Can I pump my MTB tire to max (55 psi / 380 kPa) without the tube inside bursting?

I have a e-mountain bike and I use to commute to uni every day. I have heard that higher tire pressures give you a bit more speed. My tires say I can pump to 55 psi (380 kPa) but I don't know if my tube can handle the same pressure. Don't want to buy a new tube. I currently have them at 40 psi (280 kPa). Will 47 to 50 psi (320–380 kPa) burst my tubes?

edited 6 hours ago

David Richerby

12.6k33463

asked 10 hours ago

Sonasi

262

New contributor

1

I happen to have just bought a tube so I have the packaging and the tube on hand to examine. Mine happens to be a Continental tube for 26x1.75-2.5. There is no mention of maximum pressure on the packaging or the tube itself. The pressure limit is set by the tire, so if the sidewall of the tire says max 55 psi, then go with that.

– Gaston
8 hours ago

1

I would avoid over-inflation. It's unlikely to help and will make your ride less comfortable. You will also be more likely to get a flat if you hit a pothole or curb. Using smoother or even thinner tires is a better option. There are styles that have a smooth center line and knobby sides if you want to have a fair off-road capability.

– JimmyJames
7 hours ago

1

Shouldn't snakebite flats be caused by too-low pressure, not too-high?

– Vladimir F
6 hours ago

@VladimirF I think both are an issue. My recent experience is with road bikes and I've had a lot fewer flats since I stopped maxing out the pressure. But we are talking 120 PSI versus 55 so it may not apply here.

– JimmyJames
6 hours ago

But certainly with my gravel bike I try to keep the pressure as low as possible. It is not slow and it is much better experience in any kind of terrain, so I can actually ride faster. I would not recommend to go for high pressure on a mountain bike, I think bikers also try to go pretty low and use mostly tubeless tyres for that.

– Vladimir F
6 hours ago

|
show 5 more comments

edited 6 hours ago

David Richerby

12.6k33463

asked 10 hours ago

Sonasi

262

New contributor

1

I happen to have just bought a tube so I have the packaging and the tube on hand to examine. Mine happens to be a Continental tube for 26x1.75-2.5. There is no mention of maximum pressure on the packaging or the tube itself. The pressure limit is set by the tire, so if the sidewall of the tire says max 55 psi, then go with that.

– Gaston
8 hours ago

1

I would avoid over-inflation. It's unlikely to help and will make your ride less comfortable. You will also be more likely to get a flat if you hit a pothole or curb. Using smoother or even thinner tires is a better option. There are styles that have a smooth center line and knobby sides if you want to have a fair off-road capability.

– JimmyJames
7 hours ago

1

Shouldn't snakebite flats be caused by too-low pressure, not too-high?

– Vladimir F
6 hours ago

@VladimirF I think both are an issue. My recent experience is with road bikes and I've had a lot fewer flats since I stopped maxing out the pressure. But we are talking 120 PSI versus 55 so it may not apply here.

– JimmyJames
6 hours ago

But certainly with my gravel bike I try to keep the pressure as low as possible. It is not slow and it is much better experience in any kind of terrain, so I can actually ride faster. I would not recommend to go for high pressure on a mountain bike, I think bikers also try to go pretty low and use mostly tubeless tyres for that.

– Vladimir F
6 hours ago

|
show 5 more comments

edited 6 hours ago

David Richerby

12.6k33463

asked 10 hours ago

Sonasi

262

New contributor

mountain-bike tire commuter innertube tire-pressure

edited 6 hours ago

David Richerby

12.6k33463

asked 10 hours ago

Sonasi

262

New contributor

edited 6 hours ago

David Richerby

12.6k33463

asked 10 hours ago

Sonasi

262

New contributor

edited 6 hours ago

David Richerby

12.6k33463

edited 6 hours ago

David Richerby

12.6k33463

edited 6 hours ago

David Richerby

12.6k33463

asked 10 hours ago

Sonasi

262

New contributor

asked 10 hours ago

Sonasi

262

asked 10 hours ago

Sonasi

262

New contributor

Sonasi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

1

I happen to have just bought a tube so I have the packaging and the tube on hand to examine. Mine happens to be a Continental tube for 26x1.75-2.5. There is no mention of maximum pressure on the packaging or the tube itself. The pressure limit is set by the tire, so if the sidewall of the tire says max 55 psi, then go with that.

