Are your tires inflated correctly? Could the pressure be just a little too low or having them overfilled is the best idea? Neither of these scenarios is great.

As a matter of fact, underinflated tires can cause a lot of problems including faster wear down, unprecedented heat build-up, challenges in braking, and more. On the other hand, overinflated tires make the riding experience uncomfortable. In some cases, they could even explode. So which is the right pressure to have on bikes?

Tire pressure can be a surprisingly complex concept and can be affected by various factors. There is no exact correct pressure for bikes. However, there is certainly an ideal pressure window that can be referred to as the PSI.

Pounds per square inch – PSI – is the standard recommended unit of tire pressure that affects a bike’s performance.

What Are the Basics of Bike Tire Pressure?

The most critical performance improvement one can make on their bike is not buying a new set of wheels or the latest electronic shifter. Actually, it should not cost you even a dollar. Because tires are the only things touching the ground as one rides a bike, the tire pressure has a tremendous influence on how the bike performs.

If you never bother to check for inflation, the air capacity in your tires will most likely cause excess flats and eventually a drop in comfort and performance. Regularly checking your tire pressure is a simple but essential maintenance process every cyclist should do. The more knowledge they have about their tires, the more they can get the best out of them and improve functionality.

A higher PSI makes a bike’s tire feel harder, while a low PSI makes it softer. When tires become wider and pressure reduces, it is important for a rider to choose the correct tire pressure. This is because when the pressure is too high, one gets to feel every vibration caused by the terrain they ride on. Not only is one at risk of getting punctures, but one might also encounter tire explosions. When the pressure is too low, it might deform the tires while also increase the cornering grip through a partial contact patch.

So as a beginner, what does one have to do to maintain the correct tire pressure? For convenience, every bike features a recommended PSI which is printed on its side right next to the sidewall that touches the rim.

Setting the right PSI makes a whole lot of difference. We would be making an oversimplification if we said that less air makes the ride more comfortable while more air makes it even faster. The recommended tire pressure depends on the rider, and also the intention and best range to cover. One has to figure out at which point the tire pressure wouldn’t blow off the rim and the point where low-pressure won’t rip the rim off.

If the tires don’t indicate the recommended tire pressure, the basic standard is that one should pump them until they’re firm but also fairly squeezable. However, depending on the type of bike, the recommended PSI range is:

• Mountain bikes or thick tires – 30 PSI while off-road, and 50 PSI while on-road
• Children’s bike tires – 21–40 PSI
• Hybrid bikes or medium tires – 51–70 PSI
• Road bikes or narrow tires – 81–130 PSI
• Dirt bikes or off road bikes- 6-18 PSI
• Motorcycles and road bikes- 28-40 PSI

How to Check Tire Pressure?

It doesn’t matter if you’re on the road, on your mountain bike hitting the trails, or enjoying a relaxing cruise on your new hybrid bike. Tire pressure should be given great attention. Being that they hold riders firmly to the ground, it is important to ensure that they are inflated properly to ensure safety and work for your current riding situation and priority.

If you’re one who rides your bike frequently, always check the tire pressure constantly. This includes using a tire pressure gauge to be sure of the exact position your tires are in.

Usually, tires come with recommended PSI levels which can sometimes be incorrect. The tire width affects the air pressure volume required. For instance, bikes with thinner tires are more inflated with higher pressure levels compared to mountain bikes. Regular check-up maximizes the riding performance while also increasing the tire’s life.

Checking Bike Tire Pressure Using a Gauge

Bikes come with different valves that require specific gauges or adapters. Gauges can either be digital, analog, pencil or side mounting gauges. There are also pumps that feature air pressure gauges but are not recommended. Compared to independent gauges, these pumps have been found to surprisingly make errors of 20-90 psi.

First of all, check the recommended psi level on the tire, but keep in mind that it is not always correct. Then take off the valve cap and fix the valve stem by pressing it down until the hissing sound ends. The air pressure will then move a tiny bar found at the bottom which effectively pushes the pointer’s dial. If the gauge is digital, the pointer will display a screen, but if it’s analog, the pointer basically shows the air pressure measurement. When the tires are too hard, the air has to be let out, and if they are too soft, more air has to be pumped in.

To practice how to determine the air pressure when using the gauge, one can simply pinch the sides of the tire. If you happen to be using the gauge of a pump, rub it severally to clear the valve so that it shows the accurate tire pressure instead of the pump.

How to Check Bike Tire Pressure Without a Gauge?

Bikers don’t always have a gauge in hand. That is why learning how to pinch the sidewalls regularly can help one determine the pressure when the tire feels different. A tire rolled over a curb can tell the pressure when it deforms on the sides. When one applies weight or leans on the bike and it bulges, it means the tire pressure is not right. Bike tires should bulge slightly. If it bulges a lot, it means the tire pressure is too low.

Why is Having the Perfect Bike Tire Pressure Important?

Even though often misunderstood, adjusting the right tire pressure is a very important step when assembling your bike. Apart from ensuring it’s clean, matching up the recommended psi before taking a ride has a huge impact on the safety and performance of your ride.

Before setting out on a journey, safety should always be your first primary concern. One might check the seat height and other fitting measurements, but it is even more important to consistently check the tire pressure before taking a ride. Tires are the only component of the bike that is in contact with the ground as you ride. Having the right tire pressure is what prevents riders from experiencing an over the bar crash.

Psi, for example, can have a huge significance when synching lower pressure levels while using larger tire volumes. When mountain biking or gravel riding during cold winter periods, a mixture of low-pressure levels provides traction in an environment that has got a higher risk of experiencing potential flats.

