Tyre Pressure

1983spr

Touring to Spain next week, and carrying all my gear in my panniers, with all this extra weight what sort of tyre pressure should i use?

alfablue

There is some info on the CTC web site

To use this chart, add the weight of rider, cycle and luggage and estimate the loading on each wheel. Up to 70% of the weight is carried by the rear tyre of a normal bicycle, but the ratio may be nearer 50:50 for a tandem, especially when the front rider is the heavier of the pair.

Note that this chart gives the minimum pressure for smooth roads. You should never let your tyres be lower than this and usually aim to pump them harder. Remember that narrow tyres loose pressure quite rapidly and should be ‘topped up’ every few days. Most people will want to use a higher pressure to minimise rolling resistance (although that reduces comfort) and to avoid tyre or rim damage on rougher surfaces. To allow for this add a safety factor to the weight of about 25% for poor roads and gravel tracks, or up to 50% for real rough-stuff.