What’s The Best Tyre Pressure For Road Cycling?
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- čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
- This video contains paid product placement from Pirelli. What’s the best tire pressure for road cycling? You may have guessed, but it’s not quite as straightforward as simply pumping your tyres up to the maximum pressure permitted, and hoping for the best.
Not only are excessively high pressures uncomfortable, they’ve also been proven to slow you down. What’s more, optimising the tyre pressure on your road bike is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to improve its performance and comfort.
So how can you find the right tyre pressure for your bike? In essence, it’s all about finding a balance which is specific to every rider, their bike and the roads they ride on.
To get the best tyre pressure for you, our technical writer Simon helps you understand why optimising your tyre pressure is so important, what factors influence that optimum, and how you can find a pressure that works best for you and your bike.
Have you experimented with your road bike tyre pressure? Let us know what your go-to tyre pressure is in the comments!
00:00 - Intro
01:14 - 5 Key Points
03:23 - Recommended Tyre Pressures
04:58 - Tyre Pressure Chart
06:08 - System Weight & Weight Distribution
07:04 - Road Conditions
07:55 - Weather & Temperature
08:41 - Tyre Construction
09:30 - Tubeless
Thanks to Pirelli for sponsoring this video
→ velo.pirelli.com/en/ww/road-r...
Read more on setting the best road bike tyre pressure at BikeRadar.com
→ www.bikeradar.com/advice/work...
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#TyrePressure #RoadCycling #Pirelli - Sport
For more information on setting the best tyre pressure for you including recommended tyre pressures for narrower tyres, head to 👉 www.bikeradar.com/advice/workshop/road-bike-tyre-pressure/
Pp
Well… less now. 😬
Terrible bars. Just Terrible.
Next video: "how to know when your handlebars are too narrow"
If you can extend your thumbs inwards and have the tips touch...
We may well be working on something... Watch this space! 🕵️♂️
I find it difficult to breath when handlebars are too narrow
The tire pressure information might be all well in there, but I find it hard to take someone seriously who has bars like these.
@@hmudesign yeah, nobody takes timetrialists serious, with those weird bars they have... aerodynamics is #fakenews
that handlebar gives me vertigo
What are those!!
@@TheLowrider2040 1111
@@TheLowrider2040 là fz
Wonka setup
Don't like them. Need maximum leverage at the corners to climb with a track bike!
This was interesting. My students and I (I'm a physics instructor) did an experiment that involved varying tire pressure and measuring the time to descend a hill (about 1 km) from a standing start. We then repeated the test for different rider weights and graphed the results. The hill had quite smooth tarmac. Our results indicated that the recommended tire pressures given in this video are too low. Granted, riding comfort was not a criteria for our experiment and again, the tarmac was smooth. Based on our data, if you are lucky enough to ride on very well maintained roads or bike lanes, are running 25 mm tires (Continental 5000) and are looking for the best performance irrespective of comfort, 100 psi is a good choice.
Why use a descend? Freewheeling on a smooth downhill of course gives different results. Just like the track example they give.
I'm surprised too, mostly because bicyclerollingresistance.com proves that every single tested road tyre has a lower rolling resistance at 8.3 bars than at 6.9 bars. It doesn't make sense to me for perfectly smooth roads (I do understand it for bumpy roads, gravel and off-road)
@@mrtnknrr Don't forget that bicyclerollingresistance.com conducts its testing on steel drums - while it's great resource, not all of the results will actually translate into the real world... Unless you ride on steel roads, of course! 🚄🚴🏻♀️🕺
Hi, as mentioned in the video, the exact optimum pressure will vary depending on a number of factors, and 100psi may be just right for the right roads/tyres/rider/etc. But, modern testing suggests it's also better to err on the side of too low rather than too high, so if you don't have perfectly smooth roads to ride on, it's usually better to be conservative and not go too high. Thanks for watching! 🤝
Because tire manufacturers are smart enough that they know that for middleageded obeese but moneystrong cyclists, comfort trumps everything.
And they test the wrong ways.
