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Beginner's Guide: How to Find the Optimal Tire Pressure for a Road Bike

by Martin Yang 21 Nov 2024
Beginner's Guide: How to Find the Optimal Tire Pressure for a Road Bike

For the greatest ride, pump your road bike tires all the way to maximum? That concept is out of date already. Actually, too high tire pressure slows you down as well as makes your journey more unpleasant.

Finding the ideal tire pressure for your road bike is therefore one of the easiest and most reasonably priced approaches to improving both comfort and performance.

This page includes some very useful advice for both experienced riders trying to improve their ride and beginners!

Getting the ideal tire pressure depends on striking the proper balance.

Your tire pressure shouldn't be too low; too low indicates more tire deformation, which causes energy waste and reduces the predictability of cornering. However, it shouldn't be too high either since it results in the loss of the cushioning effect, thereby rendering your ride unpleasant.

We shall divide this post into three sections: why tire pressure is so crucial, what influences your optimal tire pressure, and how to discover the best pressure for you.

 

Recommended Tire Pressure for Road Bikes

 

▲Simon von Bromley, a technical writer for BikeRadar, runs about 65 psi in his 28mm tires.

 

For their road bike tires, several tire companies offer advised pressure levels or an online pressure calculator; they might be a handy reference for riding on clear days and smooth roads.

But as we're about to go over, you should focus on the actual tire size when inflated since this will influence the appropriate pressure for every particular rim and tire combo. You will require a somewhat lower pressure if the tire's real inflated width is wider than the stated size and vice versa.

The rider's weight also counts; lighter riders should use lower tire pressure, while bigger riders or those carrying extra weight on their bike should use higher pressure.

One last reminder: especially the upper limit, always respect the pressure restrictions established by the rim and tire manufacturers. Usually, the sidewalls of the tire or rim print these limits.

The maximum allowed tire pressure may also be reduced in case you are utilizing hookless rims rather than hooked rims.

Pirelli's TLR tubeless road tires inspired the following suggestions. These suggestions are a solid starting point regardless of brand you use, as long as you take into account the elements we will discuss later on when adjusting your tire pressure.

Although different brands may have somewhat different policies, Pirelli advises riders over 96 kg (212 lb) to use 700 x 25c or wider tires since the necessary tire pressure for bigger riders may surpass the maximum allowed for 700 x 23c tires.

Once more, it's imperative to never run above the tire or rim's maximum pressure specified.

Comparatively to the tire pressure I personally use, how does Pirelli's suggested one match? Let's review several instances now.

I weigh, first of all, between 63 and 64 kg.

Time challenges are my favorite thing. Using 23mm tires set on 19mm rims on my time trial bike, the true width of these tires when inflated is more like 25mm. Usually running roughly 90 psi in both front and rear tires, most time trials take place on level roads free of too many bumps.

On my Giant TCR Advanced Pro 2, though, I usually fit 28mm tires on 19mm rims. Usually riding on harder roads, I run about 65 psi for them.

 

Are you riding a mountain bifke or a gravel bike?

Road bikes have entirely different tire pressure than mountain bikes or gravel bikes.

On a road bike, the correct tire pressure is somewhat different from mountain or gravel biking, where the surface is looser, the tires (and rims) are much broader, and you must negotiate trail hazards.

Should you enjoy off-road riding, we have a separate guide specifically addressing mountain bike and gravel cycle tire pressures.

 

▲ Mountain Bike Tire Pressure: Gauge at 22 PSI

 

Key Points to Consider

Before we get into the details, here are four key points to consider when it comes to road bike tire pressure.

 

▲ If your tire pressure is too low, you might bottom out the tire on the rim, leading to a puncture or wheel damage.

 

Generally speaking, correct tire pressure makes your trip simpler, more pleasant, and less likely to cause a flat.

Performance-wise, lowering rolling resistance and enhancing comfort depend on tire pressure being optimized. The force causing your tires to roll more difficultly along the ground is rolling resistance.

Should your pressure be too low, tire deformation and higher friction with the road cause more energy to be wasted; also, this increases your risk of a flat. Conversely, if your pressure is too high, the tires are really stiff, which wastes more energy and causes your ride to be rather bumpy on difficult surfaces.

 

What Feels Fast isn't Always Actually Fast

Although you would feel as though you are accelerating from too high tire pressure, this is not truly the case.

Adding more air really lowers grip, generates more high-frequency vibrations, and causes more muscular tiredness once you pass a certain point. You slow down all around from this.

Having the tire pressure exactly right is the only way you ride faster and more comfortably.

 

Inflation Tools

 

Use a floor pump with a built-in pressure gauge to determine the correct tire pressure for your road bike. Though you won't spend much, it's worth choosing a great-quality one since you will be using it for a long time.

