UNDERSTANDING TYRE PRESSURE

Bicycle tire pressure is one of the most crucial factors that is needed to be taken care of by the rider every time they plan on going on a ride.

No matter the terrain, whether it is on a gravelly mountain, on a muddy and winding trail or a straight smooth road, tyre pressure will dictate the quality of your ride.

Why maintaining the recommended tire pressure is essential?

A tire is the only element that makes contact with the ground. It is filled with compressed air, which carries the weight of the bicycle and the rider. Therefore, maintaining proper tire pressure is necessary.

Tires naturally lose their air when they are not in use. We say a tire is underinflated if it doesn't have enough air for best performance. Tires should neither be overinflated nor under-inflated but should be inflated to the manufacturer's suggested pressure.

Tyre pressure is vital for bicycles in performance on two major levels.

Grip - The grip tire makes with the ground is directly related to the pressure inside the tire. When the pressure inside the tire is within the recommended tire pressure limits, the entire surface comes in contact with the ground and makes a good grip that prevents the bicycle from rolling over. When the pressure inside the tire is more than the recommended tire pressure, the tire inflates from the middle line, and the surface coming in contact with the ground decreases, due to which the bicycle begins to roll over.

Rolling resistance - Rolling resistance is the amount of friction between a tire and the surface, i.e., higher friction equals more rolling resistance. Whenever the tire pressure is either more or less than the recommended values, the surface coming in contact with the ground varies. The friction increases, leading to increased rolling resistance. Due to the increased rolling resistance, the rider needs to pedal more and faster, which affects the performance and the rider tends to spend more energy while riding.

Hence, it is vital to maintain the tire pressure that varies according to the bicycle you choose, your body weight, and the tires for a smooth ride.

How does the pressure inside the inner tube and a tubeless tire vary?

Knowing the type of tires in a bicycle is important as it is directly related to the tire pressure. Whenever the tire pressure inside the tire is less, its chance of getting punctured increases. As the tire's surface comes in contact with the ground increase due to low tire pressure, any pointed object like a needle can easily pierce the inner tube of a tire compared to a tubeless tire.

Factors affecting the tire pressure of bicycle

Rider and bike weight - If you are a heavy rider, you'll need more tire pressure than the light weight rider.

Terrain - If you are riding on fast terrain or rocky and rough terrain with fast speed, you'll need to apply a little more pressure on your mountain bikes. But if you are riding on smoother at a lower rate, you'll need to use less stress.

Riding style - Riding style also influences the tire pressure on mountain bikes. You might be able to ride with a few psi less if you're more accurate with your riding, moving smoothly through obstacles. If you prefer to photograph with a point-and shoot camera, you may need to pay extra attention to puncture prevention.

Correct tire pressure according to bicycle

The optimum tire pressure value varies according to the bicycle chosen.

Tyre pressure for mountain bikes

The tire pressure for mountain bikes depends all on the balance. In mountain bikes, tires should be stable and grip well around the corners. The tire pressure is kept less while rising on mountains as compared to the smooth roads because it decreases the chances of the tire getting punctured on the rough terrain. Being a heavy-weight rider, the chances of a tire getting punctured increase if it is not monitored. The optimum tire pressure for an average 70kg body weight rider is –

• For inner tube tires - 36 PSI (Front)/ 38 PSI (Rear)

• For tubeless tyres - 26 PSI (Front) / 28 PSI (Rear)

Weight Adjustment: Add 1 PSI for every 5 kgs over 70kg for weight adjustment.

Tyre pressure for road bikes

The tire for road bikes is kept higher than mountain bikes to reduce the chances of puncture and slipping off. The optimum tire pressure for an average 70kg body weight rider is –

• For inner tube tires - 90 PSI (Front)/ 93 PSI (Rear)

• For tubeless tyres - 80 PSI (Front) / 83 PSI (Rear)

Weight Adjustment: Add 2 PSI for every 5 kgs over 70kg, and subtract 2 PSI for every 5 kgs under 70 Kg

Tyre pressure for Cyclocross/Gravel bikes

Being ridden mostly over too rocky or too smooth roads, the tire pressure for Cyclocross/Gravel bikes is more than mountain bikes but less than road bikes. The optimum tire pressure for an average 70kg body weight rider is –

• For inner tube tires - 48 PSI (Front)/ 50 PSI (Rear)

• For tubeless tyres - 36 PSI (Front) / 38 PSI (Rear)

Weight Adjustment - Add 1 PSI for every 5 kgs over 70kg

How can we balance the bicycle tire pressure?

For every rider, it is important to know how to balance the bicycle tire pressure. Keeping in mind the below-mentioned tips can help every rider balance the tire pressure.

1. Check the tire pressure first, and make sure there are no punctures by any sharp objects such as glass, nails, and sharp pens, among other things. There should be no cracks because this can lower the tire's air pressure.

2. It is essential to check the tire pressure regularly because it varies according to the season. It is preferable to inspect the bike's tire, exceptionally when warm. When the tires are heated, the pressure and density change. Check your vehicle's owner's manual for the recommended PSI levels, or you can get it checked at any gas station.

3. Fill the tires with compressed air to the recommended PSI level after you've check them and find that the tire pressure is less than the optimum PSI value. Check to see if they're not overinflated. You can deflate them to return to their usual level if there is extra air pressure. If you notice an increase in pressure and the tire appears to be too hard on the road, you should stop driving and balance the air pressure in the tire. Take it for a spin, and in a few hours, you'll know whether it's working well or not.

IN CONCLUSION

Using an air gauge and monitoring the tire pressure is vital for a smooth and happy ride. The tire pressure is always kept more for the rear tire than the front tires to avoid punctures, keeping in mind the rider's body weight. Since mountain bike is perfect for over rough and rocky ground, the tire pressure is kept least compared to road bikes, cyclocross/gravel bikes, and hybrid/city bikes. In contrast, the tire pressure for road bikes is maintained maximum compared to others because it is ridden chiefly over smooth roads. Cyclocross/gravel bikes and hybrid/city bikes are perfect for a too rocky or slippery road that requires pressure, more than the mountain bikes but less than the road bikes.