As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What is the right bike tire air pressure for your bike and style of riding?
Where to Find the Recommended Bike Tire Air Pressure
Molded in the side of the tire you’ll find the recommended pressure or pressure range for that particular tire. When you you see a pressure range, for instance 40 to 70 pounds, the lower pressure is for off-road riding. You can ride on the road at the lower pressure, however there will be more rolling resistance. Going to the higher pressure will make the bike easier to ride on the road. Staying within this pressure range will make for safer riding and prevent rim and tire damage.
Some bikes, especially road bikes will typically have one inflation pressure listed on the sidewall of the tire. This is the safe maximum inflation pressure. You can use less air pressure than what is listed, but for safety it is best to stay within 85 – 90 percent of the maximum pressure. You risk getting pinch flats and causing rim damage with less pressure than this.
Professional bike racers adjust their pressure more. They do so according to their weight, size of tire and other factors. For the rest of us it’s better to stay within these guidelines.
Keeping Air Pressure Information Handy
I ride several different bikes. I don’t have tire inflation data memorized for every bike I ride. Relying on writing the information down somewhere never works for me. I always forget where I wrote it down.
To make it easier to find the data, I mount the tires on my bikes so the inflation pressure information is near or directly under the tire valve stem. This way I don’t have to go searching for it.
Conclusion
Correct bike tire air pressure and knowing when to use how much pressure will make your rides safer and help you avoid tire and rim damage.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.
