How do you inflate a mountain bike tire and are there any additional points to consider?

Do you want to inflate your mountain bike tire? You can inflate your tire in the same way as a bicycle tire with a foot pump or electric pump . Follow these steps to inflate your MTB tire.

1. First find the valve between the rims and unscrew the cap, if present. 
2. Most mountain bike tires nowadays have a Presta valve, also called a French valve. Turn the valve cap up. The cap cannot fall off, so you don't have to worry about unscrewing it. Be careful not to bend the valve.
3. Then connect the pump to the valve and pump until the desired pressure is reached.
4. After this, turn the screw cap down again and, if necessary, screw the valve cap back on.

Inflating the tire of your mountain bike requires some attention. How often should you check the tire pressure, how much should you inflate the tire and what exactly should you pay attention to? And what is the correct tire pressure for a mountain bike?

It is a good idea to regularly check the tire pressure and inflate the tires of your mountain bike. It is not only much more pleasant to drive, but also safer! 

Safe riding on the mountain bike 

The correct tire pressure is important for safety. Tires that are too soft cause a longer braking distance. Too low tire pressure also makes the tire more susceptible to punctures. Your mountain bike will also feel a lot more unstable if the tire pressure is too low. Also be careful not to overinflate the tire. The harder the tire, the narrower the part that touches the road surface. This causes you to lose control. A tire that is too hard is also not pleasant to drive. You then lose too much cushioning, so you feel every tree root on the path. 

How to choose the right MTB tire pressure

The ideal tire pressure for a mountain bike depends on various factors. The surface where you cycle plays a role. Do you have a sandy path ahead, for example because you are heading out after a warm period? Then it is a good idea to reduce the pressure by 0.10-0.20 bar. Even on wet surfaces such as a damp meadow, lower tire pressure provides more grip. If you are going to ride an MTB trail with a lot of stones and roots, a slightly higher pressure is nice. You can then increase the pressure by 0.10-0.20 bar. This means you have less chance of impact leaks and damage to the rims. Be careful not to inflate the tire too hard, otherwise you will bounce around. 

In addition, the type of mountain bike tire is important for the tire pressure. For example, you usually inflate a tubeless mountain bike tire less hard than a tire with an inner tube. The difference in ideal tire pressure between tubeless and an MTB tire with an inner tube is 10%. Of course, your own weight also plays a role. The heavier the rider, the harder the tire. Someone who weighs 90 kg has to inflate the tires harder than someone who weighs 70 kg.

Wide tires and rims also play a role. Good to remember: if you have a wide MTB tire, it will quickly feel harder than a narrow tire with the same tire pressure. In other words, you don't have to inflate a wide tire as much as a narrow tire. Even with wide rims you need to pump less air into the tire.

Mountain bike tire pressure for beginners

Also take your technique into consideration: if you are a novice mountain biker, it is safer to inflate the tire a little harder. Tip: if you don't feel confident in the corners yet, reduce the pressure in the front tire by about 0.20 bar!

What is the maximum tire pressure for a mountain bike? 

The maximum tire pressure can be found on the side of the tire. This is often a lot higher than the ideal tire pressure.

The advantage of your own tire pressure table

It is best to experiment yourself to arrive at your ideal tire pressure for each path. With the electric tire pump from Donrox you can choose from five pre-programmed and customizable settings. This allows you to create an ideal tire pressure table yourself, for your mountain bike, but also for other bicycles and even your car. This way you only have to look it up once and you can be sure that you have exactly the right voltage.

How often should you check your tire pressure?

Purchase a good electric pump with a voltage meter and check the voltage regularly. Tires always lose some pressure naturally. Therefore, check the tire pressure of your mountain bike at least once every two months. It is even better to check the tire pressure every week, for example just before you go out with your mountain bike.

Inflate an MTB tire with a compressor

Inflate the tires of your mountain bike with a compressor? This is possible with the electric tire pump from Donrox, a handy mini compressor. Inflating is effortless and stops automatically at the desired pressure. The compressor is compact enough to always have with you. With this versatile mini compressor you can also perform controlled bleeding. Thanks to the built-in light, you can clearly see what you are doing, even in bad weather or late at night.

Do you want to inflate your tires, but you are not sure how best to do this? Then read one of the following blog posts!