Optimal bicycle tire pressure balances riding speed, comfort and safety. While the optimal tire pressure value is directly related to many factors, like the riding condition, the system weight (rider weight + bicycle weight + cargo weight), the rim size especially the inner width of the rim, the tire size, the rim bead type (hook or hookless) and the rim strength, weather and temperature.
Hereby we have listed some recommended tire pressure values of our carbon rims for reference. You could also use the tire pressure calculator to get more accurate tire pressure recommendations sram.com/guides/tire/pressure. Or contact us for assistance.
Fat Bike / Tire Pressure
| Internal Width | Tire Pressure | Tire Size | System Weight | Reference Model |
| 49mm | 16 ~ 24 psi | 2.6" ~ 3.8" | 85 ~ 134 Kg | Xiphias 55 |
| 58 ~ 59mm | 8 ~ 20 psi | 3.2" ~ 4.5" | 85 ~ 134 Kg | Xiphias 65 |
| 64mm | 7 ~ 19 psi | 3.2" ~ 4.6" | 85 ~ 140 Kg | Xiphias 70 |
| 74mm | 6 ~ 19 psi | 3.5" ~ 4.8" | 85 ~ 146 Kg | Xiphias 80 |
| 78 ~ 79mm | 6 ~ 19 psi | 3.8" ~ 5.0" | 85 ~ 157 Kg | Xiphias 85 |
| 83mm | 5 ~ 15 psi | 4.0" ~ 5.2" | 85 ~ 200 Kg | Wild Dragon 90 |
| 89mm | 5 ~ 15 psi | 4.2" ~ 5.5" | 85 ~ 177 Kg | Xiphias 95 |
| 99mm | 4 ~ 12 psi | 4.6” ~ 5.5" | 85 ~ 185 Kg | Xiphias 105 |
| 120mm | 3 ~ 10 psi | 5.2" ~ 6.0" | 85 ~ 200 Kg | Drunken Rhinoceros 128 |
Mountain Bike / Tire Pressure
| Riding | Internal Width (Hookless) | Tire Pressure | Tire Size | System Weight | Reference Model |
| Cross Country | 21mm | 23 ~ 34 psi | 1.8" ~ 2.15" | 85 ~ 126 Kg | NXT29RM27 |
| Cross Country | 22mm | 22 ~ 31 psi | 1.8" ~ 2.2" | 85 ~ 120 Kg | NXT29UM27 |
Cross Country
| 24mm | 22 ~ 29 psi | 1.9" ~ 2.3" | 85 ~ 103 Kg | NXT29UML30 |
Cross Country
| 25mm | 21 ~ 32 psi | 1.9" ~ 2.35" | 85 ~ 137 Kg | NXT29UM30 |
| Cross Country | 27mm | 20 ~ 30 psi | 2.0 ~ 2.45" | 85 ~ 120 Kg | NXT29XM33 |
| Cross Country | 28mm | 19 ~ 27 psi | 2.1" ~ 2.5" | 85 ~ 112 Kg | NXT29UML34 |
| Cross Country | 30mm | 18 ~ 30 psi | 2.1" ~ 2.6" | 85 ~ 143 Kg | NXT29VM36U |
| All Mountain | 27mm | 23 ~ 35 psi | 2.0" ~ 2.45" | 85 ~ 119 Kg | NXT29XM33 |
| All Mountain | 29mm | 22 ~ 34 psi | 2.1" ~ 2.6" | 85 ~ 132 Kg | NXT29XML35 |
| All Mountain | 30mm | 20 ~ 33 psi | 2.1" ~ 2.7" | 85 ~ 143 Kg | NXT29VM36 |
| All Mountain | 32mm | 19 ~ 30 psi | 2.15" ~ 2.9" | 85 ~ 132 Kg | NXT29XML38 |
| All Mountain | 35mm | 18 ~ 29 psi | 2.25" ~ 3.1" | 85 ~ 145 Kg | NXT29XM41 |
| All Mountain | 40mm | 17 ~ 25 psi | 2.4" ~ 3.3" | 85 ~ 136 Kg | NXT29XM46 |
| Enduro | 30mm | 20 ~ 32 psi | 2.1" ~ 2.7" | 85 ~ 134 Kg | NXT29XM36 |
| Enduro | 32mm | 19 ~ 32 psi | 2.15" ~ 2.9" | 85 ~ 152 Kg | NXT29VM40 |
| Enduro | 35mm | 18 ~ 29 psi | 2.25" ~ 3.1" | 85 ~ 134 Kg | NXT29XM41 |
| Enduro | 40mm | 17 ~ 27 psi | 2.4" ~ 3.3" | 85 ~ 136 Kg | NXT29XM46 |
| Enduro | 45mm | 15 ~ 25 psi | 2.6" ~ 3.5" | 85 ~ 160 Kg | NXT29JF52-II |
| Down Hill | 30mm | 21 ~ 34 psi | 2.1" ~ 2.7" | 85 ~ 136 Kg | NXT29XD39 |
| Down Hill | 32mm | 20 ~ 32 psi | 2.25" ~ 2.9" | 85 ~ 156 Kg | NXT29VM40D |
Road Bike / Tire Pressure
| Riding | Internal Width | Tire Pressure | Tire Size | System Weight | Reference Model |
| General Road | Hook 19mm | 47 ~ 112 psi | 23 ~ 42 mm | 80 ~ 134 Kg | NXT35RX |
| General Road | Hook 19mm | 47 ~ 122 psi | 23 ~ 42 mm | 80 ~ 154 Kg | NXT60RX |
