Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Preferred tire pressure?

I was just wondering what size and pressure we all run our tires at?

I use 700c X 25 mm Specialized All Condition Pros at 110 PSI in both front and rear.
I wonder if I might find 100 PSI more comfortable without causing increased rolling resistance?

I wonder if I might find 100 PSI more comfortable without causing increased rolling resistance?

Try it. You've got to ride the bike, so I'd say you're the best judge on any changes, good or bad.

I am trying it. I just wondered what other people do.

I run Continental GP 4 Seasons. 110 PSI rear, 100 front. Seems to make a comfort difference.
Can't wait for my new frame. Going to run 28's - probably at 95.

On my road bikes, I have always inflated the tires to max pressure. So depending on the tire, the pressure could be 110 through 140PSI. I have never thought about using a lower pressure.

Conti Ultra 2000- 28 @ 110, Conti TT- 37 @ 85, and Conti TT- 47 @ 60. I was surprised to find that based on my coast-down tests, the 47 has the least rolling resistance of the lot. I'm thinking that with decent quality tires, matching the tire and pressure to the bike's gross weight, riding style, and even the type of bike is the key. It seems to be more art than science.

I run the max recommended pressure (usually 110-120 psi) depending on the brand of tire.
It seems to me that there is absolutely no comfort advantage in setting the pressure to 100 psi if it recommends 110 psi
The only comfort advantage would be if the pressure were about half the recommended max (e.g., 60 psi).
Doing that would wear out the tire prematurely and slow you down.

Hi,
you want enough pressure so that the tire doesn't snake bite, and keeps it's shape when you are just rolling along. If you want a detailed explanation, Sheldon Brown (one of cycling's gurus) has one on his website. It depends a lot on how much you weigh. When you find his article, it will also explain the disadvantages of adding more pressure than you need to.

I ride Conti 1000s, 700x25, and I run them anywhere between 90 and 100 psi.

There's really no point to going any higher than that, especially if you're a relatively light rider. A higher tire pressure won't reduce rolling resistance ... or if it does, it won't reduce it significantly enough that you'd notice. But a lower tire pressure (within reason, of course) will give you a softer, more comfortable ride, and can help reduce the chances of getting flats.


Incidentally, if you are riding in sandy or icy conditions, significantly reducing your tire pressure can provide you with increased traction. I've ridden through several winters in Manitoba on my mtn bike. In the summer I kept those tires (26x2) around 50 psi ... in the winter I dropped them to about 30 psi.

I was just wondering what size and pressure we all run our tires at?

I use 700c X 25 mm Specialized All Condition Pros at 110 PSI in both front and rear.
I wonder if I might find 100 PSI more comfortable without causing increased rolling resistance?


Conti Ultra GatorSkins, 700 x 28C, at 80psi. Raised the eyebrows of someone the other day when I mentioned it. My butt has warned me several times when I have tried to trade comfort for speed on 1000 and 1200 rides. The warning was that my speed was going to drop way off later in the event because of butt discomfort, and that the trade-off of comfort throughout the event just wasn't worth it.

Several years ago, I was experiencing a large number of rear tire flats. I have a Fuji touring bike, that takes 85 psi, and I was running around 50-60 (too lazy to pump them up). I got a number of pinch flats (two little cuts, like a snake bite), so I started inflating to 95 psi. Haven't had one since. Over inflating produces a hard ride, but it does cut down on flats.

I was just wondering what size and pressure we all run our tires at?

I use 700c X 25 mm Specialized All Condition Pros at 110 PSI in both front and rear.
I wonder if I might find 100 PSI more comfortable without causing increased rolling resistance?

In the summer, I normally run 700x32 Pasela T-Servs at 90 PSI. Like Rowan mentioned, it's comfort over speed for me. Last summer, I ran with a pair of 700x28s Bontrager Race Lites, took them out on a three day tour, and by the time I got home, my hands and butt were pretty sore and beaten up. Took 'em off and haven't put them on the bike since.

In the winter I switch to a 700x37 Conti TT up front and a 700x37 Conti Travel Contact on my rear wheel to deal with snow, salt and sand debris. Both are inflated to 70 PSI.

On my road bike I have 700x28 Gatorskins inflated to 120 psi. At 210 lbs the tires, specially the rear on climbs, will feel squishy otherwise. If I was lighter, I'd definitely go down to 100 psi or so.

It seems that tire pressure is a very personal other than everyone wants to keep the pressure above where flats happen. I notice I am running narrower tires than everyone. My Sequoia can handle wider tires so when it's time to replace rubber I will try a 28mm.

Yeah, try them at 100 instead of 110 and let us know. Tight as snare drums is how i run them, 115 or 120.

sounds good to me

Like some other posters, I'm riding 100 front and 110 rear. Seems like a good compromise.

I dropped the pressure down to 100psi in both tires and have ridden a couple of hundred miles since on my familiar routes. I feel slightly more comfortable, but I could just be feeling what I expect to feel, the placebo effect. I haven't noticed any increase in rolling resistance and my average speed is the same as measured by my cyclocomputer.

