Road Bike Tire Calculator & Guide

Michelin says a bike tire size is given on the sidewall in one of three ways: ETRTO (for example 23-622: 23 mm section width, 622 mm bead seat diameter), imperial (29 x 2.10) or metric (700 x 23C). Check that the tire width suits your rim and frame; we have no official source for a best width.

Michelin says the pressure recommended by the bicycle manufacturer or the tire manufacturer must be followed, and that pressure must be adapted to the tire, its section width, its use, the rider's weight and the bicycle. Michelin's published table for its Power Cup tire lists 90 PSI (6.2 bar) for a 28 mm tire and a 61 to 70 kg rider, for example. The pressure on the sidewall is the maximum, not the recommended pressure.

Michelin: a tube-type tire contains a removable inner tube; a tubeless tire is fitted without a tube and needs specific rims; a Tubeless Ready (TLR) tire can be fitted without a tube on a tubeless wheel provided the maximum pressure is not exceeded, sealant is added and pressure is checked before each ride; a tubular is sewn around the inner tube and glued to a tubular rim.

Michelin defines TPI (threads per inch) as the number of casing threads per inch, affecting weight, flexibility and performance. Michelin describes its Gum-X compound as designed to optimize grip and rolling speed, and Magi-X as designed for maximum grip. Compare makers' own specifications.