| General Road | Hook 20mm | 38 ~ 106 psi | 24 ~ 44 mm | 80 ~ 180 Kg | NXT20DRX |
General Road
| Hook 21mm | 36 ~ 100 psi | 25 ~ 47 mm | 80 ~ 134 Kg | NXT30CRX |
| General Road | Hook 21mm | 36 ~ 114 psi | 25 ~ 47 mm | 80 ~ 169 Kg | NXT65CRX |
| General Road | Hook 22mm | 33 ~ 98 psi | 26 ~ 49 mm | 80 ~ 200 Kg | NXT22DRX |
| General Road | Hook 24mm | 30 ~ 82 psi | 28 ~ 53 mm | 80 ~ 138 Kg | NXT29ARX |
| General Road | Hook 24mm | 30 ~ 96 psi | 28 ~ 53 mm | 80 ~ 173 Kg | NXT65ARX |
| General Road | Hook 25mm | 28 ~ 81 psi | 29 ~ 55 mm | 80 ~ 139 Kg | NXT30CGX |
| General Road | Hook 25mm | 28 ~ 91 psi | 29 ~ 55 mm | 80 ~ 169 Kg | NXT60CGX |
| General Road | Hookless 25mm | 29 ~ 60 psi | 33 ~ 50 mm | 80 ~ 138 Kg | NXT29ARX-Z |
| General Road | Hookless 25mm | 29 ~ 62 psi | 33 ~ 50 mm | 80 ~ 163 Kg | NXT54ARX-Z |
Cyclocross Bike / Tire Pressure
| Riding | Internal Width | Tire Pressure | Tire Size | System Weight | Reference Model |
| Cyclocross | Hook 19mm | 27 ~ 50 psi | 28 ~ 40 mm | 80 ~ 134 Kg | NXT35RX |
| Cyclocross | Hook 19mm | 27 ~ 54 psi | 28 ~ 40 mm | 80 ~ 154 Kg | NXT60RX |
| Cyclocross | Hook 20mm | 26 ~ 53 psi | 28 ~ 40 mm | 80 ~ 180 Kg | NXT20DRX |
Cyclocross
| Hook 21mm | 27 ~ 52 psi | 28 ~ 40 mm | 80 ~ 134 Kg | NXT30CRX |
| Cyclocross | Hook 21mm | 27 ~ 59 psi | 28 ~ 40 mm | 80 ~ 169 Kg | NXT65CRX |
| Cyclocross | Hook 22mm | 25 ~ 51 psi | 28 ~ 40 mm | 80 ~ 200 Kg | NXT22DRX |
| Cyclocross | Hook 24mm | 25 ~ 50 psi | 28 ~ 40 mm | 80 ~ 138 Kg | NXT29ARX |
| Cyclocross | Hook 24mm | 25 ~ 57 psi | 28 ~ 40 mm | 80 ~ 173 Kg | NXT65ARX |
| Cyclocross | Hook 25mm | 24 ~ 48 psi | 29 ~ 40 mm | 80 ~ 139 Kg | NXT30CGX |
| Cyclocross | Hook 25mm | 24 ~ 55 psi | 29 ~ 40 mm | 80 ~ 169 Kg | NXT60CGX |
| Cyclocross | Hook 29mm | 24 ~ 38 psi | 33 ~ 40 mm | 80 ~ 154 Kg | NXT45AGX |
| Cyclocross | Hookless 25mm | 24 ~ 38 psi | 33 ~ 40 mm | 80 ~ 138 Kg | NXT29ARX-Z |
| Cyclocross | Hookless 25mm | 24 ~ 40 psi | 33 ~ 40 mm | 80 ~ 163 Kg | NXT54ARX-Z |
| Cyclocross | Hookless 30mm | 22 ~ 30 psi | 38 ~ 40 mm | 80 ~ 156 Kg | NXT45AGX-Z |
Gravel Bike / Tire Pressure
| Riding | Internal Width | Tire Pressure | Tire Size | System Weight | Reference Model |
| Gravel | Hook 20mm | 29 ~ 82 psi | 28 ~ 50 mm | 80 ~ 180 Kg | NXT20DRX |
Gravel
| Hook 21mm | 29 ~ 78 psi | 28 ~ 52 mm | 80 ~ 134 Kg | NXT30CRX |
| Gravel | Hook 21mm | 29 ~ 89 psi | 28 ~ 52 mm | 80 ~ 169 Kg | NXT65CRX |
| Gravel | Hook 22mm | 27 ~ 79 psi | 28 ~ 55 mm | 80 ~ 200 Kg | NXT22DRX |
| Gravel | Hook 24mm | 27 ~ 74 psi | 28 ~ 60 mm | 80 ~ 138 Kg | NXT29ARX |
| Gravel | Hook 24mm | 27 ~ 85 psi | 28 ~ 60 mm | 80 ~ 173 Kg | NXT65ARX |
| Gravel | Hook 25mm | 26 ~ 70 psi | 29 ~ 62 mm | 80 ~ 139 Kg | NXT30CGX |
| Gravel | Hook 25mm | 26 ~ 82 psi | 29 ~ 62 mm | 80 ~ 169 Kg | NXT60CGX |
| Gravel | Hook 29mm | 20 ~ 60 psi | 33 ~ 72 mm | 80 ~ 154 Kg | NXT45AGX |
| Gravel | Hookless 25mm | 22 ~ 57 psi | 33 ~ 62 mm | 80 ~ 138 Kg | NXT29ARX-Z |
| Gravel | Hookless 25mm | 22 ~ 59 psi | 33 ~ 62 mm | 80 ~ 163 Kg | NXT54ARX-Z |
| Gravel | Hookless 30mm | 19 ~ 48 psi | 38 ~ 75 mm | 80 ~ 156 Kg | NXT45AGX-Z |
Generally, higher tire pressure could make riding easier and thus increase riding speed especially on smooth road, while lower tire pressure could improve comfort and grip. We come up with the following recommendations for bicycle tire pressure.
