Cycling tires affect the behavior of the bike on the road more than any other item. Not only the comfort of driving depends on the quality of the tires, but also the safety of movement, especially on the wet road. It is clear that the higher the quality of the rubber, the more expensive the tire is.
When choosing a tire for a bike, it is important to take into account the following factors:
- season;
- weather;
- road condition (asphalt, soil, crushed stone, sand, dirt, snow and ice).
Quality of rubber
Cycling tires can be made of rubber or composite material ─ the so-called compound. Rubber has a better grip with an expensive, but fasterly engaged. Compound compound compound is often silicon. For the same price, the tire from the compound will be better in durability than rubber bus. You can distinguish a new rubber product from the composite to the touch, rub with a dry finger with a strength on the surface ─ net rubber will be tied and creaked.
Rubber as a material is obtained by adding filler to the rubber and the subsequent strengthening of this compound of the gray contained in the soot, by vulcanization. The worst quality Rubber has the greatest amount of filler.
Rubber for the bike can be natural or synthetic.
- Artificial rubber is cheaper than natural, but can be made of oil resistant rubber.
- Natural rubber mined coagulation from the juice of rubber trees, which is quite laborious. Rubber from natural material will serve longer, as it is more wear-resistant.
Buying a tire can quickly check it out.
- After spending a finger on the surface with a strong pressure, if you are blurring hands, then this tire of low quality.
- Having tried to tear a few assholes left after the tire casting. If they easily come off, not even stretching, then it is a bad bike break.
- Having determined visually the quality of the manufacture of a bicycle tire so that the walls were without folds, and its on-board cord was not rumped.
Anatomy of tires
To clearly understand what the numbers marked in rubber, you need to understand the inner structure of the bicycle tire.
1. Protector ─ Part of the external shell of the tire. It is divided into a treadmill in the middle and lateral primers. It is the drawing and the depth of the tread define the place of operation of the bike.
- Positive pattern of the tread, when the total area of \u200b\u200bsoils is equal or more square of the grooves is designed to move on solid road surface.
- The negative protector, which has a high and high and have a smaller total area in comparison with the squares of the grooves, is needed for good engagement when moving on soft soil, sand, dirt, snow and ice.
2. Cord ─ Frame, giving a binding shape. It is woven from nylon or other synthetic threads. The higher the density of weaving at the tire, the more hard. In other words: The higher the TPI (EPI) value ─ the number of stitches in an inches of length, the more effective the tire resists punctures. Weaving density in most budget tires is in the limit of 24 to 67 TPI. At highway tires, this indicator is 60-130 TPI. At racing monotubes, this value is already up to 320 TPI.
Cheap bicycle tires have a low weaving density, and often the lack of tire strength is compensated by an increase in rubber thickness on the tread and sides, which naturally adds weight.
3. Stronging cable ─ Clamp holding a bus on the rim. Twisted from steel wire or kevlar yarn. The most common veloshes with a steel scoring cable, which is called clinchers.
Tires having kevlar threads can be compactly folded the harmonica, so they are called folding (folding). They weigh about 100 grams less, but also cost more.
Folding Bible Veloshina for BMX Bikes Tire PP FT 20X2.25
4. Tire boards ─ layer with increased wear resistance. Depending on the cost and purpose of the board there are two types:
- Gumwall ─ Cord with low weaving density and thick layer of rubber. On budget tires installed on most bicycle types;
- Skinwall ─ Cord with high thread plexus density and has a thick layer of rubber only at the place of contact with the rim, and the rest of the sides is covered with a rubber film, a sheet thick in a sheet of paper. Dear tires on sports bikes.
Basic Types of Veloshin
The drawing and height of the tread is determined to which type there is a tire for a bike. The deeper the protector, the higher the adhesion with any road surface. Tires with a deep negative tread are tested by high rolling resistance.
1. Slick ─ tires without tread. They can only have shallow drain grooves. Slowing on the slicks, you need to be careful when braking on a dirty or wet road.
The slicks are ideal for travel along asphalt, coverage of racing tracks. The main advantage of their absence is the lack of vibration when rolling the wheel, and, as a result, on a bicycle with such tires, you can develop a higher speed.
