New Tire Pressure Calculator from Rene Herse Cycles

Based on the results of extensive rolling resistance tests and measurements of tire drop under different weights, as published in the winter 2021 issue of Bicycle Quarterly, Jan Heine at the team at Rene Herse Cycles (@reneherse) just launched a handy tool that helps you calculate what they say is the ideal tire pressure for comfort and grip. Simply enter your tire width and the combined weight of you and your bike and it’ll return a Firm pressure value for a stiffer feel and a Soft value for a little added comfort, taking the guesswork out of adjusting your pressure.

According to Jan, supple high-performance tires will roll over smooth roads at the same speed using either value, whereas pressures in between the Firm and Soft values will roll a little slower. And, on rougher roads, your bike will be faster using the Soft pressure. Describing their approach, Jan wrote, “The days when we pumped up our tires to the maximum pressure – hoping to optimize performance – are long over. Today we know that the best tire pressure depends on your tire size, your weight (and that of your bike), and your riding style and preferences.”

You can check out the Rene Herse Tire Pressure Calculator over at ReneHerseCycles.com. Let us know if you’ve found any surprising values or tried them out for yourself in the conversation below.

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