– Gaston
8 hours ago

1

I would avoid over-inflation. It's unlikely to help and will make your ride less comfortable. You will also be more likely to get a flat if you hit a pothole or curb. Using smoother or even thinner tires is a better option. There are styles that have a smooth center line and knobby sides if you want to have a fair off-road capability.

– JimmyJames
7 hours ago

1

Shouldn't snakebite flats be caused by too-low pressure, not too-high?

– Vladimir F
6 hours ago

@VladimirF I think both are an issue. My recent experience is with road bikes and I've had a lot fewer flats since I stopped maxing out the pressure. But we are talking 120 PSI versus 55 so it may not apply here.

– JimmyJames
6 hours ago

But certainly with my gravel bike I try to keep the pressure as low as possible. It is not slow and it is much better experience in any kind of terrain, so I can actually ride faster. I would not recommend to go for high pressure on a mountain bike, I think bikers also try to go pretty low and use mostly tubeless tyres for that.

– Vladimir F
6 hours ago

|
show 5 more comments

1

I happen to have just bought a tube so I have the packaging and the tube on hand to examine. Mine happens to be a Continental tube for 26x1.75-2.5. There is no mention of maximum pressure on the packaging or the tube itself. The pressure limit is set by the tire, so if the sidewall of the tire says max 55 psi, then go with that.

– Gaston
8 hours ago

1

I would avoid over-inflation. It's unlikely to help and will make your ride less comfortable. You will also be more likely to get a flat if you hit a pothole or curb. Using smoother or even thinner tires is a better option. There are styles that have a smooth center line and knobby sides if you want to have a fair off-road capability.

– JimmyJames
7 hours ago

1

Shouldn't snakebite flats be caused by too-low pressure, not too-high?

– Vladimir F
6 hours ago

@VladimirF I think both are an issue. My recent experience is with road bikes and I've had a lot fewer flats since I stopped maxing out the pressure. But we are talking 120 PSI versus 55 so it may not apply here.

– JimmyJames
6 hours ago

But certainly with my gravel bike I try to keep the pressure as low as possible. It is not slow and it is much better experience in any kind of terrain, so I can actually ride faster. I would not recommend to go for high pressure on a mountain bike, I think bikers also try to go pretty low and use mostly tubeless tyres for that.

– Vladimir F
6 hours ago

I happen to have just bought a tube so I have the packaging and the tube on hand to examine. Mine happens to be a Continental tube for 26x1.75-2.5. There is no mention of maximum pressure on the packaging or the tube itself. The pressure limit is set by the tire, so if the sidewall of the tire says max 55 psi, then go with that.

– Gaston
8 hours ago

I would avoid over-inflation. It's unlikely to help and will make your ride less comfortable. You will also be more likely to get a flat if you hit a pothole or curb. Using smoother or even thinner tires is a better option. There are styles that have a smooth center line and knobby sides if you want to have a fair off-road capability.

– JimmyJames
7 hours ago

Shouldn't snakebite flats be caused by too-low pressure, not too-high?

– Vladimir F
6 hours ago

@VladimirF I think both are an issue. My recent experience is with road bikes and I've had a lot fewer flats since I stopped maxing out the pressure. But we are talking 120 PSI versus 55 so it may not apply here.

– JimmyJames
6 hours ago

But certainly with my gravel bike I try to keep the pressure as low as possible. It is not slow and it is much better experience in any kind of terrain, so I can actually ride faster. I would not recommend to go for high pressure on a mountain bike, I think bikers also try to go pretty low and use mostly tubeless tyres for that.

– Vladimir F
6 hours ago

|
show 5 more comments

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

It can't burst the tube, because the tube is completely surrounded by the tyre and rim.

Bear in mind, though, that higher pressures don't automatically mean a faster ride. There are two competing factors: a soft tyre is constantly losing energy due to being squashed flat against the road, but a hard tyre loses energy because any bumps you go over have to lift the whole bike, instead of just deforming the tyre. I don't ride mountain bikes so I don't know where that trade-off starts to bite.