Highway Schwalbe Speed \u200b\u200bCruiser HS 321 28X1.20 (700x30c 30-622) on the right and more embossed Schwalbe Big Apple 24x2.0 (50x507) for urban trips on the left
After putting the Schwalbe Speed \u200b\u200bCruiser rubber, you can even tilt the bike in the rotations on the wet asphalt, because it is very soft. But the tire is quickly wiping ─ if you slow down sharply, you can exhale it over the summer to Cord.
Universal training for the Schwalbe Big Apple bike is equipped with a protective kevlar layer from punctures. Relief, but the shallow protector allows this tire to use both in the front and the rear wheel.
Universal slick for highway and urban conditions is the CST City Classic Slik rubber. Tires for bicycles with CST label have excellent quality, they are produced by the authoritative Chinese company Cheng Shin Rubber. Such tires will serve at least three seasons without visible traces of wear.
Universal tires without tread CST 26 × 1.90 SLIK
2. Hydrush has a full-fledged protector at the edges, and in the center there are drainage grooves or minor hooks. Such tires are suitable for driving along the ground roads in the style of Cross Country and for off-road in dry weather. In general, the pollinks can be chosen for cycle equipment.
Folding Tire Schwalbe Sammy Slick Folding is suitable for walking around the city and park on the Maunting Bike. According to the structure of the tread, it refers to semisals.
Folding Tire-Polish Schwalbe Sammy Slick Folding Size of 26 × 2.1 inch
Biqueline for the mounted Bike Schwalbe Hurricane ─ Exemplary Polish. It possesses silent, and most importantly, the rapid move along asphalt and provides a reliable grip when leaving the sand.
Tire Schwalbe Hurricane in size in 26x2.00
3. Tires on a mountain-type bike ─ so-called mud or gravels have a negative protector for the best clutch with soft soil, rubble, sand or snow. It should be noted that such tires are not intended for long journeys on asphalt roads. In addition, they will accelerately braid, so more their high primrates will make it difficult to move.
Belessaless, Folding rubber Schwalbe Racing Ralph refers to mud tires. It has a good combination of rowing primers on the sides and routing track in the middle. This cycleshine is universal both for the forest and for the city.
There is a more expensive modification with Evolution index, which is easier for 100 grams, and it is positioned as a tire for racing.
Tire Schwalbe Racing Ralph. Produced with dimensions: 26x2.10, 26x2.25, 27.5x2.10, 27.5x2.25, 29x2.10 and 29x2.25
Mud Tire Continental Race King - Race Sport is a direct competitor of the previous model. It can also be folded by the harmonica due to the soft scoring cable. She has nothing worse than solid coating and it does not lose clutch in the sand and dirt.
Bedoshina Continental Race King - Race Sport. Produced in four sizes: 26x2.0, 26x2.2, 29x2.0, 27.5x2.2
4. Rubber on a bike crossover or urban type has a running track formed from sufficiently high primrates in the middle. Such tires are universal for trips to smooth asphalt and for movement on dry dirt roads.
The so-called training tires Continental Grand Prix 4 Season has high strength due to reinforced carbon fiber sides. As follows from the name, it can be used all-season, since it is made of a wear-resistant but soft compound. This tire can be recommended by highway riders who are more often driven by broken asphalt roads, because it can simply withstand the colossal loads.
All-season highway tire Continental Grand Prix 4 Season. Produced in the following sizes: 700x23, 700x25, 700x28
On the highway bicycles, colored tires are always perfectly. Although now the tires in bright colors are installed on mountain bikes, in order to diversify their appearance.
Bright tire coloring is not an indicator of its quality. A familiar to many cyclists Kenda manufacturer from Taiwan uses high-quality wear-resistant compound with SVC marking for the manufacture of colored tires.
5. Winter cycle bumps are made of a soft compound, and some models are supplied, in addition, spikes. The studded tires are needed only for riding on iced roads to brake and turn on ice.
Winter tires studded in four and two rows
6. Beamless tires have a scoring cable, woven from kevlar threads, that is, they are filding. They are installed on special rims with high sides. With the help of anaerobic glue ─ sealant produced additional sealing.
The use of tubeless tires allows you to slightly reduce the weight of the bike, as you can fold the camera. And the main advantage is that the shoeless tire can be repaired without removing from the wheels.
7. The cycle cutting tube looks like a camera, but still it is a tire, as it has a cord. This tube is fixed with glue. Modern cycle tubes are almost impenetrable, as they have an increased density of weaving cord threads ─ to 320 TPI.
