Clincher tires, occasionally called "wire-on" tires, clinch to the inner rim of a clincher wheel, with the stiff metal edge or "bead" of the tire resting on a ledge called a bead seat. The inner tube is a separate tube with valve that sits inside the tire and expands within it to create pressure on the tire. In contrast, the tubular tire, sometimes called a "sew-up," has a softer interior portion sewn and/or glued to the outside of the tire, which inflates similarly to an inner tube. You must use tubular tires with tubular wheels.
Purpose
Tubular tires are typically designed for competitive use on road bikes, though they are making a comeback in mountain bike competition as of the early 21st century. Clincher tires serve a wide variety of purposes, from recreational riding on road or trail to commuting, bike touring or racing.
Material
Clincher and tubular tires are made of rubber with a fabric between the layers of rubber for puncture resistance and tire strength. Tubular tires tend to be lighter than clincher tires as they lack the heavy bead. The higher the threads per inch count on this fabric, the thinner the tire. Thin tires have lower rolling resistance, but higher susceptibility to damage and flat tires. Nylon fabric is the most common material; some tubular tires still use cotton or silk fabric.
Sizes
Tubular tires for 700c wheels are typically available in the 22 mm width, while 700c clincher tires commonly measure 23 mm wide. Tubular 26-inch tires for mountain bikes are very rare, though some teams have used a 2-inch width in competition. In contrast, clincher tires come in widths ranging from 18 mm to 35 mm on road bikes and 1 to 3 inches on mountain bikes, with an extensive variety of wheel diameters.
Valve Types
Tubular tires use Presta valves exclusively, whereas clincher tires may have Presta, Schrader or Woods/Dunlop valves.
Cost
Tubular tires are usually more expensive than clincher tires of the same quality, due to their much lower production and particular construction. Some clincher tires for competitions are exceptions to this rule.
Repair
It is easy to replace a damaged tubular with a new one; in fact, it is much faster to replace a tubular tire than a clincher tube. However, patching tubulars can be a long process and needs to wait until you get home, warns the late bicycle mechanic and bicycling writer Sheldon Brown, whereas you can patch most clincher tire inner tubes on the road. In addition, you need to glue tubular tires to their rims to avoid the tire rolling off the wheel, so high-speed cornering is out when you replace a tubular tire on the road.
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