On an e-bike, I'm not sure this will make much difference, though: it just means that the assist motor will have to work less hard at any given speed.

answered 10 hours ago

David Richerby

12.6k33463

1

You could make it clearer that the tube does not take any significant part of the pressure; the tyre does it alone. One can see how little pressure a tube can hold by pumping one up, without the tyre. It's a better balloon.

– Peter A. Schneider
6 hours ago

1

@Adonalsium OK but any such difference is going to be negligible: a 1% increase in tyre outer diameter will give a 1% increase in speed.

– David Richerby
5 hours ago

1

What kind of bumps are you going over that only have an uphill side?

– Phil Frost
4 hours ago

2

@PhilFrost Nothing is 100% efficient, so the energy you lost on the uphill side won't be fully restored to you on the downhill.

– David Richerby
4 hours ago

1

Better than rolling resistance, which converts energy to heat which isn't recovered at all. Lower pressure makes a larger contact patch, reducing sheer forces on the soil which means more "grip". But it certainly doesn't make the bike roll more efficiently.

– Phil Frost
4 hours ago

|
show 4 more comments

-1

A tube will not be able to burst because of the tire, but a mountainbike tire inflated to 55 PSI will bust more easily from say hitting something like a curb at speed or from a sharp object like a rock.

answered 44 mins ago

Jacob Bernard

New contributor

So... don't hit kerbs and avoid rocks in the road?

– David Richerby
5 mins ago

add a comment |

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2 Answers
2

active

oldest

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2 Answers
2

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oldest

votes

It can't burst the tube, because the tube is completely surrounded by the tyre and rim.

On an e-bike, I'm not sure this will make much difference, though: it just means that the assist motor will have to work less hard at any given speed.

answered 10 hours ago

David Richerby

12.6k33463

1

You could make it clearer that the tube does not take any significant part of the pressure; the tyre does it alone. One can see how little pressure a tube can hold by pumping one up, without the tyre. It's a better balloon.

– Peter A. Schneider
6 hours ago

1

@Adonalsium OK but any such difference is going to be negligible: a 1% increase in tyre outer diameter will give a 1% increase in speed.

– David Richerby
5 hours ago

1

What kind of bumps are you going over that only have an uphill side?

– Phil Frost
4 hours ago

2

@PhilFrost Nothing is 100% efficient, so the energy you lost on the uphill side won't be fully restored to you on the downhill.

– David Richerby
4 hours ago

1

Better than rolling resistance, which converts energy to heat which isn't recovered at all. Lower pressure makes a larger contact patch, reducing sheer forces on the soil which means more "grip". But it certainly doesn't make the bike roll more efficiently.

– Phil Frost
4 hours ago

|
show 4 more comments

It can't burst the tube, because the tube is completely surrounded by the tyre and rim.

On an e-bike, I'm not sure this will make much difference, though: it just means that the assist motor will have to work less hard at any given speed.

answered 10 hours ago

David Richerby

12.6k33463

1

You could make it clearer that the tube does not take any significant part of the pressure; the tyre does it alone. One can see how little pressure a tube can hold by pumping one up, without the tyre. It's a better balloon.

– Peter A. Schneider
6 hours ago

1

@Adonalsium OK but any such difference is going to be negligible: a 1% increase in tyre outer diameter will give a 1% increase in speed.

– David Richerby
5 hours ago

1

What kind of bumps are you going over that only have an uphill side?

– Phil Frost
4 hours ago

2

@PhilFrost Nothing is 100% efficient, so the energy you lost on the uphill side won't be fully restored to you on the downhill.

– David Richerby
4 hours ago

1

Better than rolling resistance, which converts energy to heat which isn't recovered at all. Lower pressure makes a larger contact patch, reducing sheer forces on the soil which means more "grip". But it certainly doesn't make the bike roll more efficiently.

– Phil Frost
4 hours ago

|
show 4 more comments

It can't burst the tube, because the tube is completely surrounded by the tyre and rim.

On an e-bike, I'm not sure this will make much difference, though: it just means that the assist motor will have to work less hard at any given speed.

answered 10 hours ago

David Richerby

12.6k33463

It can't burst the tube, because the tube is completely surrounded by the tyre and rim.

