What tyre pressure for tubeless?

Tubeless tyres can run roughly 0.2 bar (2.9 psi) less pressure than tyres with inner tubes because there is no risk of pinch flats. That improves grip and comfort.

MTB tyre pressure: chart by weight, width & tubeless

Q: How many bar should an MTB tyre have?

For a 2.4-inch tubeless tyre and a ready-to-ride weight of 80 kg, about 1.65 bar (24 psi) front and 1.85 bar (27 psi) rear is a good starting point. With an inner tube about 0.2 bar (2.9 psi) more, with an insert about 0.1 bar (1.5 psi) less.

Q: Why more pressure at the rear than at the front?

Around 60 percent of the weight rests on the rear wheel. The rear tyre therefore needs about 0.1 to 0.3 bar (4.4 psi) more pressure to prevent bottoming out and rim damage.

Updated: 27 September 2026 · approx. 6 min read · Editorial team bikesetting.com (About & methodology)

Tyre pressure is the cheapest tuning on a mountain bike. Just 0.1 bar (1.5 psi) noticeably changes grip, rolling resistance, damping and puncture protection. Here you will find a tyre pressure chart by rider weight and learn how tyre width, casing and tubeless affect the ideal pressure.

Contents

Tyre pressure chart
Influencing factors
Tube, tubeless, insert
Casing and width
Tyre pressure on e-MTBs
Testing on the trail
FAQ

Tyre pressure chart by rider weight

The values apply to 2.4″ tyres with a trail casing (e.g. Maxxis EXO, Schwalbe Super Trail, Continental Trail) and the ready-to-ride weight – body weight plus kit. Figures in bar, front / rear.

Ready to ride	Inner tube	Tubeless	Tubeless + insert
60 kg	1.60 / 1.80	1.45 / 1.65	1.35 / 1.55
70 kg	1.75 / 1.95	1.55 / 1.75	1.45 / 1.65
80 kg	1.85 / 2.05	1.65 / 1.85	1.60 / 1.80
90 kg	1.95 / 2.15	1.80 / 2.00	1.70 / 1.90
100 kg	2.10 / 2.30	1.90 / 2.10	1.85 / 2.05
110 kg	2.20 / 2.40	2.05 / 2.25	1.95 / 2.15

Conversion: 1 bar ≈ 14.5 psi. For bike park riding add about 0.1 bar (1.5 psi), for 2.6″ tyres subtract about 0.1 bar (1.5 psi). You can calculate your individual pressure – including casing, tyre width and e-MTB surcharge – with our suspension and tyre pressure calculator.

What determines the right tyre pressure

Rider weight and kit: the more weight, the more pressure. Rule of thumb: about +0.1 bar (1.5 psi) per 10 kg.
Weight distribution: around 60 % of the weight rests on the rear wheel, so run 0.1–0.3 bar (1.5–4.4 psi) more at the rear than at the front.
Tyre system: tubeless and inserts allow lower pressures than inner tubes.
Tyre width and rim width: more air volume carries more load at the same pressure.
Casing: stiff, reinforced casings support themselves and need less pressure.
Terrain and riding style: rocky, fast trails and jumps need more pressure than soft forest floor.

Tube, tubeless or insert?

With an inner tube

Inner tubes are easy to fit but sensitive to bottoming out: if the tyre is compressed down to the rim, you get a “snakebite” – two parallel holes in the tube. That is why you need about 0.15–0.2 bar (2.2–2.9 psi) more pressure than tubeless.

Tubeless

Without a tube there are no snakebites, and the sealant plugs small holes by itself. You can run lower pressures and gain grip and comfort. The sealant should be topped up every 3–6 months.

Tubeless with insert

Inserts such as CushCore, Rimpact, Schwalbe Procore, Vittoria Air-Liner or Huck Norris protect the rim, stabilise the sidewall in corners and let you ride home on a flat in an emergency. Another 0.05–0.1 bar (0.7–1.5 psi) less pressure is possible.

Casing and tyre width

The casing is the tyre’s carcass. Light XC casings need more pressure so that the sidewall does not fold. Reinforced casings (e.g. Maxxis DoubleDown, Schwalbe Super Gravity, Continental Enduro) are stiffer and can run about 0.1 bar (1.5 psi) less. Downhill casings are even more stable.

Wide 2.5–2.6″ tyres have more volume and get by with less pressure than 2.25–2.35″ tyres. The combination with the rim width matters: for 2.4–2.6″, an internal width of 28–35 mm is ideal.

Tyre pressure on e-MTBs

E-MTBs weigh 20–25 kg, i.e. 7–10 kg more than a classic mountain bike. They are also ridden uphill with high torque and often downhill at higher speed. So plan on about 0.05–0.1 bar (0.7–1.5 psi) more and choose robust casings or dedicated e-bike tyres. More on this in the guide setting up e-MTB suspension.

Testing tyre pressure on the trail

Ride a familiar test section with the starting value from the chart.
Too little pressure: the tyre squirms in corners, feels vague, hits the rim (“ping”), bottoms out.
Too much pressure: the bike skips over roots, little grip, harsh ride, the tyre slides on wet rock.
Adjust in steps of 0.1 bar (1.5 psi) and always measure with the same accurate gauge – floor pumps are often off by 0.2 bar (2.9 psi).

Safety note: always observe the minimum and maximum pressures of the tyre and the rim (printed on the sidewall or rim). Hookless rims are often limited to 5 bar or 72 psi. The values in this guide are guidelines without guarantee.

MTB tyre pressure FAQ

How many bar should an MTB tyre have?

For a 2.4″ tubeless tyre and a ready-to-ride weight of 80 kg, about 1.65 bar (24 psi) front and 1.85 bar (27 psi) rear is a good starting point. With an inner tube about 0.2 bar (2.9 psi) more, with an insert about 0.1 bar (1.5 psi) less.

Why more pressure at the rear than at the front?

Most of the weight rests on the rear wheel. More pressure there prevents bottoming out and rim damage, while less pressure at the front gives more grip in corners.

Does pressure change in the cold?

Yes. For every 10 °C of temperature difference, the pressure changes by about 3–4 %. If you pump up in a warm cellar and ride at 0 °C, you will have noticeably less pressure on the trail.

Calculate your tyre pressure →