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WHAT TIRE PRESSURE SHOULD I USE?

Appropriately inflated tires conform better to imperfections in the road, absorbing impacts and allowing you to ride faster with more comfort and control. As mountain bikers have known for a long time, tires that are inflated to a higher pressure than necessary for the terrain transmit more impacts and sacrifice speed as well as energy as the rider fights to keep the bike on track and to stop it from deflecting off obstacles, however small, in its path.

TIRE PRESSURE CALCULATOR FOR HOOKLESS RIMS WITH TUBELESS ROAD TIRES

This calculator gives recommended tire pressure for Giant and CADEX hookless rim road wheels and compatible road tires.

Please be aware that the pressure recommendation given here is a starting point and that you may need to add or release a little air to find the perfect number for your bike set up and riding conditions.

Rider Weight
 
Tire Size
Inner Rim Width

Recommended Tire Pressure

psi / bar

NOTES

  1. Never exceed the maximum (MAX) tire pressure indicated on the rim, the tire or the rim tape.
  2. Please note that the stated MIN pressure on many current Giant tires (e.g. 85psi for 25C tire) was originally defined based on a durability test with a 120kg load at 1.5 times the regulated distance. CURRENTLY, for all Giant tires this minimum (MIN) pressure can now be defined as 70 psi (4.8 bar) for 23C & 25C tires, 50 psi (3.4 bar) for 28C tires and 45 psi (3.1 bar) for 32C tires. Never inflate to less than the MIN pressure.
  3. The above pressure values are recommended starting points only.
  4. Please be aware that the load limit of all Giant Road WheelSystems is 129kg. This includes the weight of the rider + bike + luggage. For your own safety, please do not exceed the load limit, and please note that it is never advisable to load the bike to its maximum capacity.

HOW TO FIND YOUR IDEAL TIRE PRESSURE ON YOUR TUBELESS ROAD TIRES

  1. Refer to the inflation recommendation calculator to find a “starting pressure” based on your weight, the volume of the tire and inner width of the rim.
  2. Go for a ride. If you find the ride quality too harsh or that you are losing traction, lower the tire pressure a few psi.
  3. On the other hand, if you find the bike is too sluggish or the tires feel much too soft under your weight, add some psi. Pay close attention to how soft your rear wheel and tire feel under your weight, especially as you cover rough ground; if you can feel the rim through the tire after hitting a bump, add some psi immediately.
  4. Repeat step 2 and step 3 until you find a pressure that offers the perfect balance of rolling performance, comfort, support and grip. Don’t hesitate to experiment within the limits presented here and don’t forget that hookless and tubeless technology allow you to run significantly, even surprisingly, lower tire pressures than you may have been traditionally accustomed to.

TIRE PRESSURE RECOMMENDATIONS

Alter your tire pressure based on the surface you’re riding on:

Conventional road wisdom has always held that 100 psi (6.9 bar), more or less, is the magic number for speed and compliance, and on brand-new smooth pavement or at the track, your tires could feel great inflated to that pressure. However, when riding on anything other than a perfectly smooth surface (which, if we’re honest, is what most of us ride on most of the time), we recommend taking advantage of the benefits of tubeless and hookless technology and going with 10-15 psi / 0.7-1.0 bar less than what you might have normally put in (around 85-90 psi / 5.9-6.2 bar in the case of 100 psi / 6.9 bar mentioned above, for example). This allows the tire to conform better to imperfections in the road, reducing deflection and wasted energy as well as eliminating a harsh, chattery ride feel. Likewise, in wet conditions, just 10 psi / 0.7 bar less than what you usually might run will give you an increased contact patch and much better grip.

Adjust your tire pressure according to the volume of the tire you’re using:

90 psi / 6.2 bar could be perfect for your weight and the road surface when you’re on 25c tires, but if you decide to swap out to wider 28c tires, you’ll be increasing tire volume significantly, which means if you want the same smooth and supple ride quality from your new tire size, you’ll have to adjust air pressure downward to accommodate.

Adjust your tire pressure based on your weight:

Tires support the weight of the rider plus the bike plus any luggage or gear; for this reason, heavier riders require more pressure and lighter riders require less. As such, it’s essential to adjust your tire pressure according to your weight rather than try to use a “one pressure fits all” measurement (like the magic 100 psi / 6.9 bar we mention above!).

Never inflate over the maximum tire pressure indicated on the rim, the tire and /or the rim tape:

To make sure every ride is safe, Giant provides a recommended maximum (MAX) tire pressure, indicated either on the rim, the tire or the rim tape. You should never inflate your tire beyond that pressure.

Maximum tire pressure is NOT the recommended tire pressure:

To make sure every ride is great, Giant recommends that you never inflate your tires up to the maximum pressure either. Inflating to maximum pressure is unnecessary and for the reasons discussed above can give a harsh, unpleasant and potentially dangerous ride experience. Instead, Giant recommends following the inflation advice and pressure guide presented here.

Check you tire pressure before every ride:

This goes all the way back to the beginning: Appropriately inflated tires conform better to imperfections in the road, absorbing impacts and allowing you to ride more efficiently and safely with more comfort and control. A one minute pressure check before each ride to ensure your tires are appropriately inflated can make the all the difference!

What Tires Can I Use?

Giant WheelSystems are built to be used as a system and Giant and CADEX tires are always the best choice.

However, should you prefer to run a non-Giant or CADEX tire, select tires with an indicated maximum pressure above 72.5psi (5 bar) that have passed the Giant test protocol for use with Giant hookless rims:

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