Bike Tyres Buying Guide
When shopping for bike tyres you'll have to first decide what sort of tyres you need and then decide the quality. To determine what sort, look at the style of bike you have and then consider the conditions you ride in. If you have a hybrid bike and do mainly street riding than you'll definitely want tyres with a smoother tread. Generally cheaper tyres are heavier and this is a consideration if you're travelling great distances because any added weight in your equipment translates to expending more effort on your part. Bike tyres are becoming highly specialised in order to fit the range of cycling terrains and conditions. This guide will show you the basics of bike tyres and give you a good idea of what to look for when choosing new tyres.
Types of Wheelsets
Wheels, commonly called wheelsets, differ in many ways including how tyres attach to the wheel. Most tyres these days are called open tyres, 
meaning they utilise a U-shape (imagine looking at a cross section cut-out of the tyre) to mount the tyre onto the wheel. An innertube is inserted into the tyre's inside edge and then the tyre fits onto the wheel by hooking the beads — the ends of the U on the tyre — under the inside edges of the rim. The idea is that these types of tyres "clinch" to hold onto the rim. It allows for easy innertube (for those annoying flats) and tyre swapping. Older and high-end wheels (i.e. professional) use tubular styles, which have the tube wrapped completely by the tyre, sewn shut and then glued as a whole to a tubular wheelset. Tufo has made a "tubular-clincher" tyre, which has the tube encased in the tyre, but it fits on a standard open rim.
Tyre Size
Usually the most confusing thing about bike tyres is the seeming amalgam of little numbers on the sides. These refer to the tyre's size. Nearly all road bike tyres are sized at 700c x 23:
- 700c is size of the wheel and refers to the wheel's circumference (also known as the rollout distance — the distance it takes a wheel to complete one rotation) in millimetres.
- 23 is a measurement that indicates the width of the wheel in millimetres.
Smaller road bikes and most triathlon bikes use a slightly smaller 650c tyre.
Tyre Width
Your tyre width is determined by the width of your rim, but you'll want to also make sure your frame and brakes have enough clearance to fit the tyre. If you're using too narrow of a tyre, you'll be more susceptible to pinch flats (when your tube gets pinched against the rim), as well as damaging your rim. A tyre that's too wide has similar problems, as well as handling issues.
Other Tyre considerations
It's important for your tyres to be efficient, so that you don't waste precious energy. Three factors will help you maximise efficiency. They are proper inflation, diameter of the tyre and tread pattern. Always ensure that your tyres are inflated to the recommended pressure, otherwise you could be slowing yourself down. Wider tyres take more energy to move, so if you're mainly a street biker, stay away from fat mountain bike tyres. The same is true with treads -- the more surface area, the more you'll need to push. But remember wide, deep tread mountain tyres are necessary for grabbing dirt and rocks off road -- just not designed for travelling great distances. Another consideration is comfort. This can be addressed by considering how the tyre absorbs surface irregularities without losing efficiency. Usually the more comfortable the ride, the less efficient the tyre.
Types of Bicycle Tyres
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Road tyres (more below) are smooth and narrow with no tread pattern, better for road bikes. - Typical size 700x23c.
- Heavier riders can ride up to 25-28mm widths.
- Racers will use a narrower (18-20mm) width.
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Slicks are similar to road tyres, but are usually wider. - Typically at least 28mm and wider.
- May have tread pattern, but more for wet weather street riding than off-road.
- Look for Continental Top Touring tyres.
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Mountain bike tyres come in a variety of widths and tread patterns. - Width and tread are best determined by terrain.
- Be sure to check rim width and frame and brake clearance when buying new MTB tyres.
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Cyclo cross tyres resemble MTB tyres, with a knobby tread and semi-slick centres. - Can fit 700c (road size) rims.
- Widths vary from 28mm to 40mm.
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Road Tyres
The most common size for road tyres is 700x23c, which offers a good, light-weight balance of aerodynamics, road resistance and comfort. Some racers will use widths of 18-20mm to cut down on drag and weight, but generally a road bike can use between 23-25mm. If you're a heavier rider or need tyres for a tandem bike you might want to consider a 25mm tire. Long distance and touring riders also prefer the slightly wider tyre, up to 28mm if your rims can handle it. Some hybrid bikes can handle a big, wide tire around 47mm. It'll give you a cushy, comfortable ride but will be a lot heavier than a narrower tyre.
Tread patterns on road bikes are mostly a non-issue. Road tires work best with a smooth, or near-smooth tread, though if you're planning to ride in wet weather you might want to consider a grooved tread to help reduce the amount of water splashed by your tyres. Racers in wet weather will focus more on the rubber compound for grip and weight than tread pattern. Look for the Michelin Grip tyre.
| | Continental |
| | IRC - The IRC Metro series is purpose-built for commuting. These tyres feature a weather-immune semi-slick tread and have kevlar belts for greater durability. Cost around $41.
- More road tyres by IRC include: Road Winner, Tandem Road, and the Triathlon Duro.
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| | Maxxis |
| | Michelin |
| | Ritchey |
| | Specialized - Specialized's Armadillo is one of the best virtually-flatproof tyres on the market. It's made with a DuPont Kevlar fabric subtread barrier. Lightweight and extremely durable tyre -- in fact, Popular Mechanics tested the tyre by riding it 12 times through a trough filled with broken glass without a puncture.
- Cost is about $85.
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| | Vittoria |
| | Vredestein- The Vredestein Fortezzas bike tyre is among the most popular, durable and economically priced road tyres available.
- This tyre has a high PSI rating, so it's good for bikers who need high-tyre pressure.
- Priced around $40-$65.
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Mountain Bike Tyres
Mountain bikes will typically use a wide (2.0"-2.5") tyre which provides more air volume, and helps avoid pinch flats in rough areas. These tyres also give you a better grip on loose surfaces like dirt and sand. If you're riding on roads or hard-pack trails, you can get rid of some weight with a narrower (1.5"-2.2") tyre. If you're planning on replacing your current MTB tyres, make sure to check your rim size since MTBs will usually use a narrower rim to cut down on weight, and make sure your bike frame and brakes will allow a wider tyre.
Treads are more significant with mountain bikes depending on the terrain you choose to ride. For road surfaces and cyclo cross, you can use a slick tyre of about 1.3"-1.5". These tyres have a decent tread, but not as knobby as pure off-road tires. GEAX Street Runner has a lot of fans. Hard-pack trail riders will need a tread that has a smooth centre and knobby outers to help grip loose surfaces on turns, so look for such as the Maxxis Mobster tyre. For more hardcore trails, look for a knobbier tire with smaller knobs in the centre and deeper ones at the edges like the WTB WeirWolf. Wet trail tyres like the Maxxis Swamp Thing use even bigger knobs for grip on slippery surfaces, as well as a wider tread pattern so mud won't get stuck between the grooves. Downhill bikers need to focus more on maximising air volume in their tires to take the shock of hard impacts. Also look for a tyre with a wide, knobby tread pattern.
| Continental |
| GEAX |
| IRC |
| Maxxis |
| Michelin A top of the line open tyre. |
| Ritchey |
| Specialized |
| WTB |
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