Tire Presssure Calculator 3.0
Instead of starting with a tire size, tell us how you ride. We'll recommend the ideal Rene Herse tire width for your weight and style, then calculate your recommended pressure.
Caution!
- Never exceed the maximum pressures of tires or rims (whichever is lowest).
- Your pump gauge may not be accurate. When in doubt, use a tire pressure that feels right and is safe.
- Our pressure recommendations optimize your bike for speed, but speed isn’t everything. Experiment to figure out what works best and is safe for your riding style and terrain.
- Recommendations provided may not be suitable for your equipment and riding conditions.
- Improper inflation can result in equipment damage and/or injury.
Background
More than 20 years ago, we started the wide-tire revolution, when our real-world tests showed that high pressure isn’t needed to roll fast. Since then, we’ve run hundreds of tire tests. Together with Cal Poly Pomona, we’ve studied how different weights affect tire deformation. Our pressure recommendations are based on actual performance data.
Working with pro riders—Gravel National Champion Brennan Wertz, Silk Road Mountain Race winner Meaghan Hackinen and many others— we’ve tested our pressure calculator to make sure it works in the real world.
Balancing Tire Flex and Vibrations
High pressure makes your tires harder. That reduces flex in the tire (saving energy), but it increases vibrations (that slow the bike down). Your tire roll fastest at a pressure that balances tire flex and vibrations.
This discovery is behind the ‘All-Road Bike Revolution’ and the general trend toward wider tires.
Firm or Soft Feel?
On smooth roads, there are two distinct tire pressures that roll fastest:
- Firm: A (slightly) higher pressure optimizes tire flex.
- Soft: A lower pressure optimizes vibrations.
- Choose ‘Soft’ for more comfort. ‘Firm’ has less tire flex during high-speed cornering.
On rough surfaces, there are more vibrations, and ‘Soft’ pressure rolls fastest and grips best.
Benefits Beyond Speed
A relatively low tire pressure isn’t just fastest — it has other benefits, too:
- Grip: A bigger contact patch puts more rubber on the road. Plus: a softer tire doesn’t skip over bumps, but grips the road.
- Comfort: Less vibrations = less discomfort
- Fewer flats: A softer tire often rolls over debris that would puncture a harder tire.
