Hybrid bike tires and mountain bike tires serve different purposes for the bicycle rider. Hybrid tires are suited for road riding, while mountain bike tires are designed for trail or off-road riding. Your choice of tire also depends on your bike's wheel size. Making the right choice will improve your speed, handling and enjoyment while riding.
Terminology
Manufacturers often use the term "hybrid" to refer to bikes designed for casual city riding. Hybrid bike design emphasizes comfort, ease of use and upright riding posture. However, you may also see "hybrid" tires for mountain bikes, designed for better pavement riding on a bike that is not usually optimal for city riding.
Size
Hybrid bikes may use 700c or 26-inch wheels and tires. Mountain bikes use 26-inch wheels and tires almost exclusively. Widths on 26-inch tires are measured in inches and typically range from 1 inch to 3 inches, with the smaller sizes used for road riding and the larger for off-road riding. 700c tire widths are measured in centimeters and typically range from 18 cm to 35 cm, with the smaller sizes used for racing and the larger for commuting or touring. 700c and 26-inch tires are markedly different in size and are not interchangeable.
Surface
Mountain bike tires have a knobby surface that enables the tire to grip on complex terrain. Hybrid tires have a smooth surface with minimal tread (this style is called slick), ideal for getting traction on paved roads. Within these two categories, there are tires with different amounts and designs of tread. For example, you may use semi-slick tires for rough road riding, as they combine a smooth road contact surface with a knobby surface on the tire sides, enabling better turning on roads with dirt or gravel. You may use mountain bike tires on roads, but the tire width and surface make riding slower and more difficult. Riding hybrid tires on rough off-road terrain may cause flats and wheel damage.
Price
Hybrid and mountain bike tire prices are generally lower than for road or cyclocross tires, ranging from $20 to $50 per tire as of May 2010, with tires designed for particular trail conditions or competition at the upper end of this range. Stores usually sell hybrid and mountain bike tires individually rather than in sets.
Considerations
If you primarily ride your mountain bike on paved roads but occasionally ride off-road, consider getting hybrid tires for daily use and keeping your knobby tires to switch in when needed. This will allow you more control, better handling, and higher speed on roads without the cost of an additional hybrid bike.
Member Comments