These pressures come from the same model as our tire pressure calculator, using its road defaults: a 19 lb (8.5 kg) bike, 2 lb (1 kg) of bottles, a hooked rim with a 21 mm internal width, a standard-casing tire, typical pavement and 46 % of the weight on the front wheel. The model starts from Frank Berto’s measurements: a tire should always compress by the same fraction of its height, so pressure goes up with load and down with width. Each cell gives front / rear in psi, with bar in parentheses.
Tubeless tire pressure
| Your weight | 25 mm | 28 mm | 30 mm | 32 mm | 35 mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 lb (50 kg) | 42 / 49 (2.9 / 3.4) | 37 / 44 (2.6 / 3.0) | 35 / 41 (2.4 / 2.8) | 33 / 38 (2.3 / 2.6) | 30 / 35 (2.0 / 2.4) |
| 120 lb (54 kg) | 45 / 53 (3.1 / 3.6) | 40 / 47 (2.8 / 3.3) | 38 / 44 (2.6 / 3.0) | 35 / 41 (2.4 / 2.8) | 32 / 38 (2.2 / 2.6) |
| 130 lb (59 kg) | 48 / 57 (3.3 / 3.9) | 43 / 51 (3.0 / 3.5) | 40 / 47 (2.8 / 3.3) | 38 / 44 (2.6 / 3.0) | 34 / 40 (2.4 / 2.8) |
| 140 lb (64 kg) | 51 / 60 (3.5 / 4.2) | 46 / 54 (3.2 / 3.7) | 43 / 50 (3.0 / 3.5) | 40 / 47 (2.8 / 3.2) | 37 / 43 (2.5 / 3.0) |
| 150 lb (68 kg) | 55 / 64 (3.8 / 4.4) | 49 / 57 (3.4 / 4.0) | 46 / 53 (3.1 / 3.7) | 43 / 50 (2.9 / 3.4) | 39 / 46 (2.7 / 3.1) |
| 160 lb (73 kg) | 58 / 68 (4.0 / 4.7) | 52 / 61 (3.6 / 4.2) | 48 / 57 (3.3 / 3.9) | 45 / 53 (3.1 / 3.7) | 41 / 48 (2.8 / 3.3) |
| 170 lb (77 kg) | 61 / 72 (4.2 / 4.9) | 55 / 64 (3.8 / 4.4) | 51 / 60 (3.5 / 4.1) | 48 / 56 (3.3 / 3.9) | 43 / 51 (3.0 / 3.5) |
| 180 lb (82 kg) | 64 / 75 (4.4 / 5.2) | 57 / 67 (4.0 / 4.6) | 54 / 63 (3.7 / 4.3) | 50 / 59 (3.5 / 4.1) | 46 / 54 (3.1 / 3.7) |
| 190 lb (86 kg) | 67 / 79 (4.6 / 5.5) | 60 / 71 (4.2 / 4.9) | 56 / 66 (3.9 / 4.5) | 53 / 62 (3.6 / 4.3) | 48 / 56 (3.3 / 3.9) |
| 200 lb (91 kg) | 71 / 83 (4.9 / 5.7) | 63 / 74 (4.4 / 5.1) | 59 / 69 (4.1 / 4.8) | 55 / 65 (3.8 / 4.5) | 50 / 59 (3.5 / 4.1) |
| 210 lb (95 kg) | 74 / 87 (5.1 / 6.0) | 66 / 77 (4.5 / 5.3) | 62 / 72 (4.2 / 5.0) | 58 / 68 (4.0 / 4.7) | 52 / 62 (3.6 / 4.2) |
| 220 lb (100 kg) | 77 / 90 (5.3 / 6.2) | 69 / 81 (4.7 / 5.6) | 64 / 75 (4.4 / 5.2) | 60 / 71 (4.1 / 4.9) | 55 / 64 (3.8 / 4.4) |
| 230 lb (104 kg) | 80 / 94 (5.5 / 6.5) | 72 / 84 (4.9 / 5.8) | 67 / 78 (4.6 / 5.4) | 63 / 73 (4.3 / 5.1) | 57 / 67 (3.9 / 4.6) |
| 240 lb (109 kg) | 83 / 98 (5.7 / 6.7) | 75 / 87 (5.1 / 6.0) | 70 / 82 (4.8 / 5.6) | 65 / 76 (4.5 / 5.3) | 59 / 70 (4.1 / 4.8) |
If you run latex or TPU tubes, use this same chart: latex needs the same pressure as tubeless, and TPU barely 1 % more.
