Bicycle Tyres
Your choice of bicycle tyres depends on the kind of cycling you do...
Buy fast rolling Slick or Semi-Slick tyres for road and commuting use.
Use knobbly treads for grip on soft surfaces off-road.
Keeping your tyres pumped up makes cycling easier! Bicycle tyres roll faster as tyre-pressure increases.
Bicycle Tyre Sizes Explained...
The most common bicycle tyre sizes are
26 inch - Mountain Bike Tyres
700c Road Bike Tyres
12 inch, 16 inch, 18, 20 & 24 inch tyres are used on kids bikes, bmx's, folding bicycles and recumbent bikes or trikes.
Bicycle tyre sizes are always stated using two numbers, e.g. 700 X 30.
The first number refers to the diameter of the wheel, the second number is the width of the bicycle tyre.
You can fit a different width of tyre to that which your bike was supplied with. Just make sure the diameter is the same.
If you are not sure which size you have - look at the side of your tyre - the tyre size is usually printed on there along with some other information e.g. Max Pressure etc.
Mountain Bike Tyre Sizes
Mountain bike tyres use inches for their measurements due to the American influence e.g. 26" X 2.1".
26 inch tyre widths range in width from about 1.5 inch to 3 inches and are available in a huge range of tread patterns...
Choose slicks or semi-slicks for fast, efficient road and city cycling.
Choose super knobbly for extreme offroad adventures.
Choose light tread for easy offroad e.g. towpaths.
Road Bike Tyre Sizes
Road bike tyres use a European sizing system e.g. 700c X 25mm - Most adult road bikes are 700c (the wheel is actually 622mm in diameter - Doh!). 700c bike tyre width is measured in mm.
Everyone has personal preferences on tyre width, but as a rule of thumb;
700 X 20 for racing on good surfaces
700 X 25 or larger for general use
700 X 30 or larger for touring / commuting
Hybrid Bicycle Tyre Sizes
Hybrid Bikes are usually fitted with either 26 inch or 700c tyres. Look at the numbers on the side of your tyre if you are not sure what size your bike needs.
You can fit a different width of tyre to that which your bike was supplied with. Just make sure the diameter is the same.
Choose slicks or semi-slick tread for fast, efficient cycle commuting.
Choose light tread for easy offroad e.g. towpaths and SusTrans type trails.
Puncture Resistant Bicycle Tyres
Some manufacturers offer bicycle tyres that are nearly puncture-proof - A Kevlar or tough nylon layer protects the inner tube from puncture.
Specialized's Armadillo range of tyres seem particularly puncture resistant and are available for MTB & road bike in slick / semi-slick and treaded patterns in a variety of widths.
The Schwalbe Marathon Plus range of tyres are also very resistant to puncture but are limited on tread patterns and sizes.
Kevlar Beaded Bicycle Tyres
Also available are Kevlar beaded bicycle tyres (The bead is the part of the tyre that grips the rim). These are lighter than steel beaded tyres and also allow the tyre to be folded, which is handy if you want to carry a spare on a cycling holiday or long bike trip.
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