Investing in a good pressure gauge also pays off if you wish to adjust your tire pressure.

 

Proceed with Caution

Regarding road bike tire pressure, one should aim "a bit lower" than "too high."

Silca's testing indicates that performance declines rapidly once one exceeds the ideal pressure. On bumpy roads, going somewhat lower only causes a quite minor speed loss, but it should make the ride quite more comfortable.

 

Factors Affecting Optimal Tire Pressure

Tire Pressure for 23mm and 25mm Tires

700x23c Tire on a 17mm Rim 700x25c Tire on a 19mm Rim
Rider Weight Recommended Pressure Rider's Weight Recommended Pressure
≤ 50kg 84psi / 5.8bar ≤ 50kg 73psi / 5bar
51-57kg 90psi / 6.2bar 51-57kg 78psi / 5.4bar
58-65kg 96psi / 6.6bar 58-65kg 83psi / 5.7bar
66-73kg 102psi / 7bar 66-73kg 88psi / 6.1bar
74-81kg 106psi / 7.3bar 74-81kg 93psi / 6.4bar
82-88kg 110psi / 7.6bar 82-88kg 98psi / 6.8bar
≥ 89kg / ≤ 196lb 115psi / 7.9bar ≥ 89kg / ≤ 196lb 103psi / 7.1bar
≥ 96kg / ≤ 212lb Using 700x25c Tires ≥ 96kg / ≤ 212lb 108psi / 7.4bar
On a 19mm Rim: Reduce Pressure by 0.4 bar / 6 psi 21mm Rim: Reduce Pressure by 0.3 bar / 5 psi

 

Tire Pressure for 28mm and 30mm Tires

                                                          700x28c Tire on a 19mm Rim

700x30c Tire on a 19mm Rim
Rider Weight Recommended Pressure Rider's Weight Recommended Pressure
≤ 50kg 65psi / 4.5bar ≤ 50kg 58psi / 4bar
51-57kg 70psi / 4.8bar 51-57kg 61psi / 4.2bar
58-65kg 75psi / 5.2bar 58-65kg 65psi / 4.5bar
66-73kg 80psi / 5.5bar 66-73kg 70psi / 4.8bar
74-81kg 85psi / 5.9bar 74-81kg 74psi / 5.1bar
82-88kg 90psi / 6.2bar 82-88kg 78psi / 5.4bar
≥ 89kg / ≤ 196lb 95psi / 6.6bar ≥ 89kg / ≤ 196lb 83psi / 5.7bar
≥ 96kg / ≤ 212lb 100psi / 6.9bar ≥ 96kg / ≤ 212lb 87psi / 6bar
On a 21mm Rim: Reduce Pressure by 0.3 bar / 5 psi 21mm Rim: Reduce Pressure by 0.3 bar / 5 psi — 23mm Rim: Reduce Pressure by 0.4 bar / 6 psi

 

As mentioned in the tire pressure chart above, the recommended values can serve as a general starting point. They'll get you in the right ballpark, but there are many factors beyond just tire and rim size and rider weight that affect your personal optimal road bike tire pressure.

 

Size Matters

▲ When inflating a tire, it can end up being wider or narrower depending on the internal rim width of the wheel it’s mounted on

 

Accurately determining the tire size is key to calculating the optimal tire pressure.

Although most bike tires are labeled with a specific size, like 700 x 25c, the actual inflated size of any tire will depend on its design and the internal rim width of the wheel.

▲ Most modern road wheels have an internal rim width of around 19mm. As shown, wheels with a wider internal rim width may increase the measured width of the tire when inflated

 

Most new tires today are designed around the latest 2020 ETRTO (European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation) standards, which have an internal width of 19mm. Therefore, when inflated to the recommended pressure, wheels with an internal rim width wider than this may increase the measured width of the tire (and vice versa). As a result, the optimal pressure might be lower than if you were using the same tire on a narrower rim.

▲ Riding a lightweight, fast road bike? Assuming all other variables are the same, your tire pressure will need to be lower than that of a heavily loaded bike.

 

While the rider's weight makes up most of the total system weight—as we've discussed, heavier riders usually need higher tire pressure compared to lighter riders—don’t forget to factor in the weight of your bike and any gear you're carrying.

If you're riding a super light road bike, under 4 kilograms, and you're not carrying heavy gear, you might want to drop the tire pressure by a few psi.

On the other hand, if you're on a heavier, loaded bike or a road bike with panniers, you might need to pump up your tires more.

For road bikes, the rider's weight isn’t typically evenly distributed between the two wheels. Depending on riding position and bike type, the exact ratio will vary, but usually, the rear wheel carries more weight than the front.

In general, it's perfectly fine to run a few psi less in the front tire compared to the rear.