I ride Pirelli's, so I'm using their baseline figures - but tweaking a bit with certain parameters (psi down slightly for comfort, up slightly with narrower rims, to stop lightbulb effect, etc) So, I'm on Race 28's, 19mm Mavic rims, 5'10", 73kg, crappy Surrey roads - it all adds up to 82 front, 87 rear. Works perfectly.
Excellent and timely video. Thanks
I'm a year late to this video, but gotta say, it's one of the most informative, no-nonsense instructional videos I've ever watched.
I weigh 69kg and using a Kinesis GTD road bike with carbon 50mm rims.
Using continental GP5000 tubeless 32c which actually come up at 31c and I inflate to 60psi.
Feels really good and a good balance. For UK roads getting worse I’m also using a redshift shockstop stem to iron out the road buzz.
Im hoping this reduces fatigue over longer distances
I'm 105kg and run 90-95 on the rear and 80-85 on the front (28mm tyres). Seems to be a sweet spot for my weight/road conditions.
I’m 101kg and I’m running a set of 28mm tubeless at 67 front and rear, thats according to mavic’s website/app. Sram do their own tyre pressure calculator too. My 25mm tubeless I’m run 77rear, 72 front.
I am 97 and run 70 and 75 on 32mm tyres
@@retroonhisbikes yes indeed..i agree..I weight around the same 230-235lbs and u run the same tire pressure..so far so good..
Good info. Thank you.
Great video, thanks for the information!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you! Good Luck!
I seem to be spot on with the recommended for my weight already :)
I use Pirelli Cinturato Velo tubless tyres.
I looked at the minimum and maximum pressures "printed" on the tyre, and blow them up to the middle of the two values, which is 70 psi.
I also set both tyres the same.
Looking at the chart in the video, the recommended value is 75 psi. It's close enough at 70.
good to hear your advice and chart because usually I set 100psi for my 78kg weight so probably the reason not feeling so great as other riders anyway with 85psi next time I get new experiences 👌🏼
My weight is 93kg and I'm running 10 bar in 25mm Tufo Elite S3 Tubulars. I like the stiff feeling and it's very comfortable on my carbon bike, even on quite rough roads.
Cool clip, your spotty Jersey reminds me of Mr Tumbles spotty shirt
I'm 75kg on a 10kg road bike running 700x23C continental GP500S and stick to 90-100psi. If I have less than 80psi then cornering feels vague and spongy which I don't like. Also, I get pinch flats even at 100psi during my suburban commute if I hit unseen debris or potholes. Even going tubeless, lower pressure potentially increases the chance of rim damage.
yes, you need a wider (higher) tire with wide rims to have enough cushion and sidewall support for lower pressures. i run my 25mm tires on 15c internal rims at around 6.5 bar (95 psi) to avoid hat spongy feeling and risk of pinchflat/rim strikes on unforseen potholes or debris.
after switching to 32mm tubeless tires on 25c wide rims i was able to run basically half those pressures fine. i now use around 3.25bar (45psi) front and 3.6bar (55 psi) rear.
the bike feels planted and safe without becoming spongy, speeds stayed the same, there is enough volume/cushion for unforseen potholes and the bike is sooooo much more comfortable. i would even say overall speeds improved because you do not wear down on longer journeys with bad pavement. perfect.
@74kg on my GP5000 TDF edition using 25mm tyres (25,7 Measured inflated) I use 80 Psi both front and rear. I'm using 26mm Carbon clincher rims. Tan Walls ROCK!
Different stroke for different riders, I ride at 100 psi on the on the road back wheel and 90 psi at the front wheel on my tubular set up works for me. 25c
I stick to 95psi in the front and 100psi in the back (where most of my weight is sitting). I also noticed my new specialized saddle absorbes a lot of the bumpy gravel, so consider investing in a new saddle
85kg, 700x28, front 68psi rear 71psi. Continental GP5000 clincher -> perfect riding
This is nice video now even though Jan & Rene Herse has been talking about lower tire pressures for years than what was commonly accepted. Welcome to the party... albeit uber late!
