What tyre pressure for road riding?

mikebikemike
mikebikemike Posts: 166
edited August 2011 in Workshop
A bit of a road newbie question. Tyres have a psi stamped on them.
I assume this is a maximum and I should pump them up to an X% of this figure. What should the X be?

I can't believe the printed total is a recommended psi as they're rock hard at that figure.

THanks in advance

Comments

  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,337
    I use 100 psi in dry condition and 90 if wet or when riding on rough surfaces.
    I also recommend 90 psi for long steep descents.

    I puncture very rarely compared to my club mates
    left the forum March 2023
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,537
    depends on the tyres, your weight, and the conditions

    i usually run 100psi front, 110psi rear

    maybe a smidge less if it's wet
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • good link that's helpful
  • proto
    proto Posts: 1,483
    110 - 120 psi, front and back, in all conditions.
  • Wirral_paul
    Wirral_paul Posts: 2,476
    As above - depends on your weight and the tyres.

    87kg for me. Schwalbe Ultremo ZX 23mm. 115psi front. 120psi rear.
  • topdude
    topdude Posts: 1,557
    I know a lot of riders prefer high tyre pressures, it does give quick feel but at the expense of a harsh ride.
    I find i don't need to go higher than 70 / 80 psi (i am 85kg) this gives a much smoother ride and still quick.
    And no, i don't get "pinch flats" either :D
    He is not the messiah, he is a very naughty boy !!
  • plowmar
    plowmar Posts: 1,032
    From another forum lead I used the Mavic site - having Mavic wheels - which gave me 107.5 front and 117.5 on rear.

    V. difficult to get standing with a track pump but at least thereabouts, and the riding has never been as comfortable with no loss in slowness. :wink:

    Suggest you have a look and see what you can get out of it.
  • markshaw77
    markshaw77 Posts: 437
    sungod wrote:
    depends on the tyres, your weight, and the conditions

    i usually run 100psi front, 110psi rear

    maybe a smidge less if it's wet


    ^^^This
  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    14st, 23 or 25mm tyres and I run 100psi front & rear give or take 10psi
  • rafletcher
    rafletcher Posts: 1,235
    plowmar wrote:
    From another forum lead I used the Mavic site - having Mavic wheels - which gave me 107.5 front and 117.5 on rear.

    V. difficult to get standing with a track pump but at least thereabouts, and the riding has never been as comfortable with no loss in slowness. :wink:

    Suggest you have a look and see what you can get out of it.

    Really? Then I suggest a new track pump. My 15 year old spesh one does 120 in about 25 strokes no issues, and newer ones are better. I can comparativley easily get 110 with a Topeak Road Morph that I have clipped alongside the bottle cage too when repairing roadside punctures.
  • I always run about 110psi. ive had almost no puntures in a few thousand miles while a mate was running around 90ish psi. He was consistantly getting puntures! almost every ride! he was also using the same tyres as me. he then upped his pressure to 100-110psi and reduced his puntures dramatically. We both weigh around 13 stone.
  • racingcondor
    racingcondor Posts: 1,434
    I'm 155lbs and run 90/100 (front/rear) normally or add 10 to that for racing dry crits (smoother surface and better tyres). Those pressures are on 23's.

    As others have said there are plenty of factors but your weight is most important. From what I've read above though everyone here seems to have around the right pressure for their weight.

    I saw a really good chart once showing the relationship between weight and recommended pressure, can't find it now though unfortunately.
  • plowmar
    plowmar Posts: 1,032
    rafletcher wrote:-
    Then I suggest a new track pump.

    Sorry confused you I can tell, what I meant was getting 107.5 and 117.5 exactly was difficult not that I couldn't get that high with the track pump just couldn't read the guage with these sad old eyes. :oops:
  • ai_1
    ai_1 Posts: 3,060
    Nominal loaded tyre compression is reportedly 15%. (Can't remember the source, I'm afraid).
    That means when you sit on the bike in your cycling position the height of the tyre from rim to ground is 85% what it is when you measure the rim to tyre apex distance where the tyre isn't in contact with the ground.

    If tyre compression is the critical factor for performance then the tyre size, bike+rider weight and your distribution of weight to front and back wheels are all a factor.

    I worked it out for my setup based on the loading being 42%/58% (front/back) and a bike+rider weight of 105kg running on 28mm tyres. I came up with 80 to 85psi in front and 110 to 115psi at the back. In practice I run the front around 90 as it's still nice and comfortable but doesn't squish when I lean forward as I tend to do when climbing/sprinting.

    If I was on 23mm tyres the pressures would need to be much higher (probably 23mm is just too small for my weight!)