Are you ready to replace your bike tires and aren’t sure where to start?

There’s a lot to take in before you start choosing a new set of tires. Rather than simply replacing like-for-like, it’s a good chance to get more out of your bike with some upgraded tires!

With plenty of types of bikes and tires to boot, this bicycle tire buyer’s guide will see you right. We’ll be covering tire size, tire width, tread patterns, and more!

Bicycle Tire Buyer's Guide

What Size Bike Tire Do I Need?

Whether you’re upgrading your current setup or you simply need new tires, knowing what size you need can appear complicated. After all, there are many different types of bikes and tires to consider before finding the perfect combination!

To get the correct tire size of your current tire, take a look at the tire sidewall. You will see numbers that show the size of the tire. Commonly, it’s outer diameter and then width, though not in every case.

There is also the possibility that you will only see one set of numbers. Regardless of the set of numbers, as long as your new tire numbers match your old ones, you’re good to go.

Tire sizing often found on a mountain bike:

29 x 2.3. This means it has an outer diameter of 29” with a 2.3” width.

Whereas on a road bike you might see:

700 x 25c. The outer diameter is 700mm and the width is 25mm.

What Width Should My Bike Tire Be?

The diameter of your bicycle tire should match the one you’re replacing, however, the width can change depending on what riding style you prefer.

If you’re after greater traction and a more comfortable ride, you might want to install some wider tires.

One thing you have to be mindful of is that you have to consider the sides of the forks, rim sizes, and frame tolerances so that your new tires don’t collide with any other part of your bike. When in doubt, head down to your local bike shop for guidance.

Types of Tires

Fat tires

Bikes with fat tires are easy to spot because their widths are gigantic as compared to others.

These are ideal for terrains with snow or sand and will generally grip well to most surfaces. The downside to this is that they make cycling on surfaces like pavement far more difficult because their grip and surface area slow momentum down.

Despite the size of these tires, the same principle applies. Match the numbers on your sidewall to the replacement tire. With a fat bike, you can expect this number to be around 4”.

Mountain Bike Tires

Outer diameters are typically seen in sizes 26”, 27.5”, or 29”. Mountain bike tire widths tend to range from 1.9” to almost 5”.

Road Bike Tires

The vast majority of road bike tires have an outer diameter of 700mm and widths starting at around 23mm.

You’re unlikely to find road tires to be wider than 30mm. Having said that, some gravel bikes will allow tire widths of up to 45mm.

Still unsure which is right for you?

Head into your local bike shop. Not only will they be able to answer your questions, they will also be able to advise on performance upgrades that will meet your cycling needs or goals.

Getting the Right Tread Size

Getting the right tire size is important but it’s equally important to get the right tread pattern to match where you ride and what type of riding you would like to do.

With mountain bike tires, there’s a good range of tread patterns, though they tend to be knobbier than most.

Here are the different mountain bike tire types:

• Closely spaced and small knobs. Ideal for dry and smooth trails.
• Well-spaced knobs. Great for loose dirt and muddy conditions.
• Tiny slits, otherwise known as siping. These are perfect for technical terrain and provide the grip needed.
• Evenly spaced small knobs are good for cornering on a hardpack.
• Road bike tires are different and some tire types offer no tread (slicks).
• Slick tires: There is a thread there but barely. If you don’t want to be hindered by your tires when you’re riding on smooth asphalt, these are the tires for you.
• Semi-slick: Great for smooth surfaces but can handle a degree of off-roading. The smooth surfaces help get you moving quickly but the added tread means cornering can be done more easily than on slick tires.
• Inverted tread tires: The hybrid tire of the bunch. This tire type provides a good middle ground for off-road surfaces, while still allowing you to have a decent amount of rolling speed and grip.

Tread Direction

Something to be mindful of when installing new tires is that the tread pattern is directional, so if you install them backward, your performance could be compromised.

The good news is that there will be directional information on the sidewall of the tire. Just be sure to check it out first!

Front and Rear Tire Treads

It’s relatively common for there to be specific tires designed for the front or rear wheel so ensure that you match a replacement up correctly.

Getting the Correct Bike Tube and Valve Size

Bike tubes are fairly simple in that they match the size of the bike tire. 

However, tubes can stretch so they come in a range of widths. When choosing a bike tube size, you need to ensure that the width range works with the size of your bike tires.

Time to get into tire valves.

The two most common types of valves are Presta and Schrader.

Presta valves are standard on road bikes and are narrower than Schrader valves and both have a tiny nut to open and close them.

Schrader valves are used more on mountain bikes and the valve is similar to what you would find on a car tire.

While Presta valves will fit any rim, as you can use an adapter to shrink the hole, Schrader valves can only be used with compatible Schrader rims.

Alternative Bike Tire Options

Below are some options if you want to try something different. If your current setup isn’t quite hitting the mark, you might find something below that will solve your problem!

Tubeless Tires

Tubeless bike tires are becoming increasingly popular. With these tires, there is no tube inside of the tire because the tire itself seals directly onto the rim.

If you decide to switch from a tubed setup on your bike to a tubeless one, you will most likely notice a performance upgrade.

Running tubeless means that you are able to run at a lower tire pressure. This gives you better traction and generally a more comfortable ride.

Flat tires become a thing of the past too.

Tubeless tires are probably sounding almost too good to be true at this point, right?

The installation process is complex, and if you get a tubeless flat, fixing that is difficult too.

You do also need to fully transition over to a tubeless set up so if you don’t have tubeless-ready tires and rims, then you’re going to need to invest.

Puncture Resistant Tires

If you’re someone who really dislikes having to deal with flats or you simply don’t have time to deal with them, then you might want to think about investing in puncture-resistant bike tires.

These are heavier and more expensive than your usual tire type, but they use tougher compounds such as Kevlar to strengthen the tire.

Foldable Tires

Most tires use a wire bead, which is what grips the tire to the rim. With foldable tires, they use a stronger bead, often Kevlar.

Why?

Well, foldable tires help you to save weight and as you can easily fold them, they’re super easy to store.

While they’re more expensive than your standard beaded tire, they do offer greater flexibility.

Studded Bikes Tires

If you find yourself often riding in wintery conditions, then studded bike tires could be a great option for you.

Built into the tires are steel or aluminum studs and this increases the traction so when you’re riding in snow or on ice, you won’t have to worry as much about sliding.

Advanced Rubber Compound

The majority of tires use either soft or hard rubber.

A soft rubber offers more grip while a harder rubber offers more durability.

Tires that combine both of these traits are now available so you don’t lose one quality for another.

Final Thoughts

There we have it!

The main thing to remember is that you need to match various components of your new tire with your old tire.

However, there are plenty of ways you can upgrade your tire to increase your performance.

Consider what type of riding you like and whether that requires grippy tires or whether focusing on durability is what you ought to be doing.