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Mountain biking is a thrilling sport but it can be challenging too, especially when you don’t have the right tyre pressure. Unsuitable pressure on both your rear and front tire can impact your safety, comfort and most of all the overall feel of your ride! Knowing how to adjust mountain bike tire pressure to get the best performance out of your bike is important if you want to enjoy every ride. In this guide, we will give you an understanding of what mountain bike tire pressure is, why it matters and how to measure it. So read on if you want to master pedal power like a pro!
What Is Tire Pressure?
Mountain bike tire pressure is the amount of air that’s in your mountain bike tires, both the front and rear tires. This can add up to different effects when riding, but most importantly it aids with traction and control. Tire pressure needs to be adjusted every few rides, depending on the terrain you’re riding on and your personal riding style.
When searching for the right tire pressure, you should always take into account your weight and the type of ride you are looking for. For instance, a heavier rider might need slightly higher tire pressures than a lighter rider who uses lower pressures due to more weight being put on the bikes’ tires when riding over rough terrain. Further adjustment may also be necessary if you find yourself needing more grip from your tires – going downhill for example – or if you need less rolling resistance for harder climbs.
The ideal level of bike tire pressure will vary between riders and conditions so there isn’t an exact set number which works best in all cases; it requires some experimentation and fine-tuning as well as regular checking before and after each ride. To get an accurate reading of what’s inside your tires, look at the information provided by the manufacturer printed on its sidewalls and use appropriate tire pressure gauges designed specifically for measuring bicycle tire pressure levels (do not use car gauges).
Benefits Of Correct Tire Pressure
Correct tire pressure can provide numerous advantages to your ride, from improved traction and control to reduced likelihood of punctures – find out more about the benefits below!
Improved Traction
Tire traction is a key factor in mountain biking and having the correct tire pressure can help with this. Too low tire pressure means that too much of the surface area of your tires is in contact with the ground, leading to reduced grip when cornering or braking.
Too high a tyre pressure causes less rubber to come into contact with the ground, which reduces stability. The Goldilocks zone for actual inflated tire pressures lays somewhere between these two extremes – adjusting it accordingly will significantly improve handling and control on both climbs and descents.
Increased Control
Having the right tire pressure can give you significantly more control over your bike. The harder the tires are, the less compliant they are and therefore better for support in corners and on rocky trails as well as providing faster acceleration.
However, if tires become too hard it can lead to a jarring ride which could be detrimental to long rides or rough terrain, so finding that perfect balance is key. Being able to adjust your tire pressure also means being able to tailor your ride depending on weight and speed; a heavier rider may need slightly softer tires while a lighter rider may prefer them firmer.
Achieving that level of control allows you to maximize enjoyment and efficiency when traversing different terrains with comfort levels tailored specifically for you.
Lower Rolling Resistance
Lower rolling resistance is the main benefit of ensuring your mountain bike has the correct tire pressure. When you pump up the tires on your mountain bike, it makes them firmer and more resistant to punctures.
This also means that when you hit rough terrain whilst mountain biking, such as rocks and roots, it absorbs less energy with each impact due to the increased stiffness of the tire. This reduced energy absorption reduces drag from rolling resistance making it easier for you to keep pedalling through all kinds of trails without having to work harder than necessary.
Furthermore, higher air pressure can also result in better cornering grip allowing improved manoeuvrability on technical trails when accurate tire pressure is maintained.
Reduced Likelihood Of Punctures
Maintaining the correct tire pressure can help to reduce the risk of punctures. When a tire is inflated correctly, it produces a shock-absorbing cushion between the bikes’ rims and the ground, meaning less force is exerted onto your rims when travelling over bumps or other terrains.
Additionally, keeping your tires at their recommended pressure also helps to reduce wear and tear on surfaces as well as minimize any potential damage caused by stones or other obstacles being thrown up into your wheel. Overall, having properly inflated tires means that you’re less likely to experience a sudden deflation due to a snakebite puncture which could potentially result in an accident.
How To Measure Tire Pressure
Understanding how to measure your tire pressure properly can make all the difference in having a better and safer ride; read on to learn more!
Use An Accurate Tire Pressure Gauge
It is important to use the right tool when it comes to measuring tire pressure. An accurate tire pressure gauge should be used, as this will provide you with a much more accurate reading than approximations from other devices such as bathroom scales or car door openers.
Using a proper gauge and following the manufacturer’s instructions, you can measure the exact amount of air in each tire and make sure it is set at an optimal level for your ride. Keep in mind that most bike tires need higher pressure than regular road tires, so keep this in mind when setting up your bike.
Check Before And After Riding
It’s important to check the tire pressure of your mountain bike tires before and after each ride especially if you know that it would be an uphill ride. This will help you to understand how the terrain, weather conditions, and rider weight can affect the pressure in your tires, and allow you to adjust accordingly for better performance on subsequent rides.
A good starting point is to reduce tire pressures by around five PSI for every 100 lbs of body weight that you’re carrying. Taking this into account allows you to get more grip from your tires without sacrificing too much speed or causing excessive wear on them.
Take Rider Weight Into Account
When setting the tire pressure of your mountain bike, it is important to take the rider’s weight into consideration. The heavier you are, the higher you will want to set your tire pressure as this will help keep your tires from bottoming out while riding over bumpy terrain.
On average, riders between 40-60kg should set their tire pressure at 2. 5 bar/36psi and riders between 60-90kg should aim for 3 bar/43psi.
However, different conditions and types of terrain can require more or less air pressure depending on what works best for you and the type of riding that you do.
Check The Sidewall Of Your Tire
It is also important to check the sidewall of your tires when measuring tire pressure. This will provide helpful information such as the maximum recommended pressure, as well as details about the construction and material of your tires.
Pay particular attention to any warning symbols on the sidewall which could indicate a limitation on how much pressure you should apply to your tires.
Underestimating the maximum recommended air pressure for a certain type of tire can lead to an increased risk of puncture and may affect performance in all types of terrain, from tarmac roads to mud baths. Taking into account potential weight variations while riding and always observing the correct air pressures specified by manufacturers are crucial steps towards maintaining healthy bike tires.
Conclusion
Bike tire pressure is an important element in your riding experience and should never be overlooked. Having the correct tire pressure ensures improved traction, increased control, lowered rolling resistance and a reduced likelihood of punctures. To ensure you have the correct amount of pressure, use a reliable tire pressure gauge before and after each ride, taking your rider’s weight into consideration. Check the sidewall of your tyres for tyre-specific recommendations too. With all this considered, happy trials to you!