Properly inflated bicycle tires will give you an easier, faster, safer, and more comfortable ride. So, it’s very important that you know how to inflate bicycle tires properly. It would also be helpful to take note of the following tips.
Tips on How to Inflate Bicycle Tires:
1. PUMP IT UP
Correct tire pressure allows your bicycle to roll quickly and smoothly, and avoid flats. Narrow bicycle tires require more air pressure than wide ones. Normally, road bicycle tires need 80-130 psi (pound for square inch or pound-force per square inch), mountain tires 30-50 psi, and hybrid tires 50-70 psi.
To determine your tires ideal air pressure, begin at the middle of these ranges, then consider the weight of your body. Basically, the more you weigh, the higher air pressure your tires need. For example, if a 170-pound rider uses 100psi on his or her road bike, a 250-pound rider should have around 150 psi of air pressure, and a 120-pound rider can settle with 80 psi. Remember not to go over or under the manufacturer’s recommended air pressures.
2. STOP RESISTING
Traditionally, the higher tire pressure equals lower rolling resistance. This is because on a paved road, hard tires flex less and make a smaller contact patch. But there is no perfectly smooth road. Correctly inflated tires conform to road bumps and absorbs shocks. Impact will be transmitted to you if your tires are overly inflated. This compensates speed and comfort. On a newly paved road, your tires may feel great at 100 psi. But on a rough surface, your tires may roll faster at 90 psi. To improve traction in wet conditions, consider having 10 psi less than usual. If you are using a mountain bike and ride to the trail head, remember that while your bicycle can smoothly roll on the road with 50 psi, it may feel better on the single track at 38 psi.
3. KEEP IT IN THERE
If you happen to ride over sharp things, immediately sweep your tire with your gloved hand to get rid of the debris. For maximum protection, use puncture-proof inner tubes or tire lines, or you might as well use slimed inner tubes. Also consider getting bicycle tires with high tread count. To avoid pinch flats as you ride over bumps, maintain proper air pressure and unweight your wheels by abruptly pushing your bicycle downward before you reach the bumps and then pulling it upward as you roll over them. For every 10-degree-Fahrenheit drop in the temperature, the pressure in your tire drops by around 2%. So if the temperature goes down from 90 degrees to 60, your road tires will drop from around 100 psi to 95. Those five pounds would be noticeable and worth adjusting for. Make it a habit to check your tire pressure before you ride.
To be spared from hassles caused by punctured tires, consider getting a bicycle with slimed tubes with self-repairing flat prevention system, and with high tread count. Visit www.Zize Bikes.com, the maker of extra strong custom built bicycles for every body, including bicycles for heavy people that can support riders up to 550 pounds.
