A lot of cyclists mistakenly inflate their tires to the max, which makes for less comfort and traction. Trojmiasto.pl says the ideal pressure depends on the type of bike, the rider’s weight, and the road surface. As a general rule, you should follow the markings on the sidewall of the tire. For city bikes, the standard is 2–5 atm; for mountain bikes, 1.5–3.5 atm; and for road bikes, 4 to 8 atm. Experts say it’s better to use a pump with a pressure gauge and slightly reduce the pressure on wet roads to be safer.
For years, most cyclists have been making critical mistakes when getting their bikes ready for a ride. A lot of people still follow the “pumping to the max” rule without realizing how much it messes up the ride, according to Trojmiasto.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. For casual, leisurely rides, it’s best to inflate tires to about 3 atmospheres. But the exact figure depends on the cyclist’s weight, the bike model, and the road conditions. For city bikes, this figure can range from 2 to 5 atmospheres, while for other models, the rules are completely different.
To avoid mistakes, experts say to look for a clue directly on the bike itself. Manufacturers usually stamp the recommended numbers right on the sidewall of the tire.
The values there may be listed in the more familiar units of atmospheres (bar) or in the foreign units of PSI (where 1 atmosphere is approximately equal to 14.5 PSI).
As the author of this article says, lighter cyclists should stick to the lower limit, while heavier riders should inflate their tires to a higher pressure—closer to the upper limit.
According to the info that’s out there, these are the standards for different types of bikes:
- City bike: 2–5 atmospheres
- Mountain bike (MTB): 1.5–3.5 atmospheres
- Road bike: 4–8 psi
- Gravel bike: 2–4 psi
- Children’s: 1.5–2.5 atmospheres
The article says it’s best not to inflate “by eye” and to use a pump with a pressure gauge. It also says that you should adjust the pressure based on the weather. On wet roads, it’s better to reduce it slightly for safety.