Joe Cote
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1/15/2021 1:21 PM
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I recently read a post regarding how to determine the right tire pressure for your bike. This decision used to be easier in the day when everyone ran 23c or at most 25c tires. But with gravel, endurance, comfort, and e-bikes things have become more complicated. Some of us are running 32c or wider tires (vs the tradition standard 23c). Wider tires need less pressure. In addition, modern rims are also wider allowing you to run lower pressures as well.
This site combined results from 5 difference sources to create a tire pressure calculator http://engineeredinsanity.com/clydesdale-how-to-estimate-tire-pressure/. This is where I would start to determine the right tire pressure for you.
The article I read suggested the site https://info.silca.cc/silca-professional-pressure-calculator. It is much more basic unless you input an email address (probably can unsubscribe from the emails you are likely to get later).
http://web.archive.org/web/20201031071618/http:/dorkypantsr.us/bike-tire-pressure-calculator.html is an oldie but goodie. Use the second option where you separately enter the size of the front and rear tire.
If you want to know the nitty gritty about tire pressure you might read one of these articles https://www.roadbikerider.com/the-tire-pressure-revolution-by-jan-heine-d1/, https://www.renehersecycles.com/finding-the-perfect-tire-pressure/, or this "beginner's guide" https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/news/a-beginners-guide-to-bike-tire-pressure.
The key is that "100psi" isn't good advice anymore. Running tires at lower pressures will NOT affect your performance on smooth pavement but will IMPROVE performance on rough surfaces (like Clark County chip seal). Not only will the lower tire pressure result in less vibration, it will take less effort to go the same speed vs higher pressures.
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Joe Cote
"Each thing I do I rush through so I can do something else" Stephen Dobyns
Courtesy means being nice to someone who doesn't deserve it
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