The rubber attached to the rim of your wheel. Flats, changing tires, selecting tires, etc.
26
votes
12answers
4k views
What type of tires can prevent goatheads?
We have a lot of goatheads1 in our area, and they have a tendency to do something like this to bike tires:
Unfortunately, I ride a road bike (specifically a Kona Dew), so I have much smaller, ...
16
votes
9answers
20k views
What pressure should I run my Road Bike tyres at?
There's a question for mountain bike tyres but I can't seem to find anything on here for road bikes. At the moment I'm running at around 90psi. Is that too much? too little? Also, am I more likely to ...
16
votes
7answers
6k views
What pressure should I run my Mountain Bike tires at?
Should I run my mountain bike at the suggested PSI/Bar on the tire/rim? Or should I run it a bit lower? Or is it more about conditions? Should I run lower if I am running on softer terrain?
21
votes
3answers
9k views
How do I know when to replace my tires?
The treads on my road bike's 28C tires are almost completely gone—they only persist along the shoulders of the tire. Do the treads matter? What is a good indicator of when the tire as a whole needs ...
14
votes
4answers
4k views
Whatever happened to solid bike tubes?
As a child I had solid rubber inner tubes in my bike. They were a pain to get on but after I never had a flat again!
Now I've recently started biking again and have had two flats in two days, each ...
28
votes
5answers
3k views
Should I change both tires when I need to change one?
I know that it's a best practice in a car to change all 4 tires if you change 1, although in practice, it's only done if 3 need to be changed. Does the same thing hold true of a bike?
6
votes
1answer
303 views
How are tire sizes measured?
I tried getting a good measurement with my caliper, but the flexibility of the tire doesn't help much. Let's say I have a 26"x2.125" tire. I know this fits on an ISO 559mm bead seat diameter rim, and ...
14
votes
7answers
6k views
How to get the tyre back on to the rim easily?
What is the best/easiest way to get the tyre back on to a rim after removing it to fix a puncture for example?
Some tyres can be really hard to get back on to the rim. I don't like using the tyre ...
9
votes
8answers
13k views
How to get a very tight tire back on the rim?
I needed to change the tube as a consequence of a flat tire and I am in the situation that it's just impossible to put the tire back on the rim.
In almost ten years of experience with road bikes and ...
7
votes
5answers
922 views
What is the recommended type of tire for riding on wet pavement?
I am commuting in rainy Seattle, and the rain has started. Right now I have Continental Gatorskin tires on my commuter, but yesterday I noticed I was braking to stop the wheels and skidding quite a ...
10
votes
4answers
885 views
How to make studded tires
Has anyone ever made a set of studded tires? What did you use? I read about a method somewhere but I cannot recall where. I heard that you can:
Drill/make a small hole through the tire
Screw a ...
28
votes
5answers
2k views
Are slick tires worth it for commuting?
I commute to work on a Marin San Rafael on roads over a mix of flat to steep roads. My bike came with "700 x 35c with Puncture Protection" semi-slick tires:
In the bike shed at work I noticed ...
20
votes
7answers
2k views
How long should a road tyre hold its pressure?
How long should a road tyre be able to maintain a pressure of around 100psi, and what factors are likely to reduce this time?
Background:
My tyre pressures are consistently dropping to around 60psi ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Does the inner tube affect the maximum PSI?
If I have road tires that have a recommended pressure of 110 PSI and maximum of 120 PSI can I safely pump my tires up to that level or does the inner tube effect the maximum?
I currently have the ...
5
votes
7answers
1k views
I keep getting flats
I have been getting flats every 20-30 miles for the last 2 months. This has caused serious inconvenience to me, as bicycle is my preferred mode of transport to work and class. Details of the ...
7
votes
5answers
724 views
Slow leak on front cruiser tire
I ride my cruiser to the supermarket and back, using either a trailer or a basket over the front wheel for carrying groceries. The bike has developed a persistent slow leak on the front wheel, and ...
4
votes
4answers
165 views
Which tube size to prefer if several options apply?
I have 40-622 (a.k.a. 28x1.5") tires, and Schwalbe offers
two different sizes of tubes - their models "17" and "19" - as applicable for that tire size.
Ok, either one would surely fit well. But ...
11
votes
9answers
3k views
What is the narrowest tire you would use for commuting?
Speed isn't so much of a factor, obviously, but the lower the rolling resistance the less sweaty I am when I get there. Then there's flats to consider. Basically the tire has to never get them because ...
21
votes
7answers
18k views
Which way do I orient my bike tire's tread direction? and why?
I have a mountain bike tire that has stamped on the side something like:
<----------front rear------------->
Which seems like a pretty clear indication that the tire should be oriented in one ...
23
votes
10answers
5k views
What are the disadvantages of “puncture proof” (or puncture resistant) tires?
Some people refer to tires that are more resistant to punctures as "puncture proof" tires.
For example: Specialized All Condition Armadillo Tyre
Even though these tires are not really puncture proof, ...
14
votes
7answers
10k views
How often should I change road bike tyres?
