Gravel Tire Pressure on Pavement? (40+mm tires)
 

I just wanted to get an idea of what you all run when it comes to tire pressure with larger gravel tires in the 40-50+mm size for primarily pavement. I’ve been testing tire pressures with the Fleecer Ridge tires which are 55mm but roll nice on pavement. I’ve gone as low as 25-30psi and up to 40-45psi which is high but I’m also ~250lbs. Honestly I didn’t think I felt that much of a difference, but I think the bigger test would be doing longer rides than my short 15 min. test rides 😅

Still, I was curious to see what others ran, and the reasoning behind why you settled with that tire pressure.

210#. 43mm Gravelking SS tires. 40psi front and 45psi back for mixed surface rides. If it is legitimately only pavement, I will pump em up a touch more.

I run my tires higher than what every calculator shows and what current trends dictate. I dislike the feel when they even get down to 35psi- I may be fast at that pressure due to the incremental benefits, but I dislike the feel.
My tires are for sure squishy at the psi I list, I can feel the suspension created from the tire size and psi when riding rough/loose gravel, and I dont feel beat up after long rides. Given all that, there isnt much reason to go lower.

At 245lbs, I run 42mm Ultradynamico Rosé at 55psi/60psi F/R, and 48mm Herse Switchback Ridge at 50psi/55psi F/R. At those pressures, they’re firm enough to feel sporty on pavement.

I'm also in the 240 lb. range. I generally ride 2 different tires, the 43mm Gravelking SS+, and the Rene Herse Hurricane Ridge with the endurance + casing, which is 42mm.

For the Gravelkings, If I'm riding mostly gravel I will set the pressure at 30 front and 35 rear. If it is predominantly pavement I will go 33/38.

For the Hurricance Rides tires, they mostly see gravel and are always at 32 front and 37 rear.

175 pound rider on 47mm tubeless WTB Byways, which they recommend be run at 25 - 45 psi. I often ride at 40 for pavement, which is quite comfortable and doesn't feel squishy, but have gone as low as 30 when the surface is mixed. That definitely feels softer, but a little squirmier. 35ish is probably the sweet spot.

Currently, I'm at 225#. For pavement only I run my Pathfinder Pro 42mm tires at 57psi front and 60psi rear. I don't like to be bouncing down the road and that is max recommended pressure for my hookless rims.

I'm about 134 lbs, and offroad I run my tubeless 650Bx47 Senderos at around 18-20 psi. I always go higher for longer rides on pavement, in my case I'll go to around 25-27psi or so. The Senderos are quite knobby--basically mtb tires-- and I'm still sorting out what actually feels better on pavement for them--higher, or lower? Hard to tell sometimes!
On my still-tubed 700c x 40 bike, with Nanos, I run higher--around 30 on pavement, mid 20's offroad. The Nanos are more pavement-friendly than the Senderos as well.

250lbs at 45psi? how much is that rear tire bulging on pavement? maybe if it feels firm, it doesn't matter. is it bouncy at all? went out on my MTB the other day after not riding it since August & thought it didn't need air. I was wrong. bouncy & squishy. had to go back to my car & pump the 2.25" tires up to 30psi rear 25 psi front. on my 40-45mm tires on hybrid on pavement if I remember correctly the rear usually goes up around 60psi, the front 5-10 psi lower. I'm ~225lbs w/o shoes etc

80kg on me frame...too much imported IPA and Belgian beer and chocolate.

'21 Diverge (9.0kg) on Pathfinder Pro 700x38mm (measure 38.1mm with calipers) at 36-38 psi, gravel (chunky or light) or pavement. Don't care.
'16 Diverge (9.2kg) on Roubaix Pro 700x30/32 (inflate to 35.3mm with calipers) at 50-55psi, mostly pavement, gravel is never more than light stuff.

Yeah, not 40+, sorry...

This is the original 15% tire drop chart. Still valid today. I guess you can interpolate a little for 40mm. This is wheel load (not rider weight). This was mind blowing when it was originally published, but all these years later, it is still pretty applicable.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...324e81beda.jpg

I'm ~175. 40mm tires I'm 30F/40R with 50-55mm I'm about 25 front.

Guess I’m an outlier here…

190# on 650x47 and I run 24f/26r on pavement and 18f/20r off pavement

Gravelking SK 700x50

front 24.6psi
rear 37.9psi

I'm 230 lbs.

168 lbs, 47mm Challenge Gravel Grinders, recommended for 25-35 psi. I typically run around 33 or so in the rear, a little less in the front. That seems to work well for mixed surfaces so I'm not having to let air out, or pump things up.

Interesting the differences in pressures. I'm 220lbs, riding on Teravail Rutlands in 47's. On really rough choppy gravel, I have ridden them as low as 30 psl. I'm riding a gravel/asphalt mix tomorrow, pretty smooth gravel, and I'll pump them up to 35psi.

Try this calculator. https://silca.cc/pages/sppc-form

That is the most accurate one I've seen so far.
40mm
220#
32f
35r

Yes, I thought so too. It recommends exactly what I am doing now. Seems most everyone else is filling their tires to higher pressures though. I have learned by trial and error.

Dealer suggested 55/50.
I was running 45/40.
Today I rode gravel 35/32 and it was the best ride ever. Glad to have the proper pressures now.

~165lbs. All setups are tubeless

Adventurey bike: 700x50 Gravelking SKs on wide 29er rims at 28-32 psi. This is basically a drop bar mountain bike and this setup is is a little slow on the road but great on rougher gravel or singletrack.
Gravel race / cross bike: 700x32 Gravelking slicks or SS+ on carbon hookless rims at 37-40psi. This seems low, but it's the recommended pressure for these rims and it works well.
Endurance road bike / smooth gravel bike: 700x28 GP5KTLs at 65-72 psi. I've done race simulation rides at 25mph+ avg on this bike. Wouldn't want to race a crit on it but it's fine for 99% of group rides.

Is that what you choose for pavement though?

Idk
 

I haven't been on the road yet. Maybe add 5 to 40/37?
This is all new to me. Got a mtn bike in Feb and 2 rides on this Bombtrack. Just found out I have the trim feature on the fd. :innocent: Lots to learn 4 shore.

Some dealers are clueless about gravel riding even if they sell gravel bikes. I come out exactly on what the Silca calculator recommends...

Weight: 247lb
Tires: 700x44 WTB Byways
Wheels: DT Swiss GR531

I run 40f/48r on tarmac, 35f/42r on mix of surfaces, and 30/36 on dedicated gravel
I mainly run such a difference in the front to try and reduce vibrations in the front end.

I just ran the silca tire pressure calculator.

It suggests 41rear 40front for my total weight on 43mm tires.
I run 45rear and 40front when on gravel/mixed surface, as mentioned earlier.
So pretty darn close.


But for pavement only? I am pretty surprised to see some of the low numbers mentioned in this thread since it's about gravel tire pressure for pavement. There is just no downside to bumping the pressure up a bit- a wider tire will still have plenty of cushion to deform over road imperfections and it'll roll faster than if it's at a low pressure.
I am not suggesting a 43mm tire be pumped to 90psi, to be clear.