I’m a fit 103 kilo 52 year old male, i have 115 psi in my rear and a little less at the front, riding a Trek Madone.,Living in Swizerland where the roads are exceptional. Tyres are Conti GP 4000‘s
I’m riding at around 100-110 psi. The road I’m on is made for road bikes. When I’m in city streets, I ride 80-90psi. When it’s raining I may go down to 70psi
That’s what I love about the track. Just put as much in as you’re game to.
Also you can't get lost.
I'm a fatty at 230lbs (105kg), 28c Continental Gatorskins. I've used 80psi in the front and 85psi in the back for a long time with no issues on some fairly rough tarmac.
I’m 98kg and currently run 95 rear 90 front in 28mm gp5000 tubeless. 2 years ago when I was 75kg I road 25mm at 90 rear 85 front.
I weight 58 kg and compete on cat 2 races, i usually go with higher psi than recommended, it feels a lot faster to ride at higher pressure than lower, and in our team we usually crank the tyre pressure to 95 or 100 when we are on a race and we use 25mm, and sometimes when the road is too worn out i use 28 with 85 psi.
I'm 81kg. Conti GP5000, 28mm wide, 6,5bar on asphalt.
My weight is 83kg running 23mm tires with 110f/115r psi. I've tried 25mm but my tires always felt flat. Cornering to me felt sketchy. The roads I ride aren't too rough.
I’m running 110psi in my conti gp5000s 25mm. I weigh 135lbs and it feels fast and fine for me.
700x28mm, 74kg, 70/75psi, generally works best over most roads for me.
Excellent, very helpful video. I used to run 110 psi in my 23cm road bike tires. Then went to 100 psi a couple months ago. Because of this video I’ve tried a couple rides at 90 psi and yes, it is much more comfortable and my speed seems to have improved as well! I’m 200 lbs and ride a carbon Bianchi.
What wheels are you running? How deep are they?
@@kingly7946 Zonda wheels. Don’t know the exact depth but they’re fairly shallow.
Bike Radar: Lets talk about tire pressure
Samuel L Jackson: NO MF'R LETS TALK ABOUT THOSE GAT DAM NARROW AZZ BARS!
Love your jacket and jersey. Where can I buy those?
I'd probably buck the trend and have been running 60psi rear and 50-55psi up front on 25mm GP5000TL's and am 82kg. Have run them as low as 40psi on occasion without collapsing the tire or bobbing up and down while riding
Table says optimal 80 psi, but Schwalbe recommends 85-115. Would it be safe to ride with 80, or there is a risk for the tyre to fall off on a corner? Tyre with tubes, width declared and measured is 28 mm. I have always ridden 90-95 front and 95-100 back. Thanks!
I run 28mm Continental GP 5k S TR tubeless with Stan’s NoTubes sealant on a rim with 21mm inner width, 77mm deep. Right now, as I weigh about 85kg, I’m usually at 72/70 rear/front. For my 30mm on my 19mm inners, it’s 66/64. Not sure if it’s too much, it’s never clear to me.
72kg, 23mm (measured 25mm), 110psi, 16:33 Richmond Park lap. Speaks for itself.
I think I saw you on strava!? That’s a fantastic time! When I started cycling I got 18:49 over richmond park.
@@benhardwick1970 Thank you Ben. Dependent on traffic and wind of course! Anything sub-20 is fast IMO.
Kudos for being explicit about the sponsorship.
But why aren't 25 mm tyres mentioned?
They are being forgotten, same way 23mm and under. Might still take another couple of years but so far I think 25s don't have a tubeless option either, I suspect that's because none of the tubeless sealants support pressures that 25s normally need.
Here in Stroud Glos. the roads are bad rough and potholes worse than cobbles I would say😂. I run tubed, Conti. 5000 700x28 77psi rear 75psi front that is a very good sweet spot oh I'm 79kg
I'd rather ride with high pressures. The 700x32C Continental UltraSport III tyres I'm using on my hybrid bike are quite grippy and only perform at their best near the maximum pressure. Rolling resistance increases way too much when I underinflate the tyres, so I use 6 bar out of a recommended 7 max. Yes it's hard, yes it makes the bike bounce a lot on less than perfect pavements, but on smooth asphalt it just feels more efficient.
