10 important facts about tyre pressure

Beitrag vom:15. September 2021

What should the bar pressure be?

High or low air pressure doesn’t just affect the weather. Air pressure is also a science in itself in bicycle tyres. You’ll find 10 facts about tyre pressure in this blog. Want to know more? Then let’s get started!

Picture shows woman and man cycling through a park.

#1 The right air pressure is the best protection against punctures

Or vice versa: Tyres with low air pressure are much more susceptible to punctures. The so-called “snake bite” is a menace when the rim penetrates the tube, thereby causing two holes like the bite marks of a snake on the tube. Tyre wear is also caused by low tyre pressure. 

#2 Cycling with too little air is like cycling on raw eggs

Those who are familiar with the term “rock” from the sport of rock climbing will be enlightened here. If the air pressure is too low, the tyre starts to “rock” back and forth in an uncontrolled manner. The bike feels a little spongy when steering. Beware: This may cause a fall! 

#3 An overly inflated tyre offers little riding comfort

High air pressure in the tyre reduces rolling resistance and wear, but offers very little cushioning when riding over bumps. This can be quite uncomfortable. Hard bicycle tyres provide less grip and therefore offer little comfort when cycling.

#4 Low tyre pressure, less range on an e-bike 

If the air pressure in an e-bike tyre is too low by just 1 bar, this will reduce your range by about 15 kilometres. If your tyre pressure is too low, you feel like you’re constantly cycling against the wind. So you need more support – and that naturally drains the battery life.

Picture shows how the tyre pressure is checked with the thumb.

#5 The recommended air pressure is on the sidewall of the tyre

This is normally stated in bar – with the minimum and maximum value. Due to the flexibility, it can be adapted to different requirements. So you can experiment with the tyre pressure and adjust it to make it perfect for you. 

Attention: You should not drop below the minimum value or exceed the maximum value!

#6 The wider the tyre, the lower the pressure

The tyre width and surface are important factors for optimum pressure. Mountain bike tyres should be inflated to a pressure of 2 to 2.5 bar for cycling on natural terrain. Narrow racing tyres require a pressure of 5 to 9 bar on asphalt surfaces. Conventional e-bikes have a tyre pressure of 3 to 5 bar.

#7 More weight, more tyre pressure

The weight of the bike and the rider plays an important role. For example, if you’re cycling with a fully loaded bike on a bikepacking tour, you should pump more air into your tyres. This will make your bike easier to ride despite your luggage.

#8 The rear wheel can tolerate more pressure

Rear bike tyres are generally inflated to a slightly higher pressure than front tyres. The reason is quite simple: Your centre of gravity while cycling is mainly at the rear of the bike depending on your seating position. 

Picture shows how the tyre pressure is measured with the Airchecker from SKS.

#9 Check the air pressure once a month

Tube manufacturers advise you to check the air pressure at least once a month because even the thickest bike tubes lose pressure continuously. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to quickly check your tyre pressure before every bike tour, for example with the AIRCHECKER.

#10 The thumb pressure test is for psychics

A manometer should be used instead of your thumb for checking the tyre pressure. The AIRWORX 10.0 floor pump has an easy-to-read pressure gauge at the top. This way you can not only check the pressure but correct it immediately if it is too low.

Picture shows an SKS floor pump with pressure gauge.

TIP

The tyre pressure calculator in the SKS MYBIKE app calculates the right tyre pressure based on your information. With the AIRSPY sensors on your valve, the tyre pressure is continuously transmitted to your mobile phone or Garmin device. So you are guaranteed to always have the optimum air pressure while out and about.

Picture shows the Airspy on the valve with the mobile phone connection.