What is the correct tyre pressure for your bike?

Here are some tips on maintaining the correct tyre pressure for your bicycle!

Bike maintenance is a simple and easy task that you can easily do at home.

In this series of bike maintenance articles, we share some tips on how to maintain the correct tyre pressure for your bicycle!

What is the correct tyre pressure for your bike?

Tyre pressure is often overlooked by the casual cyclist. Some just pump it up to shape, while others go to the other extreme by pumping the tyre rock-solid.

Many also forget that they should keep their tyre pressure inflated even when they're not using the bike for a long period of time.

However, tyre pressure is important, as it helps your bike to function optimally.

In the article below, we will advise you on the ideal pressure to maintain your tyre at, depending on the type of bike. Read on!

Equipment you will need to get started

1. The bicycle wheel you want to inflate

2. Floor pump OR hand pump

Bike Maintenance Tips: What is the Correct Tyre Pressure for Your Bicycle?

City & folding bikes

City & Folding Bikes are normally used for leisure cycling or transportation, and ridden in an urban setting.

Therefore, the emphasis is on maintaining comfort while ensuring a reasonable level of rolling efficiency.

Regardless of tyre diameter, the pressure recommended for these types of bikes is between 50-60psi.

Mountain bikes

Mountain bikes are normally used for off-road riding. The kind of terrain a mountain biker typically encounters are dirt, roots and rocks.

Therefore, the emphasis is on control and the tyre needs to be able to grip well and minimize bouncing off of obstacles.

We advise a tyre pressure of between 25-30psi for mountain biking.

However, some cyclists may mostly use their mountain bike for commuting or running errands.

For these kinds of usage, we recommend slightly higher pressures of between 40-50psi to gain efficiency without sacrificing too much comfort.

Road bikes

Road bikes are usually ridden for long distances of at least 60km or more.

Road cyclists usually prioritise rolling efficiency and grip, with comfort being the next priority.

While tyre pressures can be lowered to marginally improve comfort and grip, its rolling efficiency will suffer too much. This is why tyre pressure is normally maintained at a relatively high level of 90-100psi.

Some tyres are rated to go even higher, and heavier riders may also choose to increase the tyre pressure as well.

Hybrid bikes

Hybrid Bikes, like their name suggests, are a mix of all different kinds of bikes.

They are designed for leisure riding at a reasonable performance level on all but the most demanding terrain.

So its no surprise that the ideal pressure is somewhere between all the different bicycle types at 70-80psi.

Kids' bikes

Children are much lighter than adults.

Therefore we advise using a tyre pressure of around 40psi for most kid's bikes.

For adolescents between 12-16 years old who are starting to ride on adult bikes, you may use the same tyre pressure recommended for adults, depending on the type of bike.