My road bike has now done 500 miles, but unlike cars, I've no idea how often the tyres should be changed. It's used on normal road conditions. The brow of the tyre is now smooth.
How do I know if my ...
24
votes
11answers
9k views
What are advantages and disadvantages of CO2 inflators over frame pumps?
I have a frame pump that I've used on the road when replacing flats, but I always see CO2 inflators advertised at bike shops. Are they worthwhile for the potential weight savings?
17
votes
7answers
7k views
Am I too heavy for my road bike tires?
I am wondering if bike tires have a weight limit. I have to admit, I am a large guy at 6'3" 250lb (190 cm, 113,5 kg), and I have always had issues with my road bike's tires getting pinch flats. I ...
13
votes
9answers
4k views
Which puncture-resistant tires?
I commute on city streets and have had two punctures in 5 months: first a roofing nail, second a small shard of glass.
Punctures are a nuisance.
I've read some people recommend Schwalbe "Marathon" ...
9
votes
4answers
724 views
What is a good way to keep my tires from going flat easily?
Title says it all, how do I keep my bicycle tires from going flat easily? I live in an area with a lot of sharp stuff (think glass shards, nails, cactus, etc)...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
How can I repair a tyre with a deep cut?
I have some foldable racing tyres, still with plenty of tread but with some small cuts through the tread & cloth. Can I do anything to them or are they destined for the bin?
6
votes
3answers
654 views
Studded tires for small wheels
I'd it possible to purchase 16" studded tires? I have an old Dahon I use as a winter bike, and I'd like to replace the tires with proper snow tires if this is possible. If not, has anyone here ...
4
votes
3answers
344 views
Is it normal to wear out the rear tire with in a few months when using a trainer?
Early this year I attached my bicycle to a trainer, around the December time frame of 2011. The rear tire and inner tuber where shot by March of 2012. Riding about 24 Miles per week. Is this normal ...
13
votes
3answers
1k views
Is there a difference in having tires filled with CO² vs Air?
When you fill your tire with a CO² cartridge you are obviously putting CO² into it. When you use a pump you are putting air into it. Are there significant temperature variations that may lead to poor ...
12
votes
7answers
761 views
Fixing a flat - how to find the piercing object?
Just had a flat and having problems finding the thing that pierced the tube in the tire. Normally I just run my fingers around in it, until I found it, but this time everything looks O.K.
My ...
11
votes
6answers
1k views
Mountain Bike on Paved Roads
I'm an occasional biker. I bought a mountain bike (nothing fancy) with the idea that I might use it off-road or on mountain trails (of which there are many here in Calgary). However, since I've bought ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
Can I get smaller tires without changing my rims?
I currently ride a hybrid that came with 700x32c tires. Can I swap out a narrower tire without changing the rims, or do rims only fit a specific size of tire? How small can I go before I have to buy ...
6
votes
4answers
646 views
Why does my back tyre wear so much more quickly than the front?
Identical tyres, identical rims, minimal braking on the back wheel, no skids, properly inflated at least once a fortnight to manufacturer's recommended pressure.
Why does the back one wear out more ...
6
votes
5answers
209 views
How do you deal with flats in the winter?
I was lucky last winter I went the entire winter without getting a flat. I attribute it mostly to:
sharp items on the road being hidden under snow and ice
less agressive riding resulting in no ...
6
votes
3answers
528 views
Looking for orange tyres
I'm looking for a pair of folding, orange training tires, size should be 700x23C.
I'd like to have only an orange stripe, not the whole tire.
Can you recommend some model?
5
votes
6answers
6k views
Choosing good slick tires for a MTB
I have an MTB with tires that roll very badly on pavement because of plastic spikes. I'm looking to get a pair of slicks and I'm hoping to get some advice here. My bike is a 29", I think they current ...
4
votes
2answers
478 views
Different tyre width (front and back)
Out of necessity, I had to put an 1.26" (32mm) rear tyre on my bike where the front tyre is only 1.1" (28mm) wide (and the bike came with 1.1" tyres when I bought it). Are there any advantages or ...
3
votes
2answers
121 views
Can outer tyre (casing) punctures/cuts be fixed?
My flatmate got his tyre stabbed. With a knife, it seems. (The bike was tied to a staircase railing in the building and was obviously in some maniac's way. Though there was plenty of room around. And ...
3
votes
4answers
2k views
Can you run a standard tyre on a tubeless rim?
I have some new tubeless MTB rims and I'd like to avoid buying new tyres for them. The tyres are reasonably sturdy (Continental Race King Protection - 4 plies / total 240tpi) and I have sealant. As I ...
2
votes
3answers
633 views
Will a 650x23 tire fit on my 26" rim?
I have an MTB that I have been riding in the city for many years. As such, slick tires suit me well and I have been using a set of 26x1.25 tires for the last 3-5 years but they are starting to show ...
1
vote
2answers
317 views
Why does a 28 1/3 tyre fit, when a 27 1/4 tyre is too big?
I've just bought these rims off eBay:
...