For my giant TCR I ride perelli p zero 26 tubeless on hookless wheels. I weight 85kg and normally run them at 65psi. Not sure if that’s good as I’m new to tubeless??
Wow, those look really low - nearly flat!. Funny how just a few years ago, all the "experts" were saying super narrow tires at super high pressure was absolutely required.. Will this reverse again in a few years? Common sense says the carcass deformation soaks up energy, though I suppose if its mostly absorbing the vertical energy, then the tradeoffs are worth it I guess. I don't see nearly enough people running staggered tires either - most of the weight is on the back, and most of the aero benefit is in the front. I'm currently running 25c/70 PSI up front and 28/90 PSI in the rear (but I'm a big guy at 240lb - I only run 15PSI on my mountain bike). No idea if that's "right", but feels like it and gives just a bit of similar squish in the sidewall front and rear.
On Zipp hookless rims, I'm running 54psi front 59psi rear, tubeless, I'm 64.5kg. I used Zipp's online info to determine the pressures and it seems spot on for me.
Which tyre width though?
@@pierrex3226 I’m using 28mm Eagle F1. Weight lower now, 60kg, so running at slightly lower pressure.
I’m about 240 lbs and was getting pinch flats often on 23mm tires. I started airing to 110 psi and tires seem to last forever now.
am weight 163lbs, put on 70/60psi front/back on 700x28cc. I found to be most comfortable and ease of riding.
700 25c , 80kg, 10kg bike with 2 full bottles. Around 6 bar seems to be optimal for me
I run 28mm in back at 75 psi, 25mm in front at the same, 75psi. I'm 78kg riding a 7kg bike, conti race light tubes.
Should also be noted that you're in GB with notoriously bad roads which impact psi 😬
It's so true 😬 Thanks for watching!
What pressure do you reccomend for the 700x30c for 100kg rider? I can’t find a chart. Thanks
Question: if I weigh 100kg , infate my tires to 80psi then will the psi change when I sit on the bike? How much?
Might explain why I keep coming off in the wet as I’ve been inflating to 95psi on the road!
Not sure what is most uncomfortable...high tire pressure or those handlebars?
I'm 104 KG or 230Lbs on 28 mm tires I use 85 PSI in the rear and 75 PSI in the front tire. 6'6" or 198cm tall
75kg, 25mm tubeless tires, 75-80 psi
That was a very helpful video for me! I learned I run a way too high pressure! Been on 7.5 bars thinking this improves my performance (also, I am only 65kg)😂
But hey, now I know! 😃
Glad you found the video useful, thanks for watching! 👌🧠🎯🚴♂️
My Specialized Armadillo Elite 700 x 25mm tyres are labelled 110-125 psi which is much higher than your recommendations. Tbh even 100 feels too hard (lots of vibration)
I’m 83kg riding 23s which I ride at 100psi. I do this because I “feel” it gives me faster speeds for less effort and also stops me getting pinch flats.
I usually inflate my tyres untill the pump blows off the valve like a grenade, usually around 100psi lol
Buy a better pump, i can get well over 130psi and pump still engaged lol
One question please. If im not mistaken, are you guys running Pirelli on SLR1 Giant rims? If so, how was the ride in terms of safety? I am asking that because recently i bought TCR with that hookless rims and Giant did not aprove Pirelli yet. Otherwise im 84kg and im running 6 bars pressure. Had Pirelli P Zero 28 on my last bike. Very impressive tyre.
Hi N C - Great question, and the answer is that I'm using different wheels in this video. You're correct that those tyres would not yet be approved for use on the hookless Giant wheels that come as stock. Because of this, we swapped in a set of FFWD clincher wheels (which are also very nice). Thanks for watching! 💪🎖🎺
In the decades before tyre pressure calculators / charts, I've been running the highest pressure that doesn't result in "road buzz" for a given set up and where I'm riding. Turns out that's what the calculators spit out.
