[Revealed] 7 Ways to Achieve the Perfect Bike Tyre Pressure!

When it comes to enhancing your performance on the bike, we always consider upgrading to carbon wheels and better groupset. Well, some of us even upgrade to carbon frames, electronic shifting and what not!
Little do we realise, there are easy ways to boost your output on the bike. One of the most affordable and fastest ways to increase your performance and comfort is by achieving the right bike tyre pressure. The ideal tyre pressure will also reduce the cause of flats and roll like a pro!
So here are our expert tips for finding the perfect bike tyre pressure-
Pump it:
There’s nothing better than a bike that feels smooth, rolls quickly and doesn’t get punctured at all. Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?
Keep in mind, narrow bicycle tyres need more air pressure as compared to wider ones.
Road tyres typically require 80 to 130 psi (pounds per square inch); mountain tyres, 25 to 35 psi; and hybrid tyres, 40 to 70 psi.
Now that you’re familiar with the tyre pressure for different types of bike tyre pressure, start in the middle of these ranges, then factor in your body weight.
Remember, the more you weigh, the higher your tyre pressure needs to be!
For instance, if your body weight is around 75 kgs, consider filling tyre pressure up to 100 PSI. If your weight is around 90 kgs, consider filling 120 PSI.
Also, never go above or below the recommended bike tyre pressure given on the sidewall by the manufacturer.
Check your tyre pressure regularly:
The most common mistake that we all do is fail to check the tyre pressure regularly. Over time, tyre leaks air. For as little as a few PSI a week to drastic drops overnight, tyres leak air. Even a 2-degree change in the temperature outside will cause the bike tyre pressure to drop.
Get into the habit of checking your tyre pressure before going out for a ride. If you fail to do so, your pressure is probably wrong most of the time you ride.
Find the sweet spot:
Finding the right tyre pressure as per your body weight is important. Over inflate the tyres and sacrifice your riding comfort and speed; under inflate them and become a victim of pinch flats. The right tyre pressure will also ensure that shocks and bumps are absorbed.
Also, keep in mind, on a new road/pavement your tyres might feel great at 100 PSI, however, on a rough road, they might roll faster at 90 PSI. In wet conditions, you might want to drop the bike tyre pressure down by 10 PSI for enhanced traction.
That being said, if you’re a mountain biker, your bike rolls well at 40 PSI on the road, but on a single track, 30 PSI is what you should be looking at.
Three Things You Need to Know About Getting Your Bike’s Tyre Pressure Right!
Overinflate and you’re dead:
The maximum tyre pressure limit on your sidewall is too high. So, overinflating your tyre is not always the best idea. If you’re filling the air in your tyres, you also need to consider other factors such as the terrain, rider size, wind resistance, temperature and so on.
So follow step three and don’t over-inflate your tyres.
Under-inflate and you’re calling for trouble:
Now that you know why you should not over-inflate, don’t under-inflate as well. With lower pressure, rolling resistance does increase, however, it only makes up a small fraction.
There’s not much of a difference in the rolling resistance caused due to tyre pressure, it depends largely on the actual tyre you’re using.
Adjust according tyre volume:
Those of you who are switching their tyres from 23mm to 25 mm or 28mm, or from a 2.1-inch mountain bike tyre to a meatier 2.3, you’re significantly increasing tyre volume. Hence, you have to adjust air pressure downwards.
Roadbike Tyre pressure graph

MTB tyre pressure graph