On an e-bike, I'm not sure this will make much difference, though: it just means that the assist motor will have to work less hard at any given speed.

answered 10 hours ago

David Richerby

12.6k33463

answered 10 hours ago

David Richerby

12.6k33463

answered 10 hours ago

David Richerby

12.6k33463

answered 10 hours ago

David Richerby

12.6k33463

1

You could make it clearer that the tube does not take any significant part of the pressure; the tyre does it alone. One can see how little pressure a tube can hold by pumping one up, without the tyre. It's a better balloon.

– Peter A. Schneider
6 hours ago

1

@Adonalsium OK but any such difference is going to be negligible: a 1% increase in tyre outer diameter will give a 1% increase in speed.

– David Richerby
5 hours ago

1

What kind of bumps are you going over that only have an uphill side?

– Phil Frost
4 hours ago

2

@PhilFrost Nothing is 100% efficient, so the energy you lost on the uphill side won't be fully restored to you on the downhill.

– David Richerby
4 hours ago

1

Better than rolling resistance, which converts energy to heat which isn't recovered at all. Lower pressure makes a larger contact patch, reducing sheer forces on the soil which means more "grip". But it certainly doesn't make the bike roll more efficiently.

– Phil Frost
4 hours ago

|
show 4 more comments

1

You could make it clearer that the tube does not take any significant part of the pressure; the tyre does it alone. One can see how little pressure a tube can hold by pumping one up, without the tyre. It's a better balloon.

– Peter A. Schneider
6 hours ago

1

@Adonalsium OK but any such difference is going to be negligible: a 1% increase in tyre outer diameter will give a 1% increase in speed.

– David Richerby
5 hours ago

1

What kind of bumps are you going over that only have an uphill side?

– Phil Frost
4 hours ago

2

@PhilFrost Nothing is 100% efficient, so the energy you lost on the uphill side won't be fully restored to you on the downhill.

– David Richerby
4 hours ago

1

Better than rolling resistance, which converts energy to heat which isn't recovered at all. Lower pressure makes a larger contact patch, reducing sheer forces on the soil which means more "grip". But it certainly doesn't make the bike roll more efficiently.

– Phil Frost
4 hours ago

You could make it clearer that the tube does not take any significant part of the pressure; the tyre does it alone. One can see how little pressure a tube can hold by pumping one up, without the tyre. It's a better balloon.

– Peter A. Schneider
6 hours ago

@Adonalsium OK but any such difference is going to be negligible: a 1% increase in tyre outer diameter will give a 1% increase in speed.

– David Richerby
5 hours ago

What kind of bumps are you going over that only have an uphill side?

– Phil Frost
4 hours ago

@PhilFrost Nothing is 100% efficient, so the energy you lost on the uphill side won't be fully restored to you on the downhill.

– David Richerby
4 hours ago

Better than rolling resistance, which converts energy to heat which isn't recovered at all. Lower pressure makes a larger contact patch, reducing sheer forces on the soil which means more "grip". But it certainly doesn't make the bike roll more efficiently.

– Phil Frost
4 hours ago

|
show 4 more comments

-1

answered 44 mins ago

Jacob Bernard

New contributor

So... don't hit kerbs and avoid rocks in the road?

– David Richerby
5 mins ago

add a comment |

-1

answered 44 mins ago

Jacob Bernard

New contributor

So... don't hit kerbs and avoid rocks in the road?

– David Richerby
5 mins ago

add a comment |

-1

answered 44 mins ago

Jacob Bernard

New contributor

answered 44 mins ago

Jacob Bernard

New contributor

answered 44 mins ago

Jacob Bernard

New contributor

answered 44 mins ago

Jacob Bernard

answered 44 mins ago

Jacob Bernard

New contributor

Jacob Bernard is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

So... don't hit kerbs and avoid rocks in the road?

– David Richerby
5 mins ago

add a comment |

So... don't hit kerbs and avoid rocks in the road?

– David Richerby
5 mins ago

So... don't hit kerbs and avoid rocks in the road?

– David Richerby
5 mins ago

add a comment |

Sonasi is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.

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