A Beginner’s Guide: Things to Know about Electric Bike Tire Pressure

[Kayla]

Many of you who are new to cycling might have heard that you need to check your tire pressure before going for that ride, or people may tell you the PSI thing before that check. However, this is really confused when you are a new ebike rider. So, what is the correct tire pressure for your ebike, and is there anything else concerning tire pressure? Stick with us, you will know the answer.

What is PSI?

Basically, PSI(Pound per Square Inch) is the measurement of pressure, which is used to measure the pressure of gasses or liquids. Lower PSI will normally make your ebike tires softer while higher PSI harder.

So, how do you know what the correct PSI is for your ebikes? Regularly, most ebike manufacturers will stamp the recommended PSI into the rubber of every tire. Therefore, you can first check the rubber of your tires.

Usually, the range between 25-50 PSI is for mountain bike tires while 80-120 PSI for road tires and 40-80 for Gravel bike tires.

Gauges For checking Tire Pressure

Even though you already understand what PSI is, you still need to be able to see your tire pressure, so it is essential for you to have a pressure gauge.

Weight

Generally, more weight equals more pressure. The heavier you are, your ebike tires will get more pressure. No offense, if you are heavy and use a comparably low PSI, then chances are your electric bikes will not go that fast and their range will be decreased more or less. So obviously, the PSI for heavier riders should be a lot higher than lighter ones to get the same tire performance. For example, a man who weighs 200lbs will need to pump his ebike tires to around 20 PSI or more. And for a man who weighs only 140lbs, this is totally unnecessary.

Of course, there is not exactly PSI for people of different weights because most of us won’t feel the same for the same thing. So it is recommended for you to adjust the PSI to find the best number for you.

Temperature

According to physics, we all know that warm air causes air to expand while cold air causes air to contract. And the air you pump into your tires is literally trapped unless there is a hole in your tires. To be exact, you need to pay more attention to the weather. For example, when it is summertime and very hot, you should pump your ebike tires to a relatively low PSI in case they blow up and you get hurt. Also, your ebike tire PSI can be higher than usual when it comes to cold weather.

Besides weather, keeping decelerating with rim brakes can cause friction that raises the temperature inside the tube. But don’t worry, this temperature can get down more quickly, all you need to do is keep an eye on this.

Avoid overinflation and underinflation

Obviously, both overinflation and underinflation can be a bad thing for your ebike tires. When you overinflate your tires, they will get harder. It may sound great for some of you because it seems like the harder they are, the less puncture you will get. However, the truth is the opposite. Overinflated tires are just like balloons, which can easily blow up. Therefore, if you inflate your ebike tires, things are like you are running the risk of getting your tires blown up.

Moreover, if your tires are underinflated, they can easily get pinch flats. In this case, you will have to push your ebikes back home or pedal harder as fat tire electric bikes for sale are usually heavier than traditional bikes.

Frequency

In fact, the frequency of inflation for every rider varies, but the one same thing that applies to all of you is that you need to check the pressure of your ebike tires before every ride. Here are some signs that can remind you to check or pump your ebike tires

1. It is been a long time since your last ride. Actually, tires can deflate slowly over time. So it will be better for you to inflate your tires if you just put your ebikes in storage for weeks or months.

2. Dramatic temperature changes happen. As mentioned above, the temperature can have a huge impact on ebike tires. So when the temperature changes dramatically, it is time for you to check that tire pressure.

3. After riding on rugged and uneven terrain. There are all kinds of things on rugged terrains, like rocks, sand, and even snails which can lead to the puncture of your ebike tires. You can’t be more careful after having a ride on that terrain.

 

[Member 4888]

Many of you who are new to cycling...

Everything you said is (or should be) common sense with all air pneumatics tires... bikes, motorcycles, cars, trucks, and even a loading hand truck. Robert W. Thomson invented the first vulcanized rubber air pneumatic tire and patented it in 1845. Most everyone understands how they work and how to maintain them to extend their life. However, you're missing the most important aspect of tire pressure for bicycles, that being the pressure should be adjusted to suit the surface you are riding on. I run folding Schwalbe Marathon touring tires that have a max pressure of 70 psi. Tires will have their specific pressure range printed on the sidewall of the tire. If I am riding on a hard smooth surface I have them at max pressure reducing the rolling resistance as much as possible to extend the range. When I leave a hard smooth surface and start riding gravel for an extended period I deflate them to 50 to 55 psi for better grip, a more comfortable ride, and again to reduce the resistance over stones and pebbles to the minimum. There are also different considerations for tubed and tubeless tires. Anyone that gets a flat and can't fix it while riding is a fool. A pump, flat repair kit (plug or patch), and a tube should always be with the bike while riding... even tubeless riders should have a tube for emergencies. I've saved several riders a long walk over the past few years by giving them a new tube. A 26" tube works just fine for a 29" tire in a pinch. One guy I found carrying his gravel bike had a 2" tear or split in the tire sidewall. He was over 15 miles from his car when I found him. Putting a new tube in the tire and inflating it would have just made a bulge that would have gone flat in minutes. After a search, we came up with a $10 bill (his) that I folded a couple of times, and a 2" flexible plastic disc that once trimmed down I used to line the tear and with a new tube got him back to his car with zero problems. I saw him on the Foothills trail months later and he bought me lunch, he told me he doesn't ride without a repair kit and pump anymore.

 

[canis2022]

Everyone new to ebikes should read the comments and take it seriously. Riding an ebike means that in most cases, you're going to be riding farther than you might ride on an "acoustic" bike. Faster speeds means 5 miles goes very quickly and nothing sucks more than being 5 miles from home or your car when you have a flat. I can also attest to how temperature can contribute to blowouts. My wife and I were riding a while ago and it had been in the mid 90's all day and even though we waited till later in the day, the roads were still really hot. About 2 miles into the ride my rear tire blew out. I do carry a spare tube and pump , but not enough tools to get the rear tire off. I'm sure I had the tires inflated to the maximum pressure and the extra heat from the road was enough to blow the tube. Luckily I had an extra rider with me so I was able to ride her bike home and get my truck while she waited with my bike.

 

[Member 4888]

...I can also attest to how temperature can contribute to blowouts....

I doubt very much it was caused by a temperature variance, but a flat is a flat, and they all suck!

 

[canis2022]

I doubt very much it was caused by a temperature variance, but a flat is a flat, and they all suck!

The tire had been on the bike for a few years so, it was probably due to be replaced. It forced me to learn how to replace it. I ordered a new tire and tube and everything went well. I'm not fearful of having to replace a tire while I'm riding anymore.

 

[Anton]

Sheesh.
Did you not get an owner manual for your ebike.
Kayla you starting to be like a broken zipper.
Are you in State of California?
All of this you are posting may or not be helpful for members. But it's making me bored.
I visit here to see what's new and Kayla and Kayla and Kayla over and over again

Magic Cycle is not for everyone.
Not for me, if requires that much attention.

I suspect this user is a marketer. I already deleted a couple of posts which were blatant advertising and sent some warnings. Posting magicycle links on threads where the question is about a completely different ebike feels a bit spammy.