The type of tires you use on your bike depends on its usage. Mountain bikes can be ridden on many different terrains and for different activities. You need different skills as well as different tires for many of these. If you pick the right mountain bike tires they will help your riding and make it safer.
Tires either come with a standard inner tube to keep them inflated or they are tubeless, so the question to answer is which one do you go for?
The majority of tubeless tires have a thick sidewall that fits into a specific sealed-bed rim. These tires can handle rough ground so they are perfect for downhill, but the flip side is the cost.
The benefits of an airtight seal and a durable, low pressure performance are outweighed by the cost. They also require a clean rim and tire to fit them, and a big pump to inflate them.
Clean conditions are not often available if the tire needs to be changed out on a trail. And even with a CO2 cartridge pump you will most likely have to use an inner tube until you can get home and fix it. Even though small holes might be repairable a big hole can mean the tire is even written off as well.
Tubeless tires are heavier than tires with inner tubes so if you are looking for fast start times and riding speeds choose a lighter tire. Inner tube tires also offer greater flexibility as you can get them in a wider range of design and tread styles.
You can get kits now to convert a standard tire with an inner tube into a tubeless tire. They mix a latex-based filling liquid with a rubber rim strip to seal the tire and rim. You may have to top up the filler sometimes but the cost is less than buying a standard tubeless tire.
You still get most of the low pressure advantages of a tubeless tire but with a much bigger choice of rims and treads, and with only the initial kit cost and latex top-ups to pay for. They are also lighter although the same repair problems on the trail apply unfortunately.
Whichever kind of tire you choose, it is essential to replace your tires regularly. A blow out on a trail can cause injury to you or other riders or even cost you a competition. With proper maintenance and careful selection, your tires will make a massive difference to your riding.
Tires either come with a standard inner tube to keep them inflated or they are tubeless, so the question to answer is which one do you go for?
The majority of tubeless tires have a thick sidewall that fits into a specific sealed-bed rim. These tires can handle rough ground so they are perfect for downhill, but the flip side is the cost.
The benefits of an airtight seal and a durable, low pressure performance are outweighed by the cost. They also require a clean rim and tire to fit them, and a big pump to inflate them.
Clean conditions are not often available if the tire needs to be changed out on a trail. And even with a CO2 cartridge pump you will most likely have to use an inner tube until you can get home and fix it. Even though small holes might be repairable a big hole can mean the tire is even written off as well.
Tubeless tires are heavier than tires with inner tubes so if you are looking for fast start times and riding speeds choose a lighter tire. Inner tube tires also offer greater flexibility as you can get them in a wider range of design and tread styles.
You can get kits now to convert a standard tire with an inner tube into a tubeless tire. They mix a latex-based filling liquid with a rubber rim strip to seal the tire and rim. You may have to top up the filler sometimes but the cost is less than buying a standard tubeless tire.
You still get most of the low pressure advantages of a tubeless tire but with a much bigger choice of rims and treads, and with only the initial kit cost and latex top-ups to pay for. They are also lighter although the same repair problems on the trail apply unfortunately.
Whichever kind of tire you choose, it is essential to replace your tires regularly. A blow out on a trail can cause injury to you or other riders or even cost you a competition. With proper maintenance and careful selection, your tires will make a massive difference to your riding.
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Get more information on mountain bike tires and tips about mountain bike maintenance here.
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