Having the perfect bike tire pressure will expose you to improved traction and great rolling resistance. If your tires are soft enough, they will adapt to the ground beneath you as opposed to sliding on bumpy or slippery surfaces. Lower pressure makes it easier for one to tread better and have more grip on the ground no matter the conditions.

The perfect tire pressure can sometimes be narrow or adapt to different surfaces so as to keep you afloat as you take your ride. Smooth pavements deserve higher tire pressures while 37 – 46c gravel tires work better when they run soft as they absorb chatter as opposed to shifting it over the handlebars.

When you make the tires too hard, one can easily lose grip and bounce off obstacles. Even if you have the newest and most expensive tires, over inflation will humble you a great deal. The flexible silk covering of a cross tubular or adhesive mountain bike tread won’t help if too much tire pressure won’t let them move adequately to touch the ground.

Improved grip has the potential to increase flat tires. With lower pressure, you’ll have a better grip. But having too soft tires increases the dangers of having pinch flats, spurted tires, or cases of ripped sidewalls.

Hitting the right pressure bang on can prevent flats or tube changes in the middle of a race. Whatever you use your bike for, always keep an eye on your tire pressure and ensure it follows the accurate psi level.

What Factors Affect Your Perfect Bike Tire Pressure?

There is no real ideal tire pressure for all bikes. This is because the ideal tire pressure depends on various factors which only you as an individual can influence. Establishing the perfect bike tire pressure demands that one understands the various factors that can influence its performance.

These factors include:

• Tire width
• Cyclist Weight
• Riding Terrain
• Technology

Tire Width

It’s hard to find any other component that directly influences the comfort and effectiveness of a bike like tires do. As the main connector to the ground, tires can push a rider forward thanks to their gripping ability.

The shape and size of the contact patch, which is essentially the rubber of the tire that touches the ground, affect traction and rolling resistance. Wider tires and wider rim widths require minimum force to move the bike because they make the contact patch wider and shorter.

To put it simply, wider tires contain extra air volume and make it easy to cycle comfortably with traction due to the lower pressure levels. On the other hand, narrower tire widths have less volume which require more air pressure to avoid bottoming out situations.

The rim bed width also has a direct influence on the size and shape of a clincher tire. Narrow rims bring the tire beads together and create the shape of a bulb. Wide rims enable the tire to establish a vertically, firm semi-circle. Generally, the width and height of a tire increase with the rim width so that it becomes easier to use lower tire pressure.

Cyclist Weight

Fundamentally, your body and bike’s combined weight is the most decisive factor when finding the perfect bike tire pressure. The more weight is loaded on the rear of the bike, the more the rear tires wear out quickly. And the more weight is suppressed on the tire, the more it gets deflated and heightens roll resistance.

However, this can be countered by adding tire pressure. For this reason, a lighter rider requires lower tire pressure in comparison to the heavier ones. Light riders who run on high tire pressures have less influence on rolling resistance. This effortlessly makes the ride uncomfortable because the bike gets exposed to more vibrations as a result of the hard tires.

Riding Terrain

The terrain is the state of the land surface you are riding on and can either be a well-paved road or an uneven surface. For the best experience on uneven terrain, lower tire pressure enables the tire to absorb vibrations easily. On paved roads, higher tire pressure lowers rolling resistance.

For instance, the surface on indoor cycling tracks are smooth and allow bikes to operate on very high-pressure levels of 140 – 220 psi. In comparison, mountain bike tires generally have lower tire pressures ranging between 25 – 40 psi.

Technology

Even though now popularly used worldwide, tubeless technology can influence tire pressure. These tires do not depend on an inner tube to generate air. Their seamless design allows them to operate on higher tire pressure compared to clincher tires. Tubular tires are more comfortable and provide better traction, especially on uneven terrain.

Options to Pump Bike Tires

There are different types of pumps and every rider should at least have two or more pumps that they can use to repair flats during trips or to check tire pressure before embarking on the journey. They include:

Basic Options

When buying your pump, you should consider which inner tubes your bike uses. Presta and Schrader are the two standard valves normally used.

Schrader valves look a lot like those car tires use. Generally, they are suited for children and hybrid bikes. On the other hand, Presta valves used mainly by on-road and off-road bikes, are usually thinner, longer and come with a threaded tip that has to be opened to inflate. Always make sure of the valve type when considering the bike you plan to use it on.

Floor Pumps

Using a floor pump is the fastest way to pump up tires. You don’t have to struggle like using a mini frame and you don’t have to worry about your frame pump wearing out faster either. Floor pumps are recommended for bikes containing both valve types They can easily inflate tires to high-pressure levels and they come with firm bases that help in supporting the pump.

Mini and Frame Pumps

Mini and Frame pumps are designed to make sure one can get home in the event of a flat tire. Frame pumps are usually longer compared to mini pumps, and take up some fitting space on the bike. Frame pumps can either be spring attached to adjust inside frame tubes, while mini pumps come featuring mounted brackets. Mini pumps are more popular for their ergonomic design but require more effort to pounce to those high levels.

CO2 inflators

CO2 inflators are more simplified inflators and have great efficiency. Just as the name suggests, they make use of CO2 cartridges composed of compressed CO2 gas. These pumps weigh less and can fit seamlessly in a bike pocket. They easily give off instant optimum inflation, saving cyclists from wasting time pumping.

Final Advice

The perfect bike tire pressure is not a definite number. It depends on various factors such as the terrain, the total weight, temperature, technology of the tires, and more. Even as you check your PSI levels, always remember that it is not always reliable. However, it is wise to frequently check your tire pressure before setting out for a ride. If you take care of the tires, they’ll also return the favor.