The N160 tyre pressure set by Bajaj calls for 25 psi in the 100 section front and 28 psi in the 130 section rear when you commute alone, and the rear climbs to 32 psi once a pillion sits behind you while the front holds at 25. These figures come from the Pulsar N160 owner's manual, where they also appear as 1.75, 2.0 and 2.25 kgf/cm2.
Set them cold: before the commute, or once the Pulsar has cooled in the parking for a good while. Ignore the much larger maximum figure moulded on the tyre wall.
Pulsar N160 fitment card
- Front tyre
- 100/80-17 52P tubeless
- Rear tyre
- 130/70-17 62P tubeless
- Wheels
- 17 inch alloy, front and rear, every variant
- Tyre pressure (cold)
- Front 25 psi, rear 28 psi (rider only)
- With pillion
- Front 25 psi, rear 32 psi
- Front brake
- 280 mm disc (single seat) or 300 mm disc (split seat)
- Rear brake
- 130 mm drum (base) or 230 mm disc
Pulsar N160 tyre pressure table
| Load | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| Rider alone | 25 psi (1.75 kgf/cm2) | 28 psi (2.0 kgf/cm2) |
| Rider and pillion | 25 psi (1.75 kgf/cm2) | 32 psi (2.25 kgf/cm2) |
These apply to every variant, single seat or split seat, since all of them run the 100/80-17 and 130/70-17 pair. Details of those sizes are on the N160 tyre size page.
Why the front stays put
A passenger on the N160 pillion perches close to the line of the rear axle. Very little of that extra weight shifts forward, so the front tyre sees roughly the same load either way. The rear, which also carries the engine torque, gets 4 more psi to stop it squashing and running hot. Going back to solo commuting? Let the rear down to 28 so it grips properly on painted lane markings and wet speed breakers.
N160 tyre pressure in bar, kPa and kgf/cm2
Some forecourt units display bar instead of psi. For this Pulsar: 25 psi works out near 1.7 bar (172 kPa), 28 psi near 1.9 bar (193 kPa), and 32 psi near 2.2 bar (221 kPa). Punch any other number into our psi to bar converter.
A five minute pressure routine
- Check while the Pulsar is still cold from its night in a shaded spot.
- Remove each valve cap and pocket it; a lost cap lets dirt into the core.
- Use your own gauge first. Note the reading of each tyre.
- Add air at the station to reach 25 and 28, or 25 and 32 if carrying someone.
- Gauge again, since the machine nozzle lets a little air escape on removal.
- Caps back on, both wheels.
Reached the pump only after a hot 20 minute ride? Go 2 psi over the cold target, then confirm with your gauge at dawn. Gauge technique for a Pulsar valve is part of our pressure checking walkthrough.
Effects of wrong air on this bike
Run the 130 section rear too soft and the bike feels lazy to tip into corners, the tread squirms, and the sidewall heats on a long highway stint. Fuel economy also drops a little. An underfilled front lets the alloy rim meet a sharp crater lip, and the dent may cause a slow leak.
Too much air is no better. The tyres turn hard and narrow their contact patch, so the front can skip over ridges under heavy braking, and the dual channel ABS on some variants will work harder on a loose surface. Keep to the maker figures.
Rain, ghats and long rides
Letting air out in the monsoon does not add grip; a tyre at its proper figure holds its tread shape so the channels can push water aside. Climbing a ghat road two up with a bag strapped on, run 32 psi at the back and recheck at the tea stop. Before any long trip, spin each wheel and look for nails, glass or cuts. Tubeless tyres hold air for a while after a puncture, so a steady drop every few days means a hidden puncture. The bike tyre pressure guide and the tyre pressure hub have more.
Comparing other 160 cc bikes
Do not copy figures between bikes even when the class is the same. Check the Apache RTR 160 tyre pressure or the FZ tyre pressure page if those bikes share your garage, because each maker tunes air to its own weight and tyre choice.
Questions owners ask
What is the Pulsar N160 front tyre pressure?
Keep 25 psi cold in every situation, solo or with someone on the back. Bajaj's manual writes it as 1.75 kgf/cm2.
What should the N160 rear tyre pressure be with a pillion?
32 psi cold, which is 2.25 kgf/cm2. Ridden solo, the rear needs 28 psi.
Is 30 psi fine in the N160 rear for daily use?
Solo, Bajaj asks for 28 psi. Two extra psi will not hurt the tyre, though the rear will feel stiffer over cracked roads. Save 32 psi for days with a passenger or a loaded tail bag.
Does nitrogen help the N160 tyres?
Nitrogen escapes rubber a touch more slowly, nothing more. It does not change grip. If you fill it, still check pressure every week.
Why does my N160 rear lose air every few days?
Most often a thin wire has worked into the tread, or the valve core has aged. A soap and water mix dabbed around the Pulsar wheel foams wherever air escapes, and a repairer can then plug it or swap the valve.