How to Optimize Bicycle Tire Pressure

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excessively high pressure can lead to a harsh ride that saps energy from cyclists over long distances. Conversely, riding with wider tires, inflated to a lower pressure, absorbs shocks, and keeps cyclists fresher as the miles roll by.</p><p id="f1af">So, you might ask, how should a rider determine the best tire pressure? While there is no optimum pressure, finding a good starting pressure, and adjusting it to your desired riding quality, is key. Here are three bicycle tire pressure calculators that can help you select a starting pressure:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.renehersecycles.com/tire-pressure-calculator/"><b>Rene Herse Tire Pressure Calculator</b></a> — Rene Herse Cycles has produced bicycle components since 1938. Its tire pressure calculator is simpler than the others listed here, but it might give you a good start.</li><li><a href="https://silca.cc/pages/sppc-form"><b>Silca Professional Tire Pressure Calculator</b></a> —<b> </b>Felice Sacchi founded Silca outside Milan, Italy, in 1917. The company knows a thing or two about bicycle tire pressure, since it manufactures bike tire pumps. In 2014, Silca moved its headquarters and manufacturing operations to Indianapolis, Indiana.</li><li><a href="https://axs.sram.com/guides/tire/pressure"><b>SRAM Tire Pressure Guide</b></a> — US-based SRAM manufactures bicycle components, and competes with Shimano and Campagnolo. The name SRAM is made from the founders’ names: <b>S</b>cott, <b>R</b>ay, and S<b>am.</b></li></ul><p id="3664">Of the tire pressure calculators listed above, I have chosen the Silca Professional Tire Pressure Calculator for now. I plan to use it dial in the starting point for tire pressures on my road, gravel, mountain, and touring bikes throughout the year.</p><p id="ef0e">I believe that tire pressure matters, especially as I prepare for a 3,000-mile (4,828 kilometer) transcontinental tour across North America. But finding a good pressure can improve any ride, no matter its length.</p><p id="8287">I hope this guide, and the listed tire pressure calculators, will help you select good tire pressures that match your riding needs.</p><p id="f825"><i>Happy riding,</i></p><p id="6

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3c1">Randy</p><p id="479a"><i>P.S. While I have a hard time keeping up with my son, Nick, improving fitness, and paying attention to simple things like tire pressure, will help. I will keep on trying.</i></p><h2 id="ebe4">More Cycling Stories from Randy Runtsch</h2><div id="2107" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/randys-rules-of-randonneuring-essential-tools-of-the-road-de17a9c07d8a"> <div> <div> <h2>Randy’s Rules of Randonneuring — Essential Tools of the Road</h2> <div><h3>Carry appropriate tools and parts for long bike rides — just in case</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*wNbQ6jnERKCSaMpQZPPkCQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="6277" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/my-first-bicycle-tour-219b8e2b09bb"> <div> <div> <h2>My First Bicycle Tour</h2> <div><h3>For me, nothing compares with the freedom I feel while touring on a bike</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*amJzX8XU4tnHAZQ670APGA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="8962" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/cycling-through-history-part-i-715cc515a83f"> <div> <div> <h2>Cycling Through History — Part I</h2> <div><h3>The pace of bicycle travel enables the rider to experience historic sites along the way</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*fghiE6KYS8MtWVmo32pXDg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Finding a good pressure makes for a better ride and longer-lasting tires

A bicycle tire on pavement. Photo by Ricardo Soria on Unsplash.

My son, Nick Runtsch, has woven bicycles and cycling into his life. As a rider of all kinds, a quality engineer for a major bicycle manufacturer, and a former bicycle mechanic at a leading bike shop in Dublin, Ireland, I count on him for advice about topics related to the sport. Still, he surprised me when he said he would pump his bike tires to 36 PSI (2.5 bars) for a 300 kilometer (186 mile) ultra-distance road ride.

As it turned out, Nick finished the ride in 12 hours, at an average speed of 15.5 mph, on a hardtail mountain bike. Yes, he left his road bike at home, and rode a mountain bike with 700 x 42 mm tires on paved roads. With stories like this one, over time I have learned to pay more attention to tire pressure on my own bikes.

In the past, the tendency for other riders like me was to reduce rolling resistance by pumping tires to the maximum pressure rating embossed on their sidewalls. But riders can improve speed, comfort, and the overall riding experience by pumping tires to a pressure determined by factors such as these:

The diameter and width of the tire

The internal width of the rim

The type of tire

The total weight of the rider, bike, and gear

The front-to-rear weight ratio

The road or trail surface conditions

In general, increasing tire pressure and riding on narrow tires reduces rolling resistance, increasing speed. But excessively high pressure can lead to a harsh ride that saps energy from cyclists over long distances. Conversely, riding with wider tires, inflated to a lower pressure, absorbs shocks, and keeps cyclists fresher as the miles roll by.

So, you might ask, how should a rider determine the best tire pressure? While there is no optimum pressure, finding a good starting pressure, and adjusting it to your desired riding quality, is key. Here are three bicycle tire pressure calculators that can help you select a starting pressure:

Rene Herse Tire Pressure Calculator — Rene Herse Cycles has produced bicycle components since 1938. Its tire pressure calculator is simpler than the others listed here, but it might give you a good start.

Silca Professional Tire Pressure Calculator — Felice Sacchi founded Silca outside Milan, Italy, in 1917. The company knows a thing or two about bicycle tire pressure, since it manufactures bike tire pumps. In 2014, Silca moved its headquarters and manufacturing operations to Indianapolis, Indiana.

SRAM Tire Pressure Guide — US-based SRAM manufactures bicycle components, and competes with Shimano and Campagnolo. The name SRAM is made from the founders’ names: Scott, Ray, and Sam.

Of the tire pressure calculators listed above, I have chosen the Silca Professional Tire Pressure Calculator for now. I plan to use it dial in the starting point for tire pressures on my road, gravel, mountain, and touring bikes throughout the year.

I believe that tire pressure matters, especially as I prepare for a 3,000-mile (4,828 kilometer) transcontinental tour across North America. But finding a good pressure can improve any ride, no matter its length.

I hope this guide, and the listed tire pressure calculators, will help you select good tire pressures that match your riding needs.

Happy riding,

Randy

P.S. While I have a hard time keeping up with my son, Nick, improving fitness, and paying attention to simple things like tire pressure, will help. I will keep on trying.