Tips for Choosing the Correct Tire Size

Your tires are perhaps the most important part of your bicycle. After all, they are what stands between you and the pavement, and they are going to take the most abuse out of any part of your bike. You should never take the tires on your bike for granted—you must do everything you can to keep them in good condition.

Of course, if you use your bike often enough, you will at some point need to purchase new tires for your bike. The question then becomes, how can you know you’re getting a tire that will actually fit your bike?

Here’s some information you should know about tires the next time you head into a bicycle shop in Naples, FL.

Sizes

Bike tires come in a wide variety of sizes, and the most important measurements you’re going to need to know are diameter and width.

The diameter of the tire is determined by measuring the distance between the two outer ends of the tire—this is important to remember, because some people mistakenly measure the distance between the inner ends, which results in an inaccurate measurement. The width of the tire, meanwhile, is determined by measuring the distance between tire treads, or the difference between the outside walls of the tire.

So how do you know which tire is going to be the right choice for your bike?

First, a larger diameter will likely provide you with more speed, but it will also take away some of the stability you have. The opposite is true with the width of the tire—slimmer tires are going to travel faster because there is less surface area to create friction and resistance, but if the surface is loose, those slimmer tires will not perform as well. Fatter tires may not roll as fast, but they’ll keep you on the right course. This is why mountain bike tires are thicker than those for road bikes—the surfaces mountain bikes travel on tend not to be as compact or reliable as the surfaces road bikes travel on.

Your choice, then, ultimately comes down to what is more important to you: speed or stability. This will primarily depend on your biking habits.

Keep in mind that your tire diameter is going to be determined by the size of your wheel, so you likely won’t have the option to switch out tire diameters unless you’re willing to completely change out your wheels as well. Therefore, width is the most important factor for you to consider when selecting a new tire. For this reason, you should think carefully about the type of terrain on which you tend to bike, so you can get a better sense of the tire that is best suited to your biking habits.

For more information about the various factors that go into choosing new bike tires, or are interested in exploring our stock of tires and other bike accessories in Naples, FL, we encourage you to contact or visit Big Momma’s Bicycles with your questions. We will be happy to assist you!

Categorised in: Bike Accessories, Bike Shop