1. Rougher the terrain, lower the required tire pressure.
Smooth paved roads favor higher pressure for speed, while rough terrain necessitates lower pressure for better traction and control. Mountain bikes, with their wider and knobby tires designed for tackle rough terrain, including loose dirt, rocks, roots, and even jumps, need a lower tire pressure. Lower pressure improves traction and shock absorpition, essential for handing rough and uneven surfaces. Road bike require higher pressure beacuse they are designed to go faster and smoother on even surfaces.
2. Heavier the system weight, higher the required tire pressure.
Bicycle wheels generally have an important parameter, which is the maximum system weight. Heavier riders may require higher tire pressures to prevent excessive tire deformation and improve efficiency. For about every 5kg of weight, add or subtract 2 PSI for road bikes and 1 PSI for MTB or gravel bikes, but always within the ranges of recomendations.
3. Wider the tire, lower the required tire pressure.
If you use a wider tire, you usually need a wider rim, the required tire pressure should be lower. Generally the tire pressure of fat bike is usually lower than that of mountain bicycle, and the tire pressure of mountain bicycle is lower than that of gravel or road bikes. A wider tire with a lower tire pressure lower tire pressure could improve comfort and grip.
4. A hookless rim needs lower tire pressure than a hook rim.
Tubeless systems often allow for lower tire pressures without the risk of pinch flats, enhancing grip and ride quality.
5. The strength of the rims and the quality of the tires.
If your rims are in high strength and your tires are in great quality, you could run lower or higher tire pressure (wider range of tire pressure) to cope with more diverse riding conditions.
6. Weather and temperature.
Weather and temperature also play a role in determining optimal tire pressure. For example, lower tire pressure should be used in wet conditions, as lower tire pressure provides better grip and ensures safe riding in wet conditions. In higher temperatures, we should also lower the tire pressure a little to avoid blowouts.
F.A.Q.
1. Why is the right tire pressure important?
Too high or too low tire pressure will not only affect the service life of the tires and rims and the riding experience, like poor driving strbility in inclined positiion or poor damping, but also affect the safety of riding, such as tire blowouts or insufficient grip.
2. How to check your bicycle tire pressure?
To measure the tyre pressure in your tyre, you’ll need a tyre pressure gauge, or a pump fitted with a pressure gauge. When connected to the valve on your bike’s tyre, you’ll see what pressure the tyre is currently inflated to.
3. How to caculate the tire pressure that suit for your bike?
You could refer to the Bicycle Tire Pressue Chart above, or use tire pressure calculator:
* System Weight = Rider Weight + Cargo Weight + Bicycle Weight
* Tire Pressure Calculator sram.com/guides/tire/pressure.
Related article: Tire Size Chart for Bicycle Rims: Mountain, Fat Bike, Road, Cyclocross, Gravel