TireDial › MTB tire pressure
Tire pressure chart
MTB tire pressure
On a mountain bike, a single PSI or two decides between grip, damping and pinch flats. This chart gives starting pressures for the front and rear, calculated with the TireDial app’s model.
Example: 70 kg (154 lb) rider, 2.4″ tubeless tires, trail
22 PSI front · 24 PSI rear
1.5 bar front · 1.6 bar rear
MTB tire pressure chart
Row: your weight without the bike. Column: the width printed on the tire. Each cell shows front / rear pressure.
| Rider weight | 2.2″ | 2.3″ | 2.4″ | 2.5″ | 2.6″ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 kg 110 lb | 20 / 22 | 19 / 22 | 19 / 21 | 18 / 20 | 18 / 19 |
| 60 kg 132 lb | 22 / 24 | 21 / 23 | 20 / 22 | 20 / 22 | 19 / 21 |
| 70 kg 154 lb | 23 / 26 | 22 / 25 | 22 / 24 | 21 / 23 | 20 / 22 |
| 80 kg 176 lb | 25 / 27 | 24 / 26 | 23 / 25 | 22 / 24 | 21 / 24 |
| 90 kg 198 lb | 26 / 29 | 25 / 28 | 24 / 27 | 23 / 26 | 22 / 25 |
| 100 kg 220 lb | 27 / 30 | 26 / 29 | 25 / 28 | 24 / 27 | 24 / 26 |
| 110 kg 243 lb | 28 / 31 | 27 / 30 | 26 / 29 | 25 / 28 | 25 / 27 |
Show the chart in bar
| Rider weight | 2.2″ | 2.3″ | 2.4″ | 2.5″ | 2.6″ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 kg 110 lb | 1.4 / 1.5 | 1.3 / 1.5 | 1.3 / 1.4 | 1.3 / 1.4 | 1.2 / 1.3 |
| 60 kg 132 lb | 1.5 / 1.7 | 1.4 / 1.6 | 1.4 / 1.5 | 1.3 / 1.5 | 1.3 / 1.4 |
| 70 kg 154 lb | 1.6 / 1.8 | 1.5 / 1.7 | 1.5 / 1.6 | 1.4 / 1.6 | 1.4 / 1.5 |
| 80 kg 176 lb | 1.7 / 1.9 | 1.6 / 1.8 | 1.6 / 1.7 | 1.5 / 1.7 | 1.5 / 1.6 |
| 90 kg 198 lb | 1.8 / 2.0 | 1.7 / 1.9 | 1.7 / 1.8 | 1.6 / 1.8 | 1.5 / 1.7 |
| 100 kg 220 lb | 1.9 / 2.1 | 1.8 / 2.0 | 1.7 / 1.9 | 1.7 / 1.9 | 1.6 / 1.8 |
| 110 kg 243 lb | 1.9 / 2.2 | 1.9 / 2.1 | 1.8 / 2.0 | 1.7 / 1.9 | 1.7 / 1.9 |
Assumes tubeless, a 13 kg (29 lb) bike, 30 mm internal rim width, standard casing, dry trail and 45% of the weight on the front wheel. Rounded to 1 PSI or 0.1 bar.
Your exact pressure in seconds. The TireDial tire pressure calculator uses your weight, your bike, your measured tire and rim width and your maximum pressure, front and rear separately. Free for iPhone.
Adjusting the pressure
The chart covers the default assumptions. If your ride differs, adjust the chart value by these factors. Example: with a butyl tube, 60 PSI becomes 63 PSI. Multiple factors multiply.
| Condition | |
|---|---|
| Hardpack, smooth trail | +6% |
| Rocky, rooty | −4% |
| Loose, soft ground | −7% |
| Butyl tube | +10% |
| Latex or TPU tube | +6% |
| Wet roads or trails | −7% |
| Supple, lightweight casing | +2% |
| Reinforced casing | −4% |
| Comfort-oriented | −5% |
| Firmer | +5% |
An accurate gauge matters
At 22 PSI, 1 PSI is almost 5%, and you’ll feel that on the trail. Many floor pumps are inaccurate at low pressures, so a digital gauge shows you the real number (conversion: bar to PSI). Check pressure with cold tires before the ride.
Why more pressure in the rear?
The rear wheel carries about 55% of the rider and bike weight, and it takes more hits on edges and drops. Slightly lower pressure up front gives more cornering grip, which is where you find out whether the bike washes out.
Tire width and rim
The chart assumes a 30 mm internal rim, typical for current trail and enduro wheels. On narrower rims the tire measures narrower and needs a little more pressure; on wider rims a little less.
E-MTB
An e-MTB usually weighs 22–25 kg (50–55 lb) instead of 13 kg. That adds load to both wheels. For a rough estimate, add about 10 kg (22 lb) to your rider weight, or enter the real bike weight in TireDial.
Casing and inserts
Reinforced casings (enduro, DH) support themselves more and work at about 4% less pressure. Tire inserts protect the rim and often allow a little less still. The chart doesn’t account for inserts, so go lower in small steps.
FAQ
What PSI should my mountain bike tires be?
With 2.4″ tires and a 70–80 kg (155–175 lb) rider, starting pressures on trail are about 22–23 PSI front and 24–25 PSI rear (tubeless). With tubes you need about 10% more. The chart above has the exact values.
Why is MTB tire pressure so low?
Wide MTB tires hold a lot of air, and low pressure brings grip, damping and control off-road. Too little causes pinch flats, rim strikes and a squirmy tire in corners, so work your way down 1 PSI at a time.
Does the chart work for 27.5″ and 29″ wheels?
Yes. Tire width and load matter most; wheel diameter plays a smaller role.
How do I convert PSI to bar?
1 bar is 14.5 PSI, so 22 PSI is about 1.5 bar. The chart is also available in bar above.
More charts
These are well-founded starting points, not manufacturer specifications. Fine-tune by feel and always stay within your tire and rim limits. How TireDial calculates is explained in the methodology. See also the safety notice.
The right pressure for every ride.
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