How to choose your bike tyres: pressure, width and trends among the pros, we explain
Introduction
Tyres are often overlooked, yet they directly influence comfort, performance and safety. They are in direct contact with the tarmac, which plays a major role in efficiency. Choosing your tyres well therefore improves efficiency, grip and the feel on the bike. In recent years, equipment and habits have evolved, both among amateurs and in the professional peloton.
Inner tube or tubeless: two distinct approaches
Two main technologies coexist: the classic inner tube tyre and tubeless. The inner tube tyre remains the simplest and most affordable solution. Easy to repair, it suits those who value practicality. Tubeless, on the other hand, has changed the way we ride. By removing the inner tube, it allows you to ride at lower pressure and reduces the risk of punctures thanks to the sealant. This system is now standard in most professional teams, convinced by its gains in comfort and efficiency.
Tyre width: finding the right compromise
Width directly influences stability, comfort and rolling resistance. 25 mm remains fast but lacks comfort. 28 mm is now the reference: it offers an excellent balance between speed and comfort. Widths of 30 to 32 mm are appearing more and more in the peloton, particularly in the classics where the roads are often uneven. Models such as the Continental GP5000 S TR prove that it is possible to combine suppleness, grip and efficiency without compromising speed. For most cyclists, a width between 28 and 30 mm is ideal for the road.
Pressure: neither too much nor too little
Pressure depends on the rider's weight, the tyre width and the type of road. An over-inflated tyre loses comfort and grip, while an under-inflated tyre reduces efficiency and increases the risk of pinch flats. A formula used by Silca gives a basis for calculation:
Pressure (in bar) ≈ 0.065 × (total weight (rider + bike) ÷ (tyre width ÷ 25)¹·⁵)
For example, a 75 kg rider with an 8 kg bike and 28 mm tyres rides at around 4.3 bar at the rear and 4.0 bar at the front. With a tubeless set-up, you can lower the pressure by 0.3 to 0.5 bar for more comfort and traction.
Visma-Lease a Bike use a system from the brand Gravaa to adjust tubeless tyre pressure during races. This device allows mechanics to quickly change the pressure via a small connected pump, optimising grip, comfort and bike stability according to the type of road and the conditions.
Gravel, a new horizon
Gravel has redefined cycling. Its tyres, often between 35 and 45 mm, favour stability, comfort and reliability on mixed terrain. Tubeless has become essential there, allowing you to ride at very low pressure without fear of punctures, even on stony tracks.
Trends among the pros: UAE, Visma and the search for efficiency
In the peloton, comfort is now considered a performance factor. At UAE, Tadej Pogacar favours Continental tyres from 28 to 32 mm, set up tubeless, to optimise efficiency and comfort. For time trials they use the GP 5000 TT range in 28 or 30 mm. The same strategy at Visma–Lease a Bike, where the riders have adopted wider sections and lower pressures.
Conclusion
Choosing your tyres means finding the right balance between comfort, efficiency and safety. Standards have evolved: tubeless has become the obvious choice and widths between 28 and 32 mm have become the norm. But the principles remain simple: match the width to your riding, adjust the pressure to the terrain and maintain your tyres regularly. A well-chosen and properly inflated tyre really transforms the feel on the bike, whether to gain performance or simply to enjoy riding more.
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