How much pressure for the road?
If you learned to inflate road tyres in the era of 23 mm tyres and 120 psi, your pump habits are out of date. Modern road tyres are wider — 28 and 30 mm are now standard — and the evidence is clear that lower pressures roll faster on real pavement, not slower. Above the optimal pressure a tyre stops absorbing surface texture and starts bouncing, which scrubs speed and hammers your hands and back.
This calculator picks the pressure at which each tyre compresses by about 15% under the load it carries, the balance point between rolling resistance, grip, and pinch protection. Front and rear get different numbers because they carry different loads. It is the same engine used in the Route Companion app, tested against published tyre measurements, and it errs slightly low on purpose: on real roads a few psi soft costs almost nothing, while a few psi hard costs comfort and speed.
Typical road pressures by rider weight
| Rider (incl. bike + kit) | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| 60 kg | 56 psi | 59.5 psi |
| 70 kg | 64 psi | 68 psi |
| 80 kg | 72.5 psi | 76.5 psi |
| 90 kg | 80.5 psi | 85.5 psi |
| 100 kg | 88.5 psi | 94 psi |
Starting points for a 28 mm tubeless tyre on normal pavement, steady pace, 700c wheels. Wider tyres and rougher roads want less; use the calculator above for your exact setup.
Adjust for the road
| Smooth, fresh tarmac | You can add a couple of psi over the baseline if you prefer a firmer feel. |
| Typical, patched roads | Use the calculator number as-is. |
| Rough, chip-seal, wet | Drop 2–4 psi for grip and comfort; lower pressure is faster once the surface gets rough. |
Common questions
What pressure should I run in 28 mm road tyres?
For a 70 kg rider on 28 mm tubeless tyres, around 64 psi front and 68 psi rear on normal pavement is a good starting point. Heavier riders need more, wider tyres need less. Use the calculator for your exact weight and width.
Is 100 psi too high for road tyres?
For most riders on 28 mm or wider tyres, yes. 100 psi is above the point where the tyre stops absorbing the road and starts skipping, which is slower and harsher. It only makes sense for very heavy riders on narrow tyres.
Should road tyre pressure be different front and rear?
Yes. Your rear wheel carries more of your weight — roughly 51–52% on a road bike — so it needs a few psi more than the front to reach the same tyre drop. Equal pressures leave the front slightly over-inflated.
25 vs 28 vs 30 mm — how much does width change pressure?
Meaningfully. Each step up in width adds air volume, so the same rider drops several psi moving from 25 to 28 to 30 mm. That is much of why wider tubeless road tyres feel fast and smooth. Enter your real width for an accurate number.
Tubeless vs tubes on the road — does it matter?
A little. Tubeless setups can run slightly lower since there is no tube to pinch, and supple casings deform more easily than reinforced ones. Select your setup in the calculator and it adjusts.
Other disciplines
Dial it in for the route, not just the bike.
The Route Companion app runs this same engine on the routes you actually ride, and puts the number in your pre-ride checklist alongside weather, clothing, and fueling — so you set your tyres for the day, then ride.