These pressures come from the same model as our tire pressure calculator, using its mountain bike defaults: 29” wheels, a 31 lb (14 kg) bike, 2 lb (1 kg) of bottle and tools, a rim with a 30 mm internal width, a reinforced-casing tire, singletrack and 45 % 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, and for mountain biking it adds an 18 % margin for hits from roots and rocks. Each cell gives front / rear in psi, with bar in parentheses.
Tubeless pressure (singletrack)
| Your weight | 2.2” (56 mm) | 2.3” (58 mm) | 2.4” (61 mm) | 2.5” (64 mm) | 2.6” (66 mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 lb (50 kg) | 16 / 20 (1.1 / 1.3) | 15 / 19 (1.0 / 1.3) | 14 / 17 (1.0 / 1.2) | 13 / 16 (0.9 / 1.1) | 13 / 16 (0.9 / 1.1) |
| 120 lb (54 kg) | 17 / 21 (1.2 / 1.4) | 16 / 20 (1.1 / 1.4) | 15 / 19 (1.0 / 1.3) | 14 / 17 (1.0 / 1.2) | 14 / 17 (0.9 / 1.1) |
| 130 lb (59 kg) | 18 / 22 (1.3 / 1.5) | 17 / 21 (1.2 / 1.5) | 16 / 20 (1.1 / 1.4) | 15 / 18 (1.0 / 1.3) | 14 / 18 (1.0 / 1.2) |
| 140 lb (64 kg) | 19 / 24 (1.3 / 1.6) | 18 / 22 (1.3 / 1.6) | 17 / 21 (1.2 / 1.4) | 16 / 20 (1.1 / 1.4) | 15 / 19 (1.1 / 1.3) |
| 150 lb (68 kg) | 20 / 25 (1.4 / 1.7) | 19 / 24 (1.3 / 1.6) | 18 / 22 (1.3 / 1.5) | 17 / 21 (1.2 / 1.4) | 16 / 20 (1.1 / 1.4) |
| 160 lb (73 kg) | 22 / 26 (1.5 / 1.8) | 21 / 25 (1.4 / 1.7) | 19 / 23 (1.3 / 1.6) | 18 / 22 (1.2 / 1.5) | 17 / 21 (1.2 / 1.4) |
| 170 lb (77 kg) | 23 / 28 (1.6 / 1.9) | 22 / 26 (1.5 / 1.8) | 20 / 25 (1.4 / 1.7) | 19 / 23 (1.3 / 1.6) | 18 / 22 (1.2 / 1.5) |
| 180 lb (82 kg) | 24 / 29 (1.6 / 2.0) | 23 / 28 (1.6 / 1.9) | 21 / 26 (1.5 / 1.8) | 20 / 24 (1.4 / 1.7) | 19 / 23 (1.3 / 1.6) |
| 190 lb (86 kg) | 25 / 30 (1.7 / 2.1) | 24 / 29 (1.6 / 2.0) | 22 / 27 (1.5 / 1.9) | 21 / 25 (1.4 / 1.7) | 20 / 24 (1.4 / 1.7) |
| 200 lb (91 kg) | 26 / 32 (1.8 / 2.2) | 25 / 30 (1.7 / 2.1) | 23 / 28 (1.6 / 1.9) | 22 / 26 (1.5 / 1.8) | 21 / 25 (1.4 / 1.7) |
| 210 lb (95 kg) | 27 / 33 (1.9 / 2.3) | 26 / 32 (1.8 / 2.2) | 24 / 29 (1.7 / 2.0) | 23 / 28 (1.6 / 1.9) | 22 / 26 (1.5 / 1.8) |
| 220 lb (100 kg) | 28 / 35 (1.9 / 2.4) | 27 / 33 (1.9 / 2.3) | 25 / 31 (1.7 / 2.1) | 23 / 29 (1.6 / 2.0) | 22 / 27 (1.5 / 1.9) |
| 230 lb (104 kg) | 29 / 36 (2.0 / 2.5) | 28 / 34 (1.9 / 2.4) | 26 / 32 (1.8 / 2.2) | 24 / 30 (1.7 / 2.1) | 23 / 29 (1.6 / 2.0) |
| 240 lb (109 kg) | 30 / 37 (2.1 / 2.6) | 29 / 35 (2.0 / 2.4) | 27 / 33 (1.9 / 2.3) | 25 / 31 (1.7 / 2.1) | 24 / 30 (1.7 / 2.0) |
Pressure with butyl inner tubes (singletrack)
| Your weight | 2.2” (56 mm) | 2.3” (58 mm) | 2.4” (61 mm) | 2.5” (64 mm) | 2.6” (66 mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 lb (50 kg) | 17 / 20 (1.1 / 1.4) | 16 / 19 (1.1 / 1.3) | 15 / 18 (1.0 / 1.2) | 14 / 17 (1.0 / 1.2) | 13 / 16 (0.9 / 1.1) |
| 120 lb (54 kg) | 18 / 22 (1.2 / 1.5) | 17 / 21 (1.2 / 1.4) | 16 / 19 (1.1 / 1.3) | 15 / 18 (1.0 / 1.2) | 14 / 17 (1.0 / 1.2) |
| 130 lb (59 kg) | 19 / 23 (1.3 / 1.6) | 18 / 22 (1.2 / 1.5) | 17 / 21 (1.2 / 1.4) | 16 / 19 (1.1 / 1.3) | 15 / 18 (1.0 / 1.3) |
| 140 lb (64 kg) | 20 / 25 (1.4 / 1.7) | 19 / 23 (1.3 / 1.6) | 18 / 22 (1.2 / 1.5) | 17 / 20 (1.1 / 1.4) | 16 / 20 (1.1 / 1.3) |
| 150 lb (68 kg) | 21 / 26 (1.5 / 1.8) | 20 / 25 (1.4 / 1.7) | 19 / 23 (1.3 / 1.6) | 18 / 22 (1.2 / 1.5) | 17 / 21 (1.2 / 1.4) |
| 160 lb (73 kg) | 22 / 27 (1.5 / 1.9) | 21 / 26 (1.5 / 1.8) | 20 / 24 (1.4 / 1.7) | 19 / 23 (1.3 / 1.6) | 18 / 22 (1.2 / 1.5) |
