Riding your electric bike with the right tyre pressure is very important. It will play a huge part in your comfort and safety on the road and affect your tyres grip and rolling resistance. Several factors will determine what pressure you should be riding at. We explain below how to find the right settings for our electric bikes and scooter range.

Why is the correct tyre pressure important on a bike?

Riding with the correct tyre pressure makes a big difference to your own comfort and your bike’s performance. The ideal pressure is going to depend on a variety of factors including the rider’s weight, road conditions and the width of the tyres.

Heavier riders will benefit from more tire pressure and lighter riders may prefer lower pressure.

Thinner tyres will need more air pressure than wider ones. As the latter can feel more comfortable at lower and still remain safe.

Finding the sweet spot is about finding a balance between getting the best grip level and rolling resistance level.

Grip

A lower tyre pressure means the tyre makes more contact with the ground that it is rolling over. It will result in a greater grip level and allow a smoother ride but a higher rolling resistance. Whereas an over-inflated tyre will reduce the grip, the rolling resistance and will feel faster. A tyre at lower pressure is also able to absorb more of the bumps on the road than a tyre at a higher pressure which will transmit the impacts to the rider and will affect the quality and comfort of the ride.

Rolling resistance

Rolling resistance is simply the friction between the tyres and the road. It is affected by how much contact with the surface the tyre provides, so the greater the friction, the harder your motor will need to work to achieve the same speed. An over-inflated tyre can also increase rolling resistance as the tyre ends up bouncing up on the surface rather than travelling smoothly. The rolling resistance is determined by the accumulation of several factors like the tyre pressure, the type of tyre used and the road conditions.

What if I pump my tyres too much or too little?

If you overinflate your tyres, you run the risk of blowing the inner tube and too little pressure can cause pinch flats, this can also potentially damage the tire and the rim.

What is PSI?

PSI is a unit of pressure expressed in pound-force applied to an area of one square inch. It stands for Pounds per Square Inch.

What pressures do you run in FuroSystems models?

Every bike tyre comes conveniently with the minimum and maximum advisable pressure details on its side. Those values must neither be exceeded nor undercut since values outside of that scope can cause damage. The ideal pressure value is in the middle of those limit values but can vary greatly between riders as body weight and baggage will impact the tyre pressure.

How often should I check the pressure?

Tyres pressure naturally goes down over time as the inner tubes are permeable so we recommend checking your tyres pressure at least once a week or before every ride if you don’t go out that often to inspect whether the tyres have lost any air and need a quick top-up.

Pumps

For your pre-ride safety checks we recommend using a floor pump with an integrated pressure gauge so you can accurately pump to the optimum pressure and avoid over-inflating a tyre. Make sure your pump has a Schrader valve for a perfect air seal. You also want to go for a solid built model for durability.

While a mini-pump is your best bet for on the road inflation. Its small format makes it easy to store and carry in your bag alongside your puncture repair kit. It requires more work and usually doesn’t have a pressure gauge but you can get a rough estimate by squeezing the tyre with your thumb and forefinger.