Mountain Bike Tyre Sizes Explained

A hybrid of road and mountain tires cyclocross tires are labeled as 700c and have widths indicated in millimeters like road bikes yet are knobbie like mountain bike tires.

Mountain bike tyre sizes explained. Our tyre size guide will clear up any confusion you have when selecting the right replacement tyre for your bike. Below we prepared a tabel with rim sizes of 4 different bicycle types and their equivalents in inch etrto and french standards. The sizes you commonly see for mountain bike wheels like 26in 27 5in and 29in all refer to the outside diameter of the wheel with the tire fully inflated. However it was brought up with the arrival of the 27 5 inch mountain bike which used b width rims.

There are multiple tires to consider and it s important to understand tire size. These sizes can be thought of as a sort of shorthand for decimal sizes each with a corresponding iso measurement. Trail and all mountain bikes will have tires in the 2 25 to 2 4 width range. Generally they come in a 26 inch diameter ranging from 1 3 4 to 2 35 inches in width.

A good mountain bike tyre will provide low rolling resistance ample grip and provide a degree of cushioning that will enhance the quality of your ride. If you are looking for information about tyre choice for different disciplines surfaces and performance goals look at our road bike tyre guide or mountain bike tyre guide best tyre for your bike including rubber compound tread pattern tyre pressure puncture protection and weight. A cross country bike will have tires in the 1 9 to 2 25 width range. Read the size carefully.

Whether you are mountain biking on dry trails in utah or through the waterfalls of iceland having the right tires is crucial for the best riding experience. Tires are essential to mountain biking the type of terrain you ride and they can have a big impact on your riding experience. Wiggle stocks a wide range of mountain bike tyres across the most popular wheel sizes including 26 inch tyres 27 5 inch 650b tyres or even 29 inch tyres. Plus size tyres fill the gap between traditional size mtb tyres and the wider fat bike sizes.

Sizes written as decimals such as 2 75 are different than sizes expressed as fractions such as 2 3 4. Another reason not to exceed the 2 2 limit on road is that a more bulbous tyre can deflect sideways with a noticeable effect on control and roadholding. Once you ve identified your tire diameter 29 27 5 or 26 you ll want to dial in your width. Mountain bike tire size and width.

A 650b diameter tyre fitted to 650b iso584mm diameter rims give the rider a wheel where the approximate outside diameter of the 650b tyre is the same as that of a 29in iso622mm wheel and standard 2 25in iso57mm tyre. On the other hand it increases the stress on the sidewall of the tyre. Mountain bike tyres are designed to take this extra stress but road tyres are not.