Have you always thought that simply inflating your bike tires to the maximum recommended tire pressure would give you the best performance? But it's kind of naive to do that.
Tire pressure is a rather technical issue, which is one of the most significant factors in your electric bike riding experience. You can get an intuitive upgrade by inflating proper air into your e-bike tire instead of spending a bunch of bucks on a leather seat or a carbon fiber frame.
There are many discussions about tires, but tire pressure is a serious problem!
If a tire exceeds its maximum recommended pressure, it will not explode like a balloon, but the wheel rim will be the first to fail. Not every tire that comes from the factory is the same, especially in an era of globalized trade. Some can withstand high pressures, while others cannot. Therefore, the maximum recommended pressure for your tire is generally conservative.
And proper tire pressure can make your tires last longer. After all, no one wants to change their favorite tires frequently.
For electric bike enthusiasts, especially those who like to ride in jungle terrain, appropriate tire pressure is an important guarantee for their good riding experience and safety.
Here are 6 factors that we believe affect tire pressure
Rider weight: The performance of a tire usually depends on the rider's weight. For example, a 66 KG rider using a 26X2.2 tire may find that 35 PSI tire pressure is too hard and lacks grip or traction in rugged or moist terrain. On the other hand, a 113 KG rider on the same bike will find that the tire pressure is too low for them. So you need to choose the proper tire pressure based on personal weight. Heavy or slim people have differences in tire pressure chosen.
Tire volume: Tire volume is closely related to tire pressure. The volume of a tire will determine how it performs. 30 PSI will feel well enough on a 700X25MM thin tire, but it will be flat on a 26X3.8 fat tire, and the rider might intuitively feel the presence of rocks while it collides.
Terrain: What kind of terrain do you usually ride on? Is it soft mud or rocky? You should check Google Map in advance for sure. For the latter one, you should consider decreasing the tire pressure to prevent wheel rim punctures, 26 psi to 32 psi is okay for this terrain.
Riding style: The harder you play, the higher the tire pressure you will need. Do you keep your tires on the paved road or do you prefer to take a leap?
If you ride gently, you probably wouldn’t need that much air in your tire. Your riding style will of course determine the difference in tire pressure. Additionally, check the minimum and maximum recommendations on the tire noted by the manufacturer, make sure not to exceed or fall below the limit.
Tire width: The wheel rim width of the tire is a very significant factor. A wider wheel rim can better support the tire, allowing you to use lower tire pressure to prevent tire detachment, that is why Hiboy opted to adopt 20" X 4" Pneumatic Fat Tires in its EX6 Step-thru Fat Tire Electric Bike for better riding comfort and experience.
TPI: The composition of a tire will determine its performance, and this involves the tire's TPI value. TPI is simply the tire's density. In most cases, a high TPI tire will be softer than a low TPI tire. At this point, you will find that you need to adjust the tire pressure with consideration of the TPI factor. It is worth mentioning that the tire pressure of the tubeless system is usually lower to ensure similar performance to the tubed system.
Last Thougth
To find the right tire pressure, remember these 6 factors and conduct experiments. Don't forget to bring a pump, and feel the difference in tire pressure when riding in the various terrains. Then you will find the correct tire pressure and dramatically adjust it by using your own riding experience.
