Bicycle Tires
The bicycle, as a mode of transportation, is experiencing a revival, and undoubtedly, its popularity will only continue to grow. More and more people are opting for this method of travel – the countries of Western Europe are proof of this. Lightweight, convenient, maneuverable, and free from the daily expenses of fuel and parking, bicycles are starting to surpass cars when it comes to navigating congested city traffic.
Various types of recreational activities associated with bicycles are also gaining traction – tourist trips, countryside rides, navigating rough terrain, acrobatic cycling, and much more.
What’s strange, however, is that while many car owners meticulously select tires for their vehicles, once they switch to bicycles, they tend to dismiss the importance of tire choice—assuming it doesn’t make much of a difference. A major misconception! Improper selection of bicycle tires leads to premature wear, significantly reduced performance of the bicycle, extra energy expenditure, and, at the end of the day, impacts riding safety.
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So, what should cyclists know when choosing tires?
A Few Words About Bicycle Tire Construction
Bicycle Tire Structure
To clearly understand what kind of tires you need for your bicycle, every owner should at least minimally familiarize themselves with their construction.
The four main structural components of a tire are the bead wire, casing, sidewalls, and tread.
Bead wire ensures a secure fit of the tire to the wheel rim. It is made either from steel wire or synthetic materials, most commonly Kevlar. The former is very common and affordable. Tires with Kevlar bead wire (foldable tires) are lighter, can be compactly folded for storage or use as a spare on the go, but are significantly more expensive.
Casing is the foundation of the tire, its framework, which largely determines its strength characteristics. It is made of diagonal nylon weave with varying thread density, measured by the TPI (threads per inch) index, ranging from 24 to 130. Naturally, the higher this index, the stronger the tire.
Tire sidewalls are the rubber covering on the sides of the tire. They are of two types:
Gumwall – thick rubber coating with low casing thread density. This is the most common type: durable, inexpensive, and often used in urban settings or for touring.
Skinwall – thin-coated tires with high casing thread density. These are lightweight and typically used for sports purposes.
Tread is the part of the tire that comes into direct contact with the surface. The performance characteristics of the tires are largely determined by the tread design and depth, which will be discussed below.
Tires can be made from rubber or compound (polymer composite) materials. Both materials have their pros and cons.
Rubber provides better grip on surfaces but wears out faster. Compound is cheaper, and for certain road types (e.g., riding through mud), its performance characteristics may even surpass those of rubber.
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Bicycle Tire Sizing
Bicycle Tires
This is a topic worth thoroughly understanding. The fact is that there is a certain variety of standards when it comes to classifying bicycle tires—there is the French system, the inch-based system (which can itself differ), the European ISO, and in some cases, even the Soviet or Russian standards. How not to get confused in this diversity?
The French system of marking reflects only the approximate external size of a tire mounted on a rim, including its thickness. It consists of a three-digit number indicating the wheel diameter in millimeters and a letter denoting tire width—from A to D as the width increases. This system is relatively inconvenient and does not reflect the full variety of bicycle tires.
The inch system also describes tires based on their external diameter. The marking typically includes two or three numerical groups. The first number indicates the approximate outer diameter in inches. The second number represents tire width, which might be shown as a decimal or a fraction. If there are three numerical groups, the second number indicates tire height, and the third denotes its width. For example: 20 x 1.5; 24 x 1 ⅜; 26 x 1.25 x 1.375.
Probably the most convenient system is the European ISO ETRTO standard, which is increasingly preferred by most global manufacturers. This system focuses on the tire’s width and the rim’s bead seat diameter, both expressed in millimeters.
In addition to diameter, it’s crucial to match the tire’s width to the internal bead seat width of the rim. In the ISO system, this measurement is also standardized and varies from 15 to 23 millimeters or more, with 2-mm increments. Choosing the correct tire width will extend its life, reduce the risk of punctures, “rolling,” or popping off the rim.
Clearly, when selecting appropriate tires, it’s most convenient to rely on the ISO ETRTO system. Knowing the dimensions of your bike’s wheel rims, you can easily find the right tires using compatibility charts. These reference tables must be available in all specialized stores and can also be found online.
What tread pattern should you choose?
Winter Bike Tires
The choice of tire tread depends on the demands made on the bicycle—riding through urban areas on flat asphalt, suburban dirt paths, touring over long distances, or navigating challenging terrains.
Slicks – these tires have such faint tread patterns that they are almost invisible. They are the fastest and quietest tires, providing prolonged inertia during movement, making them perfect for smooth surfaces. However, they have a downside—on slippery or muddy terrains, especially during braking, their behavior can become unpredictable.
Semi-slicks – the most popular option for city rides and light off-road conditions. These may be bicycle-type semi-slicks, featuring a prominent central tread path that’s smooth or lightly ridged, with knobby side surfaces that engage during turns or on uneven or muddy terrain. Car-type semi-slicks have a fairly uniform, shallow tread pattern, resembling all-season car tires.
Moderately aggressive tread – in this design, shorter treads are placed relatively densely, particularly along the central running path. Such tires are mainly used for dirt roads but still perform decently on asphalt, though achieving high speeds with them is not easy.
Aggressive tread – these tires are made from tough compounds and feature prominent knobby treads covering the entire surface. They are designed for mud and off-road conditions and are entirely unsuitable for asphalt—they are heavy, noisy, require significant pedal force, and wear out quickly.
Winter bike tires – for those who can’t imagine life without cycling, even when roads are covered in snow and ice. Interestingly, they can also be categorized into city, touring, extreme, or sports types, depending on the tread pattern and the number and shape of metal spikes.
There is another type of bicycle tire known as “tubulars,” which combine the inner tube and tire. These are typically used only on sports bicycles, as they do not justify their performance in regular road conditions.
How to Store a Bike in Winter
Those who don’t use winter bike tires will find it useful to learn how to store a bike in winter .
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A Few Tips for Maintaining Bicycle Tires
Bicycle Tires
Selecting the right tires in terms of size and tread pattern is just the beginning—you must also know how to maintain them properly.
The air pressure in bicycle tires must correspond to the nominal air pressure in the tube, as indicated in the markings, measured in specific units called pounds per square inch – PSI. This value, albeit unfamiliar to our perception, can easily be converted into the more common “atmospheres” by dividing it approximately by 14.
Overinflating the tire leads to reduced grip on the road surface, a harsher ride, and may result in damage to the tube’s integrity. Insufficient pressure, on the other hand, drains the cyclist’s energy and causes rapid wear and potential damage to the tire.
Bicycle wheels need protection against punctures. To achieve this, when purchasing tires, you can opt for models with reinforced sidewalls specifically designed for this purpose, and with the highest possible thread density rating. Additionally, you should (and must) place an anti-puncture tape between the tube and the tire. Every cyclist should always carry a tire repair kit.
A fairly common mistake among beginners is incorrectly installing the wheel. You must pay attention to possible labels like “REAR” or “FRONT”, which indicate rear and front wheels, respectively. The direction of the wheel’s rotation is also very important – it is marked on the tire with an arrow.
Properly selected bicycle tires are the foundation of a comfortable and safe ride with minimal effort. This matter should never be approached carelessly; tires should not be chosen without considering all the nuances, nor merely based on price.
