The kind of tires you use on your bike is determined by what you are using your bike for. Mountain bikes can be used for a number of different terrains and disciplines that require different skill sets as much as different tires. Get the right mountain bike tires and they will improve your riding and increase your safety.
Tires come with either an inner tube to keep them inflated or they are tubeless,but the question is which kind should you use?
Most tubeless tires have a thick side-wall that locks into a specific sealed-bed rim. These tires can take a beating over rough terrain so they are ideal for downhill, but the downside is that they are more expensive.
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 usually unavailable if the tire has to be replaced on the trail. And even with a C02 cartridge pump you'll usually have to use an inner tube to get you home and then repair the tire later. Also while small holes might be repairable, a big hole can mean the tire is completely 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 sort of tires you use it is really important to replace them regularly. A blow out could cause injury on a trail or cost you a competition. By making the right choices and with regular maintenance your tires will help your riding massively.
Tires come with either an inner tube to keep them inflated or they are tubeless,but the question is which kind should you use?
Most tubeless tires have a thick side-wall that locks into a specific sealed-bed rim. These tires can take a beating over rough terrain so they are ideal for downhill, but the downside is that they are more expensive.
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 usually unavailable if the tire has to be replaced on the trail. And even with a C02 cartridge pump you'll usually have to use an inner tube to get you home and then repair the tire later. Also while small holes might be repairable, a big hole can mean the tire is completely 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 sort of tires you use it is really important to replace them regularly. A blow out could cause injury on a trail or cost you a competition. By making the right choices and with regular maintenance your tires will help your riding massively.
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Read more about the importance of choosing the right mountain bike tires and get tips and advice on mountain bike maintenance here.
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