First up is the obvious one – the width of the tyre. This also relates to the overall shape and volume of the tyre, which itself is dependent on the internal width of the rim of the mountain bike wheel it is fitted to.

No one wants to spend time fixing punctures at the side of a trail. Russell Burton / Immediate Media Reasons to buy: Accurate to within 0.1psi. Simple to fit on the valve without losing air. Small and light. The accuracy of a pressure gauge depends on several factors such as air seal, maximum gauge pressure, calibration, and external factors like barometric pressure and room temperature. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly how accurate bicycle tire pressure gauges are since different makes and models have various configurations.

The best tyre pressure gauges for cyclists, as rated by our expert testers

A soft-compound tyre will give more grip for a given pressure, as the rubber itself boosts traction. Here you might consider adding a touch more pressure because this will give the tyre more protection and stability, while retaining that grip you want. Should a rear tyre be pumped up harder than the front?

An analogue gauge is only as accurate as the size of the dial because if it’s small it can be harder to read out the gradients. To get around this issue a lot of low-pressure gauges designed for MTBs are only rated to 35-40psi, meaning it uses a bigger scale, so you can be more precise. Can they be converted from Schrader to Presta if I run both types? Comfort– on the other hand, running a lower pressure boosts comfort. A higher pressure creates a more rigid ride. Durability is one of the most famous features of the best pressure gauges for bikes. This gauge is made of brass and steel for extra sturdiness and excellent performance. It won’t break or bend as you use it on rough trails. It is also covered with protective rubber so you can rest assured that your bike gauge will be functional for long years. Riding Style– one for mountain bikers. The harder you ride, the higher pressure you should go for. This will help protect your bike and its components. If you ride with a lighter touch or are more technical, then you can go a little lower.Tube or tubeless– one of the biggest factors! Tubeless set-ups can be run at a lower pressure as there’s no risk of pinch flats. Pinch flats happen when a wheel hits a hard or sharp object, and the tube is pinched against the rim. It’s more likely to happen when running lower pressures, which is why inner tube set-ups usually require a higher pressure. Analog gauges, on the other hand, use the more traditional dial-style display. With analog, it might be a bit more difficult to get accurate readings since you’ll have to do some manual counting. However, they’re useful in a pinch. This type of gauge has the benefit of not needing any batteries to operate, unlike digital gauges. While the relationship between pressure and rolling efficiency is complex, on a mountain bike it’s advisable to run the rear tyre pressure a little higher than the front – it usually makes it roll faster and adds puncture protection. So, at what pressure should you run your tyres?