E-BIKE TIRE PRESSURE – HOW TO ALWAYS RIDE WITH THE RIGHT LEVEL


Not too little or too much – the right tire pressure is crucial for an enjoyable ride on an e-bike. Depending on which e-bike you are riding, which tires are attached, or whether you are riding on trails or on the road, you need to adjust the air pressure to your tire. In this article, we will explain which pressure is ideal for which situation. We’ll also show you how to easily check your tire pressure yourself.

WHY TIRE PRESSURE ON E-BIKES IS SO IMPORTANT

It’s all about something as small as a decimal place – and yet it’s precisely this tiny number that can make the difference. Between effortless rolling and strenuous pedaling, between safe cornering and anxious descent, between riding pleasure and counting down the miles. We’re talking about the air pressure in the tires. It determines how easily your e-bike tires roll over the ground, how much grip they offer when cornering, how quickly the tires wear and whether puncture protection works properly. In the case of e-bikes, there is also another factor: the range. Because if your tires don’t roll optimally, you’ll automatically need to use more power from the motor – and that costs battery capacity.

Tire pressure as a key factor in e-biking? If you look at your local cycle paths, you quickly notice that only a few e-bike riders are really aware of this. It seems like every other person is on the road with tires that are too low or too inflated. And if you were to carry out a survey on who really regularly checks their tire pressure before riding, you would very likely find that the proportion of conscientious e-bikers would actually be significantly lower in reality.

Why tire pressure is so important

  • Rolling resistance: Perfect tire pressure ensures that you ride better.
  • Range: As a result, your motor doesn't need to work as hard and you get further.
  • Grip: Tire pressure plays a key role in determining how well a tire sticks.
  • Breakdown safety: The puncture protection of a tire works best when the pressure is right.
  • Wear: A tire will wear the least when the pressure is in the right range.

THESE FACTORS INFLUENCE THE CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE

Whether puncture protection, rolling resistance or wear – finding the right tire pressure is anything but easy. After all, it depends on several factors. First of all, the tire itself is worth mentioning. Each tire model has an optimum pressure range, which is always specified by the manufacturer. This is usually around 2.5 to 4.0 bar. So the tire works best if you ride it with an air pressure in that range. Important: You should not exceed or fall below these guidelines. The tire pressure is always specified in bar or psi.

In addition, there are other factors that influence the correct tire pressure on electric bicycles. This includes, for example, the weight of the overall system – consisting of e-bike and rider – as well as the terrain. For example, if you tend to ride on tarmac, the tire pressure should be at the top of the range. If you ride more on trails or on slippery surfaces, the pressure should be at the lower end of the spectrum. When it comes to the rider’s weight, the official figures are always based on an average of 75 kilograms. If the rider’s weight is different from this, the air pressure should be increased by one percent per kilo (for greater weight) or reduced (for less weight).

Example of the correct tire pressure on an e-bike

You have a tire with a recommended pressure range of 2.5 to 4.0 bar, you weigh 85 kilograms and ride to work on good asphalt roads. Based on the road surface and your body weight, you can adjust the pressure to the upper limit of 4.0 bar specified by the manufacturer.

You have a tire with a recommended pressure range of 2.5 to 4.0 bar, you weigh 65 kilograms and will be riding a tour on gravel. Based on the road surface and your body weight, you can adjust the pressure to the lower limit of 2.5 bar specified by the manufacturer.

THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE REGULARLY

Tire pressure on an e-bike must be checked regularly. And there’s a good reason for that – no bicycle inner tube is completely leakproof. Even the best-performing models lose up to 1 bar per month. And many models lose even more pressure than that. It is no coincidence that bicycle tires are often flat at the end of winter after a long period of non-use. In other words, you should check the tire pressure at regular intervals. Once a week is the recommendation.

The best way to check the tire pressure on an e-bike is to use an air pump with a built-in pressure gage. The practical thing about this method is that you can pump up the e-bike right away. You can also buy a tire pressure gage in your local e-bike shop. These devices are simply screwed onto the valve and show you how much air is left in the tube.

TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS – KEEPING AN EYE ON TIRE PRESSURE AT ALL TIMES

Do you want to keep an eye on your tire pressure at all times – just like on a modern car? Tire pressure sensors might be a good solution for you. These are small accessories that are screwed onto the valve and transmit tire pressure in real time to a bike computer or e-bike display. One example is the tire pressure sensors from FIT, or TPMS for short. They monitor the pressure and temperature of your e-bike tires and send the data in real time via Bluetooth to the display of your e-bike or to the FIT E-Bike Control smartphone app.

Learn more abour tire pressure sensors

They way they work is simple and practical – if the actual pressure deviates too much from the optimum pressure, a warning message appears on the display or in the app. Timely warnings of stealthy flat tires also contribute to a safe ride – and increase the lifetime of tires and rims.

FIT Mobile mit Reifendrucksensor
FIT Inhaltbild Wetterfestes E-Biken

THE RIGHT AIR PRESSURE FOR E-BIKE TIRES – SUMMARY

  • Tire pressure on e-bikes is crucial for the right riding experience.
  • It determines how good the rolling behavior, grip, puncture protection and wear of your tires are.
  • It can also affect the range of your e-bike.
  • Each tire model has an optimum pressure range. This is usually indicated on the side of the tire.
  • Factors that additionally influence tire pressure are the system weight – the rider and the e-bike – and the terrain.
  • Since bicycle tubes lose air over time, the pressure should be checked once a week.
  • Tire pressure can be checked by either using air pumps with a built-in pressure gage or by just using a separate pressure gage.
  • One modern method of tire pressure monitoring is tire pressure sensors, which allow you to constantly monitor the pressure on the e-bike display.

So we’ve learned that tire pressure can make a big difference to the your e-bike's range. For more tips on how range is affected, see the following blog post:

10 Tips for longer tours

01.11.2022