Road Bike Tire Pressure Cold Weather

Cold weather biking or winter biking is the use of a bicycle during months when roads and paths are covered with ice slush and snow.

Road bike tire pressure cold weather. Lower pressures increase the amount of tyre in contact with the road which increases fuel consumption. Measure your tire pressure before driving not after for the most accurate reading. But don t rely on the tire pressure monitoring system tpms many newer vehicles have a tpms that sends an alert when the tire pressure is too low but your system won t warn you if the pressure is too high. A tire pressure gauge will tell you if your tires are overinflated from the heat.

Tire pressure gauges can be purchased for a few dollars at most big box retailers. There was a time when most riders would opt for 23c tyres on the road pump the tyre pressure up to around 110psi for every ride letting out just a little air to provide extra grip in poor weather. How to measure tire pressure in cold weather. Proper tire pressure lets your bike roll quickly ride smoothly and avoid flats narrow tires need more air pressure than wide ones.

This time of year then when the weather is still incredibly cold you ll more likely lose tire pressure. What s the correct tire pressure for a road bike. Cold weather means less tyre pressure than hot weather. According to a 2014 patch article.

Manufacturer inflation specifications are based on cold readings and take into account the pressure increase that happens as tires warm up on the road. Get out your tire pressure gauge. Checking your tire pressure is a very simple process that takes only one instrument and a source of air. The ambient temperature i e.

The air temperature outside the tyre exposure to sun the temperature of the tyre itself and leakage either natural or by a puncture. Lower pressure makes the sidewalls of the tyres more flexible and compromises grip and handling. Four factors change tyre pressure. Urban commuters on city streets may have to deal with s now slush salt and sand which can cause rust and damage to metal bike components.

Finally one of the biggest factors that changes tire pressure is the weather. Cold weather cyclists face a number of challenges in near or below freezing temperatures. If your recommended tire pressure is 32 psi that means 32 psi before you put rubber to the road. The correct time to check your motorcycle tire pressure is when they re cold meaning the motorcycle hasn t been ridden for at least three hours.

Road tires typically require 80 to 130 psi pounds.