| 170 lb (77 kg) | 24 / 29 (1.6 / 2.0) | 22 / 27 (1.5 / 1.9) | 21 / 26 (1.4 / 1.8) | 20 / 24 (1.3 / 1.6) | 19 / 23 (1.3 / 1.6) |
| 180 lb (82 kg) | 25 / 30 (1.7 / 2.1) | 24 / 29 (1.6 / 2.0) | 22 / 27 (1.5 / 1.8) | 21 / 25 (1.4 / 1.7) | 20 / 24 (1.4 / 1.7) |
| 190 lb (86 kg) | 26 / 32 (1.8 / 2.2) | 25 / 30 (1.7 / 2.1) | 23 / 28 (1.6 / 1.9) | 21 / 26 (1.5 / 1.8) | 21 / 25 (1.4 / 1.7) |
| 200 lb (91 kg) | 27 / 33 (1.9 / 2.3) | 26 / 31 (1.8 / 2.2) | 24 / 29 (1.7 / 2.0) | 22 / 27 (1.5 / 1.9) | 22 / 26 (1.5 / 1.8) |
| 210 lb (95 kg) | 28 / 34 (1.9 / 2.4) | 27 / 33 (1.9 / 2.3) | 25 / 31 (1.7 / 2.1) | 23 / 29 (1.6 / 2.0) | 22 / 27 (1.5 / 1.9) |
| 220 lb (100 kg) | 29 / 36 (2.0 / 2.5) | 28 / 34 (1.9 / 2.4) | 26 / 32 (1.8 / 2.2) | 24 / 30 (1.7 / 2.1) | 23 / 29 (1.6 / 2.0) |
| 230 lb (104 kg) | 31 / 37 (2.1 / 2.6) | 29 / 36 (2.0 / 2.5) | 27 / 33 (1.9 / 2.3) | 25 / 31 (1.7 / 2.1) | 24 / 30 (1.7 / 2.0) |
| 240 lb (109 kg) | 32 / 39 (2.2 / 2.7) | 30 / 37 (2.1 / 2.5) | 28 / 34 (1.9 / 2.4) | 26 / 32 (1.8 / 2.2) | 25 / 31 (1.7 / 2.1) |
Butyl tubes need about 4 % more so they don’t pinch against the rim. At pressures this low that’s only about 1 psi, which is why many cells match the tubeless chart once rounded.
Adjusting for the terrain
| Surface | Change from the chart | Example: 165 lb, 2.4”, tubeless |
|---|---|---|
| Pavement | +17 % | 23 / 28 psi (1.6 / 1.9 bar) |
| Hardpacked fire road | +5 % | 21 / 25 psi (1.4 / 1.7 bar) |
| Singletrack | 0 % | 20 / 24 psi (1.4 / 1.7 bar) |
| Loose gravel | −2 % | 19 / 23 psi (1.3 / 1.6 bar) |
| Rough, rocky trail | −5 % | 19 / 23 psi (1.3 / 1.6 bar) |
On fire roads and singletrack the example matches after rounding, but there’s still a difference of about 1 psi per tire.
How to read the chart
- Your weight without the bike. Add your hydration pack, water and tools to your weight: a 7 lb (3 kg) pack moves a 172 lb rider to the 180 lb row.
- 27.5” wheels: they need about 3 % more than a 29” tire of the same width, because the contact patch is shorter.
- Lightweight casing. The chart assumes a reinforced casing (enduro or double-ply type). With a light cross-country casing, the model asks for about 4 % more.
- Rim width. On rims with a 30 mm internal width the actual width matches the nominal size; on narrower rims the tire ends up skinnier and needs a little more.
Fine-tune on the trail 1 psi at a time: if the tire bounces and slides on roots, go lower; if you feel the tire folding in corners or you hit the rim, go higher. We explain it in the bike tire pressure guide, and what you gain by ditching the tube in the tubeless guide. There’s a version to hang next to your pump in the printable tire pressure chart, and if you run 50 mm tires or narrower, see the gravel tire pressure chart.
Frequently asked questions
What tire pressure should I run on a 29 x 2.4 at 165 lb?
On singletrack, 20 / 24 psi (1.4 / 1.7 bar) front / rear tubeless, and 20 / 25 psi (1.4 / 1.7 bar) with tubes. For a long ride on fire roads, add about 5 %.
How many psi is 1.5 bar?
About 22 psi: 1 bar is 14.5 psi. The pressures in this chart run from 13 to 39 psi, or 0.9 to 2.7 bar.
What if I ride an e-MTB?
The chart assumes a 31 lb (14 kg) bike. With a 53 lb (24 kg) e-bike, add 22 lb to your weight and read that row: if you weigh 165 lb, use the 190 lb row.