These pressures come from the same model as our tire pressure calculator, using its gravel defaults: a 21 lb (9.5 kg) bike, 2 lb (1 kg) of bottles, a rim with a 25 mm internal width, a standard-casing tire, hardpacked gravel and 46 % of the weight on the front wheel. The model aims for the tire to always compress by the same fraction of its height, the idea behind Frank Berto’s measurements, so pressure goes up with load and down with width. Each cell gives front / rear in psi, with bar in parentheses.
Tubeless pressure (hardpacked gravel)
| Your weight | 35 mm | 38 mm | 40 mm | 42 mm | 45 mm | 50 mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 lb (50 kg) | 25 / 30 (1.8 / 2.1) | 23 / 27 (1.6 / 1.9) | 22 / 26 (1.5 / 1.8) | 21 / 25 (1.4 / 1.7) | 20 / 23 (1.3 / 1.6) | 17 / 20 (1.2 / 1.4) |
| 120 lb (54 kg) | 27 / 32 (1.9 / 2.2) | 25 / 29 (1.7 / 2.0) | 24 / 28 (1.6 / 1.9) | 23 / 27 (1.6 / 1.8) | 21 / 25 (1.4 / 1.7) | 18 / 22 (1.3 / 1.5) |
| 130 lb (59 kg) | 29 / 34 (2.0 / 2.4) | 27 / 32 (1.9 / 2.2) | 25 / 30 (1.8 / 2.1) | 24 / 28 (1.7 / 2.0) | 22 / 26 (1.5 / 1.8) | 20 / 23 (1.4 / 1.6) |
| 140 lb (64 kg) | 31 / 37 (2.1 / 2.5) | 29 / 34 (2.0 / 2.3) | 27 / 32 (1.9 / 2.2) | 26 / 30 (1.8 / 2.1) | 24 / 28 (1.6 / 1.9) | 21 / 25 (1.5 / 1.7) |
| 150 lb (68 kg) | 33 / 39 (2.3 / 2.7) | 30 / 36 (2.1 / 2.5) | 29 / 34 (2.0 / 2.3) | 27 / 32 (1.9 / 2.2) | 25 / 30 (1.8 / 2.1) | 22 / 26 (1.5 / 1.8) |
| 160 lb (73 kg) | 35 / 41 (2.4 / 2.8) | 32 / 38 (2.2 / 2.6) | 30 / 36 (2.1 / 2.5) | 29 / 34 (2.0 / 2.3) | 27 / 32 (1.9 / 2.2) | 24 / 28 (1.6 / 1.9) |
| 170 lb (77 kg) | 37 / 43 (2.5 / 3.0) | 34 / 40 (2.3 / 2.7) | 32 / 38 (2.2 / 2.6) | 30 / 36 (2.1 / 2.5) | 28 / 33 (2.0 / 2.3) | 25 / 29 (1.7 / 2.0) |
| 180 lb (82 kg) | 39 / 46 (2.7 / 3.1) | 36 / 42 (2.5 / 2.9) | 34 / 40 (2.3 / 2.7) | 32 / 38 (2.2 / 2.6) | 30 / 35 (2.1 / 2.4) | 26 / 31 (1.8 / 2.1) |
| 190 lb (86 kg) | 41 / 48 (2.8 / 3.3) | 37 / 44 (2.6 / 3.0) | 35 / 42 (2.4 / 2.9) | 34 / 40 (2.3 / 2.7) | 31 / 37 (2.2 / 2.5) | 28 / 32 (1.9 / 2.2) |
| 200 lb (91 kg) | 43 / 50 (2.9 / 3.4) | 39 / 46 (2.7 / 3.2) | 37 / 44 (2.6 / 3.0) | 35 / 41 (2.4 / 2.9) | 33 / 38 (2.3 / 2.6) | 29 / 34 (2.0 / 2.3) |
| 210 lb (95 kg) | 44 / 52 (3.1 / 3.6) | 41 / 48 (2.8 / 3.3) | 39 / 46 (2.7 / 3.1) | 37 / 43 (2.5 / 3.0) | 34 / 40 (2.4 / 2.8) | 30 / 35 (2.1 / 2.4) |
| 220 lb (100 kg) | 46 / 54 (3.2 / 3.8) | 43 / 50 (2.9 / 3.5) | 40 / 47 (2.8 / 3.3) | 38 / 45 (2.6 / 3.1) | 36 / 42 (2.5 / 2.9) | 31 / 37 (2.2 / 2.5) |
| 230 lb (104 kg) | 48 / 57 (3.3 / 3.9) | 44 / 52 (3.1 / 3.6) | 42 / 49 (2.9 / 3.4) | 40 / 47 (2.8 / 3.2) | 37 / 44 (2.6 / 3.0) | 33 / 38 (2.3 / 2.6) |
