Bicycle tires are an exceptionally important system on your bicycle. More than simple rubber rings, modern bicycle tires are the product of decades of research and testing. One of the most important considerations when choosing your bike tires is the width. Choosing the right width will enhance your riding ability and your bicycle's performance.
Benefits
The width of a tire greatly affects the way that the tire and your bicycle feel and perform when riding. In general, wider tires are more stable on roads and surfaces that are uneven. A narrow tire is best suited for smooth surfaces like road pavement. Wider tires usually offer softer rides, better for those looking for maximum comfort on a cruiser or leisure bike. Narrow tires offer a harder, faster ride; better for road bicyclists who want maximum speed and efficiency.
Rim
Your bike's tire width will depend on the width of your rims. Within your rim size there is slight variation allowed in tire width size. For example, a rim with an inner rim width of 25 millimeters could fit a tire that is between 36.25 and 50 millimeters wide. Whether you go for a wider or narrower tire depends on the riding characteristics you prefer and size availability.
Pressure
No matter what tire width you choose, tire pressure is an important consideration. The amount of pressure to use will depend mostly on your tire width. A wider tire requires less pressure than a narrow tire. If you increase the width of your tire, you will need to decrease the pressure you normally use. Likewise, if you decrease the width of your tire you will need to increase the pressure.
Benefits
All tires have information regarding pressure, diameter and width printed on the sidewall of the tire. Sometimes this information is easy to read, while other times it is simply raised rubber that is difficult to find. When you do find the information, you will see several numbers. To find the width, look for a set of numbers with an "x" between them. For example, "700x25" refers to the diameter and the width. The diameter is the first number listed and the width is the second. Width is generally expressed in millimeters, though some tires list inches.
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