BUT I do save two strokes of the floor pump when airing up!!! :p

Vittoria Rubino Pro slicks. 195 lbs. I was running them at 110, but they felt mushy and slow. I upped the pressure to 120 and am VERY happy with the ride.

With five bikes, I bought an air compressor at Lowes for around $60. Man, this thing really saves work! You have to be careful you don't overinflate, but I have had no problems.

Conti TT 2000 and Contacts, all 700x32 at 80lbs. Serfas Drifters, 26x1.9 at 65lbs

Why not try 90psi? If you actually want a more comfortable ride, use larger tires if your bicycle will allow it.

Panaracer Pasela Tourguard 700 x 32 at 85 psi

pasela T-serv for messenger 700x35c @90 PSI, Conti travel contact 700x37c @90 PSI as well.

Taut and Fat.

It seemed to go against what I have always believed but I rode a very tough and long ride recently with a very rough road. I put on ruffy tuffy 28C tires and started at 90 but reduced pressure on the way. With the tire being so large (by my standard) there is some room to play with on pressure. A real different ride is found with the use of variable pressures depending on the road conditions. It didn't seem to significantly slow me up.
John

I'm around 160 pounds, and in the past ALWAYS pumped up my tires to 120 psi....even when I was 135 pounds. Obviously it was a rough ride....

I now run 105 psi in the front and 110 psi in the back, and it made a noticable difference in comfort, along with no loss in speed. Currently running Bontrager Race X Lite tires 700x23c, but if I can ever get my Conti GP4000's on, I'll be running those......my rear Bonty has a nice flat spot all around the middle of the tire.

I run Schwalbe Marathon 700x32's at 80-90psi on one bike and Continental Grand Prix 3000 700x23's at 100psi on another.

Trek 830 - 1.5" Armadillos rated for 80lbs - inflated to 90lbs. 4 flats on rear in about 3500 miles. Tough treatment in the city.
Trek 520 - 28mm Bontrager Race Lites rated for 120lbs - inflated to 120-125 still seem nice and soft with no flats since bying the used bike 6 months ago - lots of miles on it since then.
Specialized Sequoia Elite - All Conditions - rated for 120lbs - inflated to 120 - 125. Still seem very soft - nice riding machine. Two flats on rear since purchase one month ago.

I weigh 225 and ride btween 120 and 180 miles/week. I find less rolling resistance and crisper handling with the tires topped up or slightly over. There is little or no ice here in the winter, just scads of rain.

Conti Ultra GatorSkins, 700 x 28C, at 80psi. ...

I run the same tire, but at 100 psi. I've only done a 300k on them, so don't know if the kiester would object to more miles. I find them to be comfortable at that pressure.

Interesting tech article on rolling resistance. (http://www.fitwerx.com/NewFiles/Tech%20Center/BicycleRollingResistance.html)

Whenever I pump above around 94 psi I get blow outs. I have recent vintage hooked rims, and it's happened with several different tires rated as high 120, so I have to think the gague on my pump is bad. 20+ years of riding without a single blowout until I got this pump.

Whenever I pump above around 94 psi I get blow outs. I have recent vintage hooked rims, and it's happened with several different tires rated as high 120, so I have to think the gague on my pump is bad. 20+ years of riding without a single blowout until I got this pump.

It could be that your pump and tires are just fine, but that your rims are not intended for high pressure tires.

Interesting tech article on rolling resistance. (http://www.fitwerx.com/NewFiles/Tech%20Center/BicycleRollingResistance.html)

Thanks. Interesting indeed. I wonder how the technical parameters relate to how rolling resistance is actually felt/percieved? I definitely tire less (no pun) over distance and climb better with topped up tires. I think perhaps because I'm 225lbs, the tires are bulged, and I still get a nice soft ride???

Thanks. Interesting indeed. I wonder how the technical parameters relate to how rolling resistance is actually felt/percieved? I definitely tire less (no pun) over distance and climb better with topped up tires. I think perhaps because I'm 225lbs, the tires are bulged, and I still get a nice soft ride???


Use high quality tires with high thread counts and strong sidewalls and do not over-inflate tires – many tires should be run under their maximum recommended psi.

I find that over long distances comfort will affect performance before rolling resistance and any of the other small parts. I've been riding slightly lower pressures and I've noticed I feel a bit fresher at the end of long rides - and I'm waiting for my new frame so I can put 28's on it. The quote above is interesting - I wonder how one determines what is "optimal" pressure for my weight, the road, and the weather conditions... currently I'm living by trial and error.


If you average 15 mph, you can cut 4 to 5 minutes off. All the small pieces add up to the whole…

I agree that all the small pieces add up to the whole, and if I was a triathlete or racer I'd worry about that 4-5 minutes. On Brevets I can cut 15 or more minutes (depending on length) just by being efficient in the controls!!!