. For your tests and subsequent adjustments, you should always use the same testing device. For checking on the trail, there are small, battery-operated air pressure testers.
Adjusting the tire pressure to other conditions
Once you have determined the right tire pressure for you, you should not change it every two weeks. However, there are a few exceptions where you should regulate the pressure.
If you equip yourself for a bikepacking tour with additional weight, you should make an adjustment. It is best to determine a new ideal air pressure for the tour during some test rounds in advance. The higher total weight creates new conditions that you should respond to.
Also in significantly changed weather conditions it may make sense to change the tire pressure. Here you should determine an ideal value for autumn and winter, as well as a second one for spring and summer. Very likely, you can ride with higher tire pressure on dry track conditions in summer to achieve better rolling resistance on the hard ground. In the predominantly wet season, a lower air pressure is probably more suitable to maintain grip on muddy trails.
In the event of a possible tire change you must of course adjust the pressure or determine a new ideal air pressure. By the way, you can find a guide to choosing the right tire in our blog. It gives you tips on choosing the right tire size.
A generous selection of high-quality tires from Schwalbe, Continental, WTB, Maxxis, Panaracer, Vittoria, Onza Tires, DMR, Michelin and many other manufacturers can be found in the bicycle tires in the Bike Mailorder online shop.
You can find much more information in the other parts of our tire series:
