tire pressure
- Thread starter Jayeffel
- Start date
RunForTheHills
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Bike Tire Pressure Calculator
The Bike Tire Pressure Calculator allows cyclists to find their ideal tire pressure based on terrain and riding conditions for the route ahead for mountain bikes, gravel bikes, and fat bikes.
www.wolftoothcomponents.com
stompandgo
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
There are three main tire pressure calculators that I use: Vittoria, Schwalbe, and Silca. They will all give you different results. Take the average. and fine tune to your liking. You may find that one of them hits it on the nose for you. Stick with that one.
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
These online pressure calculators are valuable tools. But while the OP wades through them, the simplest and safest approach is to read the min and max pressures directly off the tire sidewall and start with a pressure in between.
Like the OP perhaps, I ride my commuter mostly on smooth to rough pavement and hardpack. Its 2.3" hybrid tires call for 35 to 50 psi. I find a good compromise between comfort and rolling resistance at 40 psi.
This is largely a matter of taste on an ebike with ample battery range, so best to experiment.
Like the OP perhaps, I ride my commuter mostly on smooth to rough pavement and hardpack. Its 2.3" hybrid tires call for 35 to 50 psi. I find a good compromise between comfort and rolling resistance at 40 psi.
This is largely a matter of taste on an ebike with ample battery range, so best to experiment.
Last edited:
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
If 30 psi isn't too far below the minimum pressure on the sidewall, it's probably OK. But if you run tubed tires well below the minimum, you're flirting with pinch flats.
Gionnirocket
Well-Known Unidentified Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Y. O.
imo... The calculators are a waste of time.
Start halfway between min/max stated on the tire and adjust from there to your own personal preference.
Increase pressure if tire feels squishy or not efficient
Lower pressure if ride feels harsh
Start halfway between min/max stated on the tire and adjust from there to your own personal preference.
Increase pressure if tire feels squishy or not efficient
Lower pressure if ride feels harsh
have a related question, and I thing I know know the answer but-- should I have the bike on the ground and not on a bike carrier when pumping up the tires?
I know one thing I erred was the bike carrier has straps to go around the tire between the spikes , I was not thinking and left it tight then when pumping up the tire the strap would not allow the tire to fill. I had to use a tool to hit the catch to release it, too much tension for my hand!
The hand pump I have has the reversible head and I thought I had it correctly changed to Presta valve but it would not stay on the valve.
I know one thing I erred was the bike carrier has straps to go around the tire between the spikes , I was not thinking and left it tight then when pumping up the tire the strap would not allow the tire to fill. I had to use a tool to hit the catch to release it, too much tension for my hand!
The hand pump I have has the reversible head and I thought I had it correctly changed to Presta valve but it would not stay on the valve.
stompandgo
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
See if there is a ring around the pump head, and tighten it a bit, but not too much. Also the ones with the lever, some lock on by pressing down on the lever, and some work by pulling up on the lever.
Tars Tarkas
Well-Known Member
It doesn't matter at all whether the bike is on the ground or in a rack. Obviously, you don't want straps around the tires. I would have deflated the tire, removed strap, then refilled the tire.
As for what pressure to use, I think it's more a matter of personal judgment than something to use a calculator for. Pick a mid-range pressure, try it, adjust as needed.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Some results based on the total system weight, tyre size and type, and riding conditions/style for my lightweight e-bike:
- Vittoria (front/rear, psi) 38/40
- Schwalbe 49/52 (bullshit, a way too high!)
- Silca 35.5/37 (too low!)
- Wolftooth 37/40
- Rene Herse 41/41 (not bad at all!)
Wolftooth is the only calculator that considers the inflation and riding temperature (important for the winter!)
Gionnirocket
Well-Known Unidentified Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Y. O.
I hope y'all have a web calculator to help you get dressed in the morning.... Sock or shoe first? 
spokewrench
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Schwalbe used to publish pressure recommendations for each model and size tire according to gross weight. 45 psi looked right for me. When I hauled a heavy load, the steering was dangerous. I should have increased the pressure to 60.
Eventually, I found that 50 worked better than 45. After I year, I tried 55 psi. On the pavement around here, rolling resistance was higher at 55 than at 50.
Eventually, I found that 50 worked better than 45. After I year, I tried 55 psi. On the pavement around here, rolling resistance was higher at 55 than at 50.
Tars Tarkas
Well-Known Member
I grew up in New Jersey in the 50's. For my first Schwinn (I think it was a Schwinn), of course we didn't have online calculators, but very fortunately, my next door neighbor, who was the same age as me, had an uncle who knew someone in the physics department at Princeton. We'd consult, indirectly, with him regarding tire pressures. We couldn't have ridden our bikes without him! We'd ride circles around our friends who didn't have the same kind of connections!I hope y'all have a web calculator to help you get dressed in the morning.... Sock or shoe first?
I was an early adopter of web based dressing calculators too. I haven't worn mismatched socks since 1994.
