The type of tyres you use on your bike depends on its usage. Mountain bikes can be ridden on many different terrains and for different activities. You need different skills as well as different tyres for many of these. If you pick the right mountain bike tyres they will help your riding and make it safer.
Tyres either have an inner tube that keeps them inflated or they are tubeless, but which one sort should you choose?
Most tubeless tyres have a thick side-wall that locks into a specific sealed-bed rim. These tyres can take a beating over rough terrain so they are ideal for downhill, but the downside is that they are more expensive.
The advantage of an airtight seal and a low=pressure, stable performance i has to be weighed up against the high cost. Also you need a clean tyre and rim to fit them, and a large pump to inflate them.
Clean conditions are not often available if the tyre needs to be changed out on a trail. And even with a CO2 cartridge pump you will most likely have to use an inner tube until you can get home and fix it. Even though small holes might be repairable a big hole can mean the tyre is even written off as well.
Tubeless tyres are also heavier, so if fast start times and riding speeds are required, pick a lighter tyre. Tyres with inner tubes are usually lighter and offer greater flexibility. They are available in more designs and tread styles, so finding the right one for your riding style might be easier as well.
You can get kits to convert tyres from an inner tube to tubeless. These work by combining a latex-based filler liquid with a rubber rim strip that seals the inside of the tyre and rim. You might have to top up the filler occassionally but it still costs less than buying a tubeless tyre.
You still get most of the low pressure advantages of a tubeless tyre but with a much bigger choice of rims and treads, and with only the initial kit cost and latex top-ups to pay for. They are also lighter although the same repair problems on the trail apply unfortunately.
Whatever tyre you go for it is vital to replace them regularly. A blow out can cause injury and cost competitions. With the right selection and maintenance your tyres will make a huge difference to your riding.
Tyres either have an inner tube that keeps them inflated or they are tubeless, but which one sort should you choose?
Most tubeless tyres have a thick side-wall that locks into a specific sealed-bed rim. These tyres can take a beating over rough terrain so they are ideal for downhill, but the downside is that they are more expensive.
The advantage of an airtight seal and a low=pressure, stable performance i has to be weighed up against the high cost. Also you need a clean tyre and rim to fit them, and a large pump to inflate them.
Clean conditions are not often available if the tyre needs to be changed out on a trail. And even with a CO2 cartridge pump you will most likely have to use an inner tube until you can get home and fix it. Even though small holes might be repairable a big hole can mean the tyre is even written off as well.
Tubeless tyres are also heavier, so if fast start times and riding speeds are required, pick a lighter tyre. Tyres with inner tubes are usually lighter and offer greater flexibility. They are available in more designs and tread styles, so finding the right one for your riding style might be easier as well.
You can get kits to convert tyres from an inner tube to tubeless. These work by combining a latex-based filler liquid with a rubber rim strip that seals the inside of the tyre and rim. You might have to top up the filler occassionally but it still costs less than buying a tubeless tyre.
You still get most of the low pressure advantages of a tubeless tyre but with a much bigger choice of rims and treads, and with only the initial kit cost and latex top-ups to pay for. They are also lighter although the same repair problems on the trail apply unfortunately.
Whatever tyre you go for it is vital to replace them regularly. A blow out can cause injury and cost competitions. With the right selection and maintenance your tyres will make a huge difference to your riding.
0 comments:
Post a Comment