Tire pressure with butyl inner tubes
| Your weight | 25 mm | 28 mm | 30 mm | 32 mm | 35 mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 lb (50 kg) | 43 / 51 (3.0 / 3.5) | 39 / 46 (2.7 / 3.1) | 36 / 43 (2.5 / 2.9) | 34 / 40 (2.3 / 2.7) | 31 / 36 (2.1 / 2.5) |
| 120 lb (54 kg) | 47 / 55 (3.2 / 3.8) | 42 / 49 (2.9 / 3.4) | 39 / 46 (2.7 / 3.2) | 37 / 43 (2.5 / 3.0) | 33 / 39 (2.3 / 2.7) |
| 130 lb (59 kg) | 50 / 59 (3.5 / 4.1) | 45 / 53 (3.1 / 3.6) | 42 / 49 (2.9 / 3.4) | 39 / 46 (2.7 / 3.2) | 36 / 42 (2.5 / 2.9) |
| 140 lb (64 kg) | 53 / 63 (3.7 / 4.3) | 48 / 56 (3.3 / 3.9) | 45 / 52 (3.1 / 3.6) | 42 / 49 (2.9 / 3.4) | 38 / 45 (2.6 / 3.1) |
| 150 lb (68 kg) | 57 / 67 (3.9 / 4.6) | 51 / 60 (3.5 / 4.1) | 47 / 56 (3.3 / 3.8) | 44 / 52 (3.1 / 3.6) | 40 / 47 (2.8 / 3.3) |
| 160 lb (73 kg) | 60 / 71 (4.1 / 4.9) | 54 / 63 (3.7 / 4.4) | 50 / 59 (3.5 / 4.1) | 47 / 55 (3.2 / 3.8) | 43 / 50 (2.9 / 3.5) |
| 170 lb (77 kg) | 63 / 74 (4.4 / 5.1) | 57 / 67 (3.9 / 4.6) | 53 / 62 (3.6 / 4.3) | 49 / 58 (3.4 / 4.0) | 45 / 53 (3.1 / 3.6) |
| 180 lb (82 kg) | 67 / 78 (4.6 / 5.4) | 60 / 70 (4.1 / 4.8) | 56 / 65 (3.8 / 4.5) | 52 / 61 (3.6 / 4.2) | 47 / 56 (3.3 / 3.8) |
| 190 lb (86 kg) | 70 / 82 (4.8 / 5.7) | 63 / 74 (4.3 / 5.1) | 58 / 69 (4.0 / 4.7) | 55 / 64 (3.8 / 4.4) | 50 / 58 (3.4 / 4.0) |
| 200 lb (91 kg) | 73 / 86 (5.1 / 5.9) | 66 / 77 (4.5 / 5.3) | 61 / 72 (4.2 / 5.0) | 57 / 67 (3.9 / 4.6) | 52 / 61 (3.6 / 4.2) |
| 210 lb (95 kg) | 77 / 90 (5.3 / 6.2) | 69 / 81 (4.7 / 5.6) | 64 / 75 (4.4 / 5.2) | 60 / 70 (4.1 / 4.8) | 54 / 64 (3.8 / 4.4) |
| 220 lb (100 kg) | 80 / 94 (5.5 / 6.5) | 72 / 84 (4.9 / 5.8) | 67 / 78 (4.6 / 5.4) | 62 / 73 (4.3 / 5.1) | 57 / 67 (3.9 / 4.6) |
| 230 lb (104 kg) | 83 / 98 (5.7 / 6.7) | 75 / 88 (5.1 / 6.0) | 70 / 82 (4.8 / 5.6) | 65 / 76 (4.5 / 5.3) | 59 / 70 (4.1 / 4.8) |
| 240 lb (109 kg) | 87 / 102 (6.0 / 7.0) | 78 / 91 (5.3 / 6.3) | 72 / 85 (5.0 / 5.9) | 68 / 79 (4.7 / 5.5) | 62 / 72 (4.2 / 5.0) |
Butyl tubes need about 4 % more pressure to avoid pinch flats when you hit a pothole.
If you’re not riding on typical pavement
| Surface | Change from the chart | Example: 165 lb, 28 mm, tubeless |
|---|---|---|
| Velodrome | +10 % | 59 / 69 psi (4.0 / 4.7 bar) |
| Fresh, smooth pavement | +4 % | 55 / 65 psi (3.8 / 4.5 bar) |
| Typical pavement | 0 % | 53 / 62 psi (3.7 / 4.3 bar) |
| Rough, broken pavement | −6 % | 50 / 58 psi (3.4 / 4.0 bar) |
| Hardpacked dirt road | −10 % | 48 / 56 psi (3.3 / 3.9 bar) |
| Cobblestones | −12 % | 46 / 55 psi (3.2 / 3.8 bar) |
How to read the chart
- Use your own weight, without the bike. The bike and bottles are already included. If you’re carrying a load (bikepacking bags, a handlebar bag), add it to your weight.
- Between two rows, take the value in the middle: every 10 lb adds 2-4 psi depending on the width.
- Hookless rims: never more than 72 psi (5 bar), per the ETRTO standard. Cells above 72 psi are off-limits on those rims: go up a tire width.
- Actual width. The chart assumes a 21 mm internal rim width. On wider rims the tire grows and needs a little less; the calculator accounts for that if you enter your rim or a width measured with calipers.
- 650b wheels. With a smaller diameter the contact patch gets shorter, so they need about 3 % more than a 700c tire of the same width.
- Sidewall maximum. If your tire’s printed maximum is below the chart value, the tire wins.
Use it as a starting point and adjust 1-2 psi at a time: if you feel bouncing and buzz, go lower; if the tire feels squirmy in corners, go higher. Why more pressure isn’t faster is covered in our bike tire pressure guide, how low you can go without a tube in the tubeless guide, and there’s a condensed version to hang in your garage in the printable tire pressure chart. If you ride gravel, use the gravel tire pressure chart.
Frequently asked questions
What tire pressure should I run on 28 mm road tires at 165 lb?
Tubeless, 53 / 62 psi (3.7 / 4.3 bar) front / rear. With butyl tubes, 55 / 65 psi (3.8 / 4.5 bar). That is for typical pavement; on rough, broken roads take off about 6 %.
Why does the rear tire need more pressure than the front?
Because it carries more weight: on a road bike about 54 % of the load sits on the rear wheel and 46 % on the front. For both tires to compress the same amount, the rear needs about 17 % more pressure.
Can I use these pressures on hookless rims?
Only if they stay at or below 72 psi (5 bar), the ETRTO maximum for hookless rims. If the chart gives you more, go to a wider tire: at 200 lb, a 30 mm tire already drops you to 59 / 69 psi (4.1 / 4.8 bar).