What is the correct tire pressure for an electric bike?

The correct tire pressure for an electric bike is between the minimum and maximum shown on the sidewall of the tire. Choose a pressure within that range based on your weight and luggage. For city and trekking bikes, Bosch recommends approximately three to four bar, but wide tires require less. Check the pressure every month.

An e-bike does not have a standard tire: some e-bikes have narrow tires, while others have fatbike tires. Below, you will read how to find the correct pressure for your tire, why it matters even more on an e-bike, and how often to check it. At the bottom, there are e-bikes to compare.

How many bar should an e-bike tire have?

That depends on the tire's width and how much weight it carries. Bosch, a manufacturer of e-bike drive systems, provides a general guide based on the type of bike. Road bikes with narrow tires run at seven bar or more, while mountain bikes with considerably wider tires use two to three bar. City and trekking bikes are roughly in between, at three to four bar.

In its tips for extending battery life, the ANWB gives one figure: keep your tires at maximum pressure, 3.5 to 4 bar, so your battery uses as little unnecessary extra energy as possible. The maximum pressure for your tire is shown on the sidewall. According to Bosch, a wide tire requires less pressure.

How many bar should a 28-inch bicycle tire have?

The inch size does not tell you that. A size such as 28 x 1.40 only indicates the outside diameter and width approximately, according to Schwalbe. It is better to look at the ETRTO size, such as 37-622: this indicates the width in millimeters and the inner diameter.

That width and your weight will get you further. In a technical brochure from 2015, Schwalbe gave a general guideline for a tire 37 mm wide: 4 bar at approximately 60 kilograms of body weight, 5 bar at 85 kilograms, and 6 bar at 110 kilograms. For a 60 mm tire, the figures were 2, 3, and 4 bar. The minimum and maximum shown on your own tire always take precedence.

How do you determine the correct pressure within that range?

Consider your weight and what you are carrying. The more the cyclist weighs, the higher the tire pressure should be, Bosch writes. Continental recommends that a cyclist weighing approximately 80 kilograms use city and touring tires at around 80 percent of the maximum pressure. If you ride with a lot of luggage or a child seat, or if you are at the bike's maximum permitted total weight, Continental says the tire should be at maximum pressure. Never exceed it, as the tire could jump off the rim or burst while riding.

It is also a matter of balance. Lower pressure provides more comfort and grip. Higher pressure reduces rolling resistance, extends tire life, and lowers the risk of a pinch flat when you ride through a pothole or into a curb, writes the Dutch Cyclists' Union.

Does a soft tire reduce range?

Yes. If the tires are not inflated properly, the motor has to work harder, which uses energy, Bosch writes. With the correct pressure, the bike rolls better, you can travel farther, and you are less likely to break down on the way. The ANWB and BOVAG say the same: the softer the tires, the shorter your range.

Your tire also wears out faster as a result. According to Bosch, wear increases if you ride for a long time on tires that are too soft, and cracks can develop in the sidewall. Riding off also becomes more difficult. This matters even more on an e-bike: because of its higher average speed, the tires wear faster than those on a conventional bike, according to the ANWB, and tires last longer when they are properly inflated.

How often should you check the tire pressure of an e-bike?

Once a month, Bosch recommends. Every inner tube loses air, approximately one bar per month, and the higher the pressure, the faster this happens. Continental even recommends checking before every ride whether the tires are in good condition and have enough pressure.

Use a pump with a pressure gauge. You cannot do this with your thumb: from approximately two bar onward, tires always feel hard, and you cannot feel the difference between three and four bar, according to Bosch. Puncture-resistant tires feel harder because of their reinforcement, the ANWB warns. If your gauge is in psi: one bar is 14.5 psi.

Pay extra attention in winter. The ANWB recommends checking the tires especially during the winter months, when you cycle less. According to Continental, inner tubes slowly lose air when left unused for a long time, and a bike that stands for a long time on flat tires can damage the tire.

Which tire is fitted to your e-bike?

That varies by model, and so does the range. The ENGWE Mapfour N1 Air rides on 700 x 38C tires, the JOBOBIKE Astra on 27.5 x 2.4-inch tires, and the JOBOBIKE Robin Pro on 26 x 4.0-inch fatbike tires. There is no single figure for all those tires. The same applies to other brands: Gazelle refers to the sidewall of the tire for the pressure range. If you have a fatbike, the same applies, with lower pressure because the tire is wider.