How To Choose A Mountain Bike Tire

When choosing tires for a mountain bike, there are a number of factors that must be considered, including durability, weight, traction and resistance. The types of riding and the size of the rider must be taken into account as well. Racers typically look for different features than those who ride off road for fun and adventure.

Choosing the Tire

Step 1

Consider the kind of riding you will be doing. Performance riders need to look for a more expensive folding tire with a Kevlar bead to reduce the overall weight of the bike. Recreational riders who primarily bike on smooth surfaces can go with a narrow tire in the 2-inch range or smaller, while those who ride on hard, rocky surfaces should consider tires that are in the 2.2-inch range. The larger the rider, the wider the tire should be.

Step 2

Look for treads to match your style and type of mountain biking. The more tread on a tire, the better the grip. City riders may want to consider slick tires for more speed, while semislick tires are best for those who ride city hills and want better traction and less backsliding when turning corners.

Step 3

Get knobby tires for off-road mountain biking. Knobby tires are the most popular tires and are available in a variety of styles as well. Get smaller knobs on the tires if you plan on racing on a track and taller knobs if you ride on terrain that presents roots and other natural obstacles. Wide tires with wide knobs work best on soft tracks, and knobs that are widely spaced perform best on harder terrains. Look for widely spaced knobs if you ride through mud to keep the mud from building up on the tires and making them slick.

Step 4

Go high-tech with tubeless tires if you want a smoother ride and are not obese. Tubeless tires can operate smoothly on less than 20 pounds of air pressure, provide better traction on unstable terrains and get fewer pinch flats. Tubeless tires typically require special rims as well, which can boost the overall cost of the tires more than $50. The experts at REI suggest carrying a spare tube even if you have tubeless tires because they can be difficult to change on the road.

Tips and Warnings

Know the size of your rims if you plan on getting tires to fit your existing rims. Even if you would prefer to have a narrower street-riding tire, it may not work if your current rims are wider.
The type of tire that you purchase will affect the number of flats you encounter. Consider spending extra on a tire with a high-thread count for longer-lasting tires and fewer flats.