 

Road Conditions

▲ The road conditions you ride on affect the ideal tire pressure for your tires.

 

If you're riding on a super smooth track, higher tire pressure means faster speeds. But on rough surfaces, like regular roads, too much pressure just adds vibration, forcing you to slow down. The rougher and bumpier the road, the lower your ideal tire pressure should be.

When the road gets really rough, running narrower tires (25mm or less) at relatively low pressures might not provide enough protection for the rim or inner tube—especially for heavier riders—and could even lead to punctures or rim damage.

 

▲ If you're riding on rough roads or gravel-covered paths, lowering your tire pressure can help improve comfort and reduce the chances of getting a flat.

 

Switching to larger tires gives you more tire volume, allowing you to adjust tire pressure for a balance between rolling resistance and comfort on rough surfaces. That's why pros opt for tires over 28mm for cobblestone races like Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.

 

Weather and Temperature

▲ Lowering tire pressure in wet conditions may give you more grip.

 

Dropping roughly 5 psi off both tires will help if the road is wet or you run across a chance of rain throughout your trip. Better grip results from more rubber coming into contact with the road.

Both the ambient temperature and heat from rim braking can affect tire pressure. Be careful not to overinflate your tires if you are riding a bike with rim brakes on a hot summer day—especially one with carbon rims or latex inner tubes—and traveling downhill for a long length. In the system, too much heat can cause dangerously high pressure inside the tube or tubeless arrangement.

 

Tire Construction

▲ The material and construction of the tire also affect the optimal tire pressure.

 

The materials and construction of road bike tires can also slightly affect the optimal tire pressure.

Road bike tires designed for racing or summer riding often use more, finer nylon or cotton threads (which is what we refer to as a high TPI count), with just a thin layer of rubber on top. This makes them easier to deform under pressure, resulting in a smoother and faster ride.

On the other hand, winter road tires tend to have tougher, more durable casings with fewer and thicker nylon threads. The rubber tread on top is also thicker to improve mileage and puncture resistance.

So, when you switch to winter tires, you might need to lower your road bike tire pressure a bit, as the optimal pressure for comfort and grip may be a few psi lower compared to summer tires.

 

Tubeless Tires

▲ Tubeless tires eliminate the risk of pinch flats.

 

If you're using tubeless tires, keep in mind that without an inner tube, you can safely run lower pressures without the risk of pinch flats. Lower tire pressure can improve off-road grip, and if you're riding a road bike with relatively wide tires and want to do some light off-road or gravel riding, tubeless tires can be really useful.

 

Why Do Tires Lose Pressure?

▲ Always check your tire pressure before every ride.

 

Mostly from air penetration, tires lose air slowly over time. This implies that, just as a natural feature of the tire material, air steadily leaks through it.

This is why before every ride you really should check your tire pressure. Once you know the correct tire pressure, simply make sure you routinely pump them back up to the recommended level.

We advise hanging your bike off the ground if you intend not to ride for very long, as throughout the winter. This keeps the inner tubes from deteriorating or breaking with the weight of the tires totally losing pressure while resting on the ground.

Just keep in mind to periodically pump your tires up to the proper level.

 

Fine-Tuning Road Bike Tire Pressure

▲ Nobody likes being stuck on the side of the road fixing a tire.

 

Having all the information now, how can you really control your tire pressure? In simple terms: through experimenting.

Start with the advised settings above and then consider the state of the road on your journey. If most of your rides are on recently paved, smooth asphalt, the advised pressures are most likely rather near to ideal.

If that is not the case—perhaps you live somewhere like the UK where the roads are not flawless—you can start with the advised pressure and then progressively lower it a little with every ride to experiment.

Make little changes around five psi at a time and see how it feels. You should eventually find the sweet spot that strikes comfort against speed.

You want a pressure that feels smooth without having the tires seem to be bucking under you in curves. And as was already indicated, a good idea to bear in mind is to go a bit lower rather than too high.

 

Field Testing

▲ If you're serious about it, you can use a power meter to do some basic field testing to try and find your optimal tire pressure.

 

Alternatively, you can perform some basic field testing yourself if you have a dependable power meter.

Discover how varying tire pressures effect the power required to maintain a given speed, or how fast you can go at a set power output, by finding a long, steady climb with an average gradient of over 5%.

The information you gather will enable you to ascertain, during the test, the ideal tire pressure for your configuration and road circumstances.

You want the pressure that lets you go fastest at a given power or the least power required at a given speed.

Like any test, it's critical to maintain other variables constant—that is, system weight, riding posture, traffic, weather, etc.—otherwise, your results won't be reliable.

 

Finding the Best Tire

Different tires perform differently; hence, over time you will progressively discover the tire that fits your riding style via trial and error.

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