Road Tires and Pressures

Road tires. Is there that much to think about? Probably not, but let’s look at what and why Obed offers when it comes to where the rubber meets the road. Having been around the block for a while (30+ years between our family of bike brands), we have tried them all, and regretted many. While you can walk into any bike shop and find a wall full of choices and a shop full of opinions, we have a couple favorites that have risen to top of our list over all the years of riding. We primarily have two tires on offer, and they speak to how we ride and our willingness to explore some of the less smooth roads in and around our corner of the world. Both the Continental GP5000 and the Gravel King 35c semi-slick are amazing tires, though each one has a distinct tilt towards two ends of the road/all-road spectrum. 

The GP5000 has been around, and has plenty of accolades touting it as one of the best all round road tires. With a range of widths (30/32mm being our personal bias), a puncture resistant casing and a super grippy outer, this tire is our go-to favorite for all out roadie vibes. They roll fast and have great traction in wet or dry conditions. Think of this tire as a racing and training tool, versatile enough but with a lean towards performance instead of adventure. Tough enough to withstand the rigors of daily training, with some broken roads along the way.

The Gravel King 35 semi-slick comes from Panaracer’s gravel tire range, but it certainly doesn't stay there full time. With a slightly more textured surface and a heavier duty casing, this tire is happy on mellow dirt or light gravel while still keeping the speeds high on the smooth stuff. If your style of riding includes a couple sectors of chipseal, or a few bits of gravel necessary to make the perfect route, then this is your tire. The versatility that comes from this higher volume tire, paired with a slightly lower tire pressure lets you float over the bumps and breaks, sail through the roadside litter all while stoking the desire to see what’s around the next turn. If you’re more of an exploratory rider, one that just has to know where the next road goes, this tire is perfect.

What good is talking about tires if we don't harp on tire pressure just a bit? After all, it wasn't that many years ago that your local mechanic would bump the psi up and over the triple digits. In my early days of riding, I remember increasing my pressure from 90 psi to 100 psi, then to 115 psi and each time thinking, “OMG this is so fast, I'm going higher next time”. Well, how things have changed, not only in tires but also in rim designs. Many rim manufactures now recommend no higher than 73 psi for rims that are ‘hookless’ (Zipp, for example). So where is the sweet spot? Dad’s 95 psi or Zipp’s ‘no more than 73 psi’? Since we offer Zipp wheels as an upgrade, let’s start there.

In an effort to shave weight and manufacturing costs, Zipp’s amazing wheels (among others) have altered the rim shape in a way that achieves the savings but also requires us to get rid of our higher psi = higher speed mentality. Above 73 psi and the tire has the potential to blow off the rim, but below that number is the sweet spot for both comfort and speed. Why run lower pressures if you've gotten by as is? The biggest reason for us is fatigue. Few things are more exhausting than getting jostled and bumped around for your entire weekend of riding. Oftentimes it is not so much a change of route than needs to occur, but instead a tweak to equipment- specifically the sweet spot where the rubber meets the road. So what is the sweet spot, and does it change if I have the GP5000 or the Gravel King 35 tire?

Running a quick survey around the factory, most of our riding employees have sought out the benefits associated with the wider tire/lower pressure trend. When it comes down to a specific psi, it's often related to rider weight and can get a little nuanced for each and every condition. For pure road rides, most of us prefer the 30/32c GP5000 Front/Rear tire combo, and tend to run between 55 and 70 psi for road rides. The variation in pressure is mostly based on the weather. If rain is expected or possible, stick to the lower end of the scale. 

When it comes to the Gravel King 35’s, we found a similar result. While the upper end of the pressure scale is about the same, the lower end gets a little lower for this higher volume tire. Dropping that pressure down to 45 psi might have it's place if you find yourself off the pavement for a bit. The larger volume tire lets the bike float over bumps, rather than getting bounced from bump to bump. There is a fine line to be found here though. Too much pressure prevents the tire from smoothing out the bumps and gaps, and too little will leave your bike feeling squirmy and possibly your tires flat from pinching or bottoming out. 

So, where does one start? First, check your rim and tire manufacturer’s recommendations. If those are contradictory, lean towards the rim maker's recommendation. These recommendations are a great place to start, but don't be afraid to inch lower as you get more comfortable riding the rim/tire combo. For most of us at Obed, it seems the sweet spot for most rides is around 70 psi, with a majority of us hanging out closer to 60 psi. As with most things, experiment with slight and gradual changes. You just might find yourself less fatigued and possibly faster than when you used to roll around at 95 psi.

Disclaimer: All of the above writing was done under the impression that you are riding tubeless tires with ample sealant. Tubes can be vulnerable to pinch flats and can limit your ability to run lower pressures without risking a dreaded blowout. Be sure to test out what tire pressure works best for you, raising or lowering the PSI gradually until you find the sweet spot for both you and where you like to ride.