I still don't understand how going tubeless let's you run lower pressures. Surely, if you were pinch flatting before then you're still going to smash your expensive rims into obstacles without more pressure or tyre volume
If you hit hard enough, yeah...you can still bash a rim. Most of the time what happens is you pinch the tube between the tire and the rim and get that distinctive snakebite puncture in the tube. Tubeless doesn't do that since there's no tube to pinch.
In the GoPro perspective it looks like you're using a 10cm wide handlebar.
Almost! The position of the hoods ends up being around 24cm in width. You can read more about these particular bars here 👉 www.bikeradar.com/features/first-look-friday/nopinz-time-trial-kit/
I am 100kg’s run tubeless zipp 303s and run 65psi and 60 up front. Roads her terrible and often damp and faster now than my old wheels and clinchers.
Well i'am 5f7 for 68.8 kg. I have a Willier Escape RoadBike at 10kg. My pressure tire are 115 psi. my tire size are 700x23C
The chart seems pretty high for me. It suggests more than 2 bars above my personal sweet spot with GP5000’s. 6,2 is way to high in that case, I run a little over 4 bars.
My GP5000 are about 20 psi lower than that Pirelli chart suggests, I got my pressures from the conti website.
I work as a deliveroo rider in the UK and I'm on a hybrid bike (not electric, though I know this may come as a surprise). Most of the tutorials and tips and tricks related to cycling are directed towards road bikes. Does anyone know what would be a good tire pressure on a hybrid bike?
PS: not sure if this is relevant info but I have puncture resistant tires which are harder than regular tires
so I weigh 115 KG, riding 700 x 32. Recommendations?
So, what are the hazards: to you; your wheel; or, your tire?
1) Slightly higher pressure (manufacture's recommended) - premature tire wear (prehap as much as 40% shorter distance). And you'll get a harsher ride & perhaps more sliding under braking.
2). Slightly low or Low tyre pressure - how long do you expect your rim to last? 500km (manybe a week), 3000km (few month to half season), 15,000km (1 to 3 years), 60,000km or more (the wheel should wear out from other causes). So, how low should you go? Low might also affect the confidence of your feel in corners.
3) Very Low pressure - your rim is going to ground out in corners (puncture hazard, rim damage, lose of control). How frequently are you going to encounter unexpected conditions? You'll need better planning than any traffic department.
Pick your hazard! Try the recommend pressure for a long time. Adjust tyre width & mass as needed.
I like the shoelaces
So do we! 🌈
I am 76kg I have just had new tyres fitted, unfortunately I never wrote down my old tyres pressure which worked perfect. I have come off my back badly twice in the last 2 days. I’m now off the road until I can work it out. My tyres are 700x32c which where not on your grid, my tyres min is 58 psi and max 87 psi, my journey to work mixes road, bike path and gravel, the gravel is very bumpy, so I’m let to believe they are too hard, but can any one suggest what they should be as a starting point. Can’t risk coming off again, why did I come off, first was an inverse chamber, I slowed down but the bike slipped away, second I braked the rear tyre drifts when breaking, hit a wobble and went .
I‘m riding 7 bar @ 28mm -> enough comfort with 80kgs for me
Finally a person of human dimensions, not using silly fat tyres (= 30+ mm) on a road bike and pumping them to a realistic pressure. Kudos!
180 pound rider, 23mm in the front 90 lbs., 25mm in the rear 90 lbs.
Hi really nice review, but I need some suggestion can you help?
Sure thing, what do you need help with?
5.5 bar on schwalbe tle pro ones 25mm on 19mm internal rim
so what if your 115kg with hookless rim running tubes? Max pressure is supposed be 72psi but im used to running 120
Im going for 70 psi But at 7.0 they feel full and Im afraid of blowing ,tube up. I am using a digital Tire gauge ... Any ideas? ty in advance...
How are tyre pressures affected riding an e-bike?
Any mentions of punctures?
