Bike tire pressure: how much to inflate road, gravel and MTB tires

1. Why pressure matters

Too high: the bike skips over bumps, you lose grip and comfort and you're not faster either. Too low: risk of pinch flats, a tire that squirms in corners and more rolling resistance. The right pressure depends on weight (rider plus bike), tire width and surface.

2. Road starting values

With 28 mm tires and a 70 kg rider, start around 5.0 bar front and 5.4 rear (72-78 psi). With 25 mm go up about 0.5 bar; with 32 mm go down about 0.5. Add roughly 0.3-0.4 bar for every extra 10 kg. The rear takes a little more because it carries more weight.

With tubeless you can drop 0.3-0.5 bar below inner-tube pressures without pinch-flat risk.

3. Gravel and MTB

Gravel with 40 mm tires: roughly 2.2-3.0 bar depending on weight and terrain. Cross-country MTB: 1.3-1.8 bar tubeless. On loose or wet dirt go a little lower for grip, but not too low: you risk damaging the rim on rocks.

4. How to set it in practice

Use a pump with a gauge and check before every ride: inner tubes can lose 0.5 bar in a day. Never exceed the maximum on the tire sidewall or rim. In rain drop 0.3-0.5 bar for more grip.

Write down the pressure that feels right and fine-tune it ride by ride: the real rule is what you feel on your own bike.