Too much pressure makes a bike harsh and skittish. Too little pressure risks rim strikes, squirm, and wasted energy.
Start with context
Pressure depends on:
- rider and bike weight
- tire width and casing
- tubeless vs tubes
- pavement, gravel, dirt, or mixed terrain
- how hard you corner and descend
Why lower is not always slower
On rough surfaces, a slightly lower pressure can be faster because the tire tracks the ground instead of bouncing across it.
Re-check when the season changes
Colder temperatures and wet roads can change the pressure window that feels controlled. Keep a short note of what worked, then adjust from there.