| 240 lb (109 kg) | 50 / 59 (3.5 / 4.1) | 46 / 54 (3.2 / 3.7) | 44 / 51 (3.0 / 3.5) | 42 / 49 (2.9 / 3.4) | 39 / 45 (2.7 / 3.1) | 34 / 40 (2.3 / 2.8) |
Pressure with butyl inner tubes (hardpacked gravel)
| Your weight | 35 mm | 38 mm | 40 mm | 42 mm | 45 mm | 50 mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 lb (50 kg) | 26 / 31 (1.8 / 2.1) | 24 / 29 (1.7 / 2.0) | 23 / 27 (1.6 / 1.9) | 22 / 26 (1.5 / 1.8) | 20 / 24 (1.4 / 1.6) | 18 / 21 (1.2 / 1.4) |
| 120 lb (54 kg) | 28 / 33 (2.0 / 2.3) | 26 / 31 (1.8 / 2.1) | 25 / 29 (1.7 / 2.0) | 24 / 28 (1.6 / 1.9) | 22 / 26 (1.5 / 1.8) | 19 / 23 (1.3 / 1.6) |
| 130 lb (59 kg) | 30 / 36 (2.1 / 2.5) | 28 / 33 (1.9 / 2.3) | 26 / 31 (1.8 / 2.1) | 25 / 30 (1.7 / 2.0) | 23 / 27 (1.6 / 1.9) | 21 / 24 (1.4 / 1.7) |
| 140 lb (64 kg) | 32 / 38 (2.2 / 2.6) | 30 / 35 (2.1 / 2.4) | 28 / 33 (1.9 / 2.3) | 27 / 31 (1.8 / 2.2) | 25 / 29 (1.7 / 2.0) | 22 / 26 (1.5 / 1.8) |
| 150 lb (68 kg) | 34 / 40 (2.4 / 2.8) | 32 / 37 (2.2 / 2.6) | 30 / 35 (2.1 / 2.4) | 28 / 33 (2.0 / 2.3) | 26 / 31 (1.8 / 2.1) | 23 / 27 (1.6 / 1.9) |
| 160 lb (73 kg) | 36 / 43 (2.5 / 2.9) | 33 / 39 (2.3 / 2.7) | 32 / 37 (2.2 / 2.6) | 30 / 35 (2.1 / 2.4) | 28 / 33 (1.9 / 2.3) | 25 / 29 (1.7 / 2.0) |
| 170 lb (77 kg) | 38 / 45 (2.6 / 3.1) | 35 / 41 (2.4 / 2.9) | 33 / 39 (2.3 / 2.7) | 32 / 37 (2.2 / 2.6) | 29 / 35 (2.0 / 2.4) | 26 / 30 (1.8 / 2.1) |
| 180 lb (82 kg) | 40 / 47 (2.8 / 3.3) | 37 / 43 (2.6 / 3.0) | 35 / 41 (2.4 / 2.8) | 33 / 39 (2.3 / 2.7) | 31 / 36 (2.1 / 2.5) | 27 / 32 (1.9 / 2.2) |
| 190 lb (86 kg) | 42 / 50 (2.9 / 3.4) | 39 / 46 (2.7 / 3.1) | 37 / 43 (2.5 / 3.0) | 35 / 41 (2.4 / 2.8) | 33 / 38 (2.2 / 2.6) | 29 / 34 (2.0 / 2.3) |
| 200 lb (91 kg) | 44 / 52 (3.1 / 3.6) | 41 / 48 (2.8 / 3.3) | 39 / 45 (2.7 / 3.1) | 37 / 43 (2.5 / 3.0) | 34 / 40 (2.3 / 2.8) | 30 / 35 (2.1 / 2.4) |
| 210 lb (95 kg) | 46 / 54 (3.2 / 3.7) | 43 / 50 (2.9 / 3.4) | 40 / 47 (2.8 / 3.3) | 38 / 45 (2.6 / 3.1) | 36 / 42 (2.5 / 2.9) | 31 / 37 (2.2 / 2.5) |
| 220 lb (100 kg) | 48 / 57 (3.3 / 3.9) | 44 / 52 (3.1 / 3.6) | 42 / 49 (2.9 / 3.4) | 40 / 47 (2.8 / 3.2) | 37 / 44 (2.6 / 3.0) | 33 / 38 (2.3 / 2.6) |
| 230 lb (104 kg) | 50 / 59 (3.5 / 4.1) | 46 / 54 (3.2 / 3.7) | 44 / 51 (3.0 / 3.5) | 42 / 49 (2.9 / 3.4) | 39 / 45 (2.7 / 3.1) | 34 / 40 (2.3 / 2.8) |
| 240 lb (109 kg) | 52 / 61 (3.6 / 4.2) | 48 / 56 (3.3 / 3.9) | 45 / 53 (3.1 / 3.7) | 43 / 51 (3.0 / 3.5) | 40 / 47 (2.8 / 3.2) | 35 / 41 (2.4 / 2.9) |
Butyl tubes need about 4 % more so they don’t pinch against the rim on hard hits. With latex or TPU tubes, use the tubeless chart.
