- May 21st, 2016, 5:39 am
#1341
If you ride your road bike far enough or often enough, sooner or later you’re going to have to replace worn tires. Thinking about trying bike commuting? You might want to consider installing wider tires with more tread and a measure of puncture protection. Or, maybe your bike came with relatively wide and heavy tires and you’re looking to lighten things up a bit with a narrower, high-performance variety. Whatever the case, you’ll find a dizzying assortment of choices available when it comes to selecting new road bike tires.
Tire Sizes
Determining what size and type of tires are already on your bike is a good starting point for choosing replacements. Relevant information, including the tire’s size and recommended pressure can usually be found printed on its sidewall. Your road bike tire will most likely be a 700x23, 700x25 or 700x28, with 700 being the tire’s diameter and the second number referring to its width in millimeters. Bikes sized specifically for women will sometimes be equipped with 650mm rims, which - no surprise - require 650mm tires. As long as you replace your existing tires with tires of the same diameter, you can generally choose a wider or narrower width to suit your intended purpose. The exception to this generalization would be instances where a particular frame may be too narrow for extremely wide tires. If in doubt, check the fit of your existing tires to determine how much additional frame clearance you have on either side of the tire.
Selecting a Width
Distinguished by their large diameters and smooth tread patterns, road bike tires come in a variety of widths including narrow 20mm race models, 28mm varieties suitable for training or commuting, and 35mm tires for commuting and cyclocross. In general, narrower tires roll faster and more easily, but at the expense of comfort. Conversely, wider tires have more rolling resistance, but provide a more comfortable ride. The type of riding you do will determine which width is the best choice for your needs.
Road Tire Widths
Wide Tires
Use wider tires (25-28mm) for training, where extra traction, comfort and durability are desirable
Wider tires are popular with commuters because they resist pinch flats, protect the rim from damage, have lower rolling resistance, and deliver a smoother ride on rough roads
For maximum grip, run wide tires at the lowest pressure possible
Narrow Tires
The top choice of riders who want to go fast
Can be run at higher pressure (up to 160psi on some models), for less rolling resistance
23mm tires are the most popular size for training and racing
20mm and narrower tires are fast and lightweight, but produce a less comfortable ride than wider tires.
Tire Sizes
Determining what size and type of tires are already on your bike is a good starting point for choosing replacements. Relevant information, including the tire’s size and recommended pressure can usually be found printed on its sidewall. Your road bike tire will most likely be a 700x23, 700x25 or 700x28, with 700 being the tire’s diameter and the second number referring to its width in millimeters. Bikes sized specifically for women will sometimes be equipped with 650mm rims, which - no surprise - require 650mm tires. As long as you replace your existing tires with tires of the same diameter, you can generally choose a wider or narrower width to suit your intended purpose. The exception to this generalization would be instances where a particular frame may be too narrow for extremely wide tires. If in doubt, check the fit of your existing tires to determine how much additional frame clearance you have on either side of the tire.
Selecting a Width
Distinguished by their large diameters and smooth tread patterns, road bike tires come in a variety of widths including narrow 20mm race models, 28mm varieties suitable for training or commuting, and 35mm tires for commuting and cyclocross. In general, narrower tires roll faster and more easily, but at the expense of comfort. Conversely, wider tires have more rolling resistance, but provide a more comfortable ride. The type of riding you do will determine which width is the best choice for your needs.
Road Tire Widths
Wide Tires
Use wider tires (25-28mm) for training, where extra traction, comfort and durability are desirable
Wider tires are popular with commuters because they resist pinch flats, protect the rim from damage, have lower rolling resistance, and deliver a smoother ride on rough roads
For maximum grip, run wide tires at the lowest pressure possible
Narrow Tires
The top choice of riders who want to go fast
Can be run at higher pressure (up to 160psi on some models), for less rolling resistance
23mm tires are the most popular size for training and racing
20mm and narrower tires are fast and lightweight, but produce a less comfortable ride than wider tires.
- By Zhenhan
- By Stan Saryhin