Anthony Marchand Bicycle Repair And Maintenance information And Tips
Optimal Tire Pressure:
The tire pressure depends on weight of the rider, width of the tires and road conditions. There is always a trade of between tire width and pressure. There is a debate about whether rolling resistance increasing with wider tires and lower pressure (probably a myth), but the ride comfort and handling improves. To high a pressure leads to decreased handling ability and more discomfort on rough surfaces.1,2 Rider weight as well as weight distribution has to be taken into account (45% in the front and 55% in the back for recreational riders based on my own studies using scales under each wheel)3. Use of Jan Heine's grafts and calculators based on those grafts seem to give a far lower pressure then the minimal tire pressure on most of today's tire.4,5 Today's type of tires where probably not available when Jan wrote her article.
1. One Method for Measuring Correct Tire Pressure:6
Any method of determining ideal pressure takes the rider weight, bike weight, weight distribution and tires into account. Ideally, one should see a drop or compression of the tire to 85% or less. A number closer to 85% will give more comfort but one does not want to be below 85% because of the risk of pinch flats. A slightly higher compression of 90 or 95% may give lower rolling resistance but only on smooth road.
Floor Pump & Tire Pressure
Anthony Marchand bicycle repair and maintenance information and tips