Adjusting for the surface
| Surface | Change from the chart | Example: 165 lb, 40 mm, tubeless |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh, smooth pavement | +16 % | 36 / 43 psi (2.5 / 2.9 bar) |
| Typical pavement | +12 % | 35 / 41 psi (2.4 / 2.8 bar) |
| Rough, broken pavement | +5 % | 33 / 38 psi (2.3 / 2.6 bar) |
| Hardpacked gravel | 0 % | 31 / 37 psi (2.2 / 2.5 bar) |
| Singletrack | −5 % | 30 / 35 psi (2.1 / 2.4 bar) |
| Loose gravel | −7 % | 29 / 34 psi (2.0 / 2.4 bar) |
If your route mixes surfaces, pick the pressure for the one that punishes you most or the one you’ll ride the most miles on. When in doubt, stick with the hardpacked gravel chart: it’s a good compromise for mixed rides.
How to read the chart
- Your weight without the bike. The bike and bottles are already included. For bikepacking, add your bags to your weight: 18 lb (8 kg) of gear moves a 165 lb rider to the 180-190 lb rows.
- Between two rows, take the value in the middle: every 10 lb adds 1-3 psi.
- Wider rims: the chart assumes a 25 mm internal width. On 27-30 mm rims the tire grows and can run a little less; the calculator adjusts for that if you enter your rim.
- 650b wheels: they need about 3 % more than a 700c tire of the same width.
- Hookless rims: the limit is 72 psi (5 bar) and no cell in this chart comes close, but also respect the minimum and maximum printed on the tire.
Fine-tune on your first ride 1-2 psi at a time: if the tire bounces and skips over rocks, go lower; if it bottoms out on the rim or folds in corners, go higher. We explain it in the bike tire pressure guide and the tubeless guide. To hang in your garage, there’s the printable tire pressure chart, and if you ride 32 mm tires or narrower, check the road bike tire pressure chart.
Frequently asked questions
What tire pressure should I run on 40 mm gravel tires at 165 lb?
On hardpacked gravel, 31 / 37 psi (2.2 / 2.5 bar) front / rear tubeless, and 33 / 38 psi (2.2 / 2.6 bar) with butyl tubes. If the ride has a lot of pavement, add 12 %: 35 / 41 psi (2.4 / 2.8 bar).
How much air should I let out for loose gravel?
About 7 % less than for hardpacked gravel: with 40 mm tires at 165 lb, from 31 / 37 psi (2.2 / 2.5 bar) down to 29 / 34 psi (2.0 / 2.4 bar). Go much lower and you risk hitting the rim on rocks.
Is tubeless better for gravel?
It lets you run lower pressure with less risk of pinch flats: with butyl tubes you need about 4 % more. The sealant also plugs small punctures from thorns and sharp rocks.