And those bars😂
It looks like I was running too much pressure! I'm 67kg on 28mm tires at 90psi. I'll lower it to 80 in my next long road ride =)
i use 80 rear 75 front for about the same weight with inner tubes, works pretty well, for harsh tarmac I lower the rear to 75, and for shit tarmac keep them high, pinch flats sucks
Whats the best handlebar pressure?
You're using an additional in-line pressure gauge when your track pump already has one. Is this because the gauges in the track pumps are inaccurate?
Yes, the gauge on a pump is fairly inaccurate
That bars look baned for the uci
80kg, 700x32C tyres (tubeless), 55 PSI
110 kilos = 95/100 psi for me 28mm tires Gator Hardshells average road conditions. Less psi or 23-25mm tires = pinch flats. More psi= punctures. Do what gets you the fewest flats to be your fastest!
Someone suggested me to use 70 psi on my road tubeless tire. My leg felt so Fatigue on climbing with in 10 min screw that I use 85 psi
47 PSI on 700x28 and Enve wheels, as recommended by Enve.
?? My Kenda's of the same specs as yours recommend 100psi. I pump to 80 I had 32mm at 50psi and got pinch flat
According to the Pirelli chart in the video, I am running 20 psi too low in my 28s - running 65psi on 19mm internal rims and 77 kgs. But there is no way that I am going to inflate to 85 as my pressures feel really good with no rim strikes or any squishiness (technical term...) to the ride. The Conti's absorb the rough roads well at this pressure, and I don't want to feel like I'm bouncing all over the place. My current bike came fitted with 25mm and after swapping to 28s, and lowering the pressure, my speed increased. I have seen a video where Zipp are recommending lower pressures on 28mm or higher tyres and I tend to agree.
When you swapped from 25 to 28, was it the same tire brand? If not, you're maybe comparing apples with pears, meaning you can't know whether it would be thanks to the tire's width or its brand that your speed increased.
What's your handle bar width? Seems to be very small or maybe it's your camera lens!
24cm at the hoods, 33cm at the drops 🌞It's a track handlebar by Worx that I've been testing recently. You can read more about it here; www.bikeradar.com/features/first-look-friday/nopinz-time-trial-kit/
It's all very well saying put a larger tyre on, but if your rims are too narrow for it then it won't perform properly. So with older bikes you'd most likely need new wheels/rims too.
a great three minuite video said over 12 minuites !!
Bike mechanics reccomend 1 psi for every kilo. I dont now if it is correct. Greetings from Greece...
700x23c, over 100psi, recommended by the tire
My tire pressure is 100 psi, I’m 107kg. 700x28 wheels, 700x26c tyre.
Isn't it silly to use a way too narrow handlebar to go aero, but run non-aero 28 mm tyres? Isn't it also silly to state tyre width in metric (mm) but tyre pressure in imperial psi instead of metric bar?
Hi Einund, Simon here, thanks for your comment. My job involves testing out lots of different bits of kit at any one time, so I'm not always using a setup that makes perfect sense. And I'm not necessarily recommending everyone just copy what I'm doing. Likewise, I don't worry about looking silly, as what really matters is whether I'm having fun riding bikes (which I am) 🌞
As for "too narrow", well, that's open to interpretation, and that's why I'm testing it! Look out for more on that topic, hopefully coming soon 😉
As for why we talk in mm and psi - that's just what majority of people in the UK (where we're based) seem to use, but we have also given the pressure recommendations in bar, for those who prefer it that way. Each to their own.
Thanks for watching! 🚴🏻♀️🌈🔋🎖🕵️♂️
On my 700x35 I use 50 and 55 psi and I weight 85kg
What's the handlebars?
Don’t you run the risk of pinch flats if you go too low?
Is it just camera weirdness or are you using super narrow handlebars?
No camera weirdness here! Simon loves going faster for the same effort and is trying out this narrower handlebar. You can read more about these particular bars here 👉 www.bikeradar.com/features/first-look-friday/nopinz-time-trial-kit/
No chart for 700c×25mm?