Monday, August 31, 2009

Mountain Bike Tires - How To Choose The Right Tires

By Tabetha Luquin

The sort of tires you choose for your bike depends on what you use it for. Mountain bikes are used for many different things over different ground, and each discipline requires different tires. If you have the right tires for the job they will make it safer and improve your riding as well.

Tires come with either an inner tube to keep them inflated or they are tubeless,but the question is which kind should you use?

Most tubeless tires have a thick side-wall that locks into a specific sealed-bed rim. These tires 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 tire and rim to fit them, and a large pump to inflate them.

If a tire has to be replaced on a trail clean conditions are usually unavailable. Even with a CO2 cartridge pump you'll probably have to use an inner tube to get you home, where you can the repair the tire. Although large holes can mean the tire has to be written off, even though small holes can often be fixed.

Tubeless tires are heavier as well, so if you need to get quick start times and riding speeds go for a lighter tire. Tires with inner tubes are lighter and offer more flexibility. They are also available in more treads and design styles, so getting the right tire might be easier.

You can get kits now to convert a standard tire with an inner tube into a tubeless tire. They mix a latex-based filling liquid with a rubber rim strip to seal the tire and rim. You may have to top up the filler sometimes but the cost is less than buying a standard tubeless tire.

You will still get most of the benefits of a tubeless tire but with a much wider choice of treads and rims, and with only the cost of the kit and latex-based filler to pay for. They are lighter as well, but you might still get the same repair issues while on a trail.

Whichever sort of tires you use it is really important to replace them regularly. A blow out could cause injury on a trail or cost you a competition. By making the right choices and with regular maintenance your tires will help your riding massively.

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