They are often used on sports bikes due to the fact that they have the lowest weight of all tires.
Timing tube of Italian manufacturer Gommitalia Champion, size 700x23
8. Of course, there are no absolutely not madeable wheels, but you can reduce the likelihood of a puncture of the camera, putting a tire with an anti-precoccular layer. Such a layer can form both dense tires and kevlar threads.
The additional material placed between the cord and the protector adds an average of 170 grams to the weight of the bike.
Tire sizes
Pick up new bicycles is easy if you see what are old ones. The dimensions of bicycle tires, like any other tires, are indicated on the side. In the extruded sizes, there is always a diameter and width, they can be indicated in inches or millimeters.
Tires for Navier are marked with Number 29, although in reality they have a diameter of 622 mm ─ the same as the cross-called cross-called. It is necessary to know that the host wheel is wider than that of a hybrid, so the tires with the number 29 can not be worn on the narrow rim of the cross-grain.
Most veholes have a diameter of 700 mm or 28 inches. As an exception, it is sometimes encountered size 650 mm for the front wheels of the adolescent. Many cyclists are chased on the most narrow tires width in 18-23 mm. For long-distance travel, it is better to put a tire with a width of 25-28 mm, it is easier for them to drive through a soil or wet road.
Mountain bikes most often put the wheels with a diameter of 26 inches. The width of the cross-cantry bike tire is 1.8-2.4 inches. The bike for freeride or downhill is supplied with a rubber width of 2.5-3.0 inches, so that it ensure reliable grip with stones.
The width can be indicated both in the form of a decimal fraction ─ 26 × 2.1 and the usual fraction ─ 27 × 1 1/4. At the same time, the tires are absolutely the same with the same label.
On BMX, the bikes ─ these are bicycles for the trial, the tires are installed with a diameter of 20 inches. Dimensions on the width of the BMX bus have the same as the mountain bikes.
If you are still poorly understood in the types of tires, it is best to buy a new bus for a bicycle that was put at the factory when assembling it. It is in mind not the same brand, but with a similar pattern of the tread and the same diameter. But if you really want to choose the best option for your ride style - be prepared to experiment.
You can buy them.
Do not consider me bore, but without knowing the terms in the modern auto-world just nowhere.
The other day in a conversation with a friend heard the phrase: "Yes, he was on the slicks" ... and rushed-went. While he was granted to me there, I had already painted a new post in my head, the approximate picture surfaced, etc.
Let's understand the same what is Slik ...
Slik (eng. Slick) - an absolutely smooth tire that does not have a tread and other elements that reduce the contact stain with the track. The first gluts produced were developed by M & H Tires in the early 1950s, these were tires for drag racing. Due to the absence of tread grooves, the wheel contact area is increasing, which increases friction with the track, which as a result contributes to a good clutch with the track.
But here there is one nuance, such a type of tires (slopes) provides a greater clutch with an expensive only on dry roads, but has a much worse grip on wet roads, because On a wet track, they simply slipk, because there is nothing to cling to the asphalt (the loss of tire clutch with a moist track is called aquaplaning).
Aquaplaning is the occurrence of the hydrodynamic wedge in the spack of the tire contact - that is, the complete or partial loss of adhesion caused by the presence of a water layer separating the tire of the moving vehicle from the road surface. In this case, the vehicle is almost uncontrollable. It occurs when the speed reaches a critical value (an average of 70 - 100 km / h, but can reach 40 km / h), in which the wheel does not have time to remove water from the contact spot. The larger the water film on the surface of the road and the smaller residual depth of the tire tread, the higher the risk of aquaplaning. At high speed on the wet surface, the wheel literally pops up.
Based on Wiki
Because of this, the slicks are not suitable for use on public roads. Cars intended for everyday use should be prepared for all weather conditions. But the slicks find their use in automotive competitions, where participants may choose the type of tires for arrival in accordance with the weather (as well as change them directly during the competition).
Also, due to the absence of a tread, the slicks are less deformed under load. A smaller deformation allows you to use cheating softer rubber in tires: due to less deformation, it overheats less and swell. Soft rubber also increases the clutch with the road. But wait, the same racing tires! When used in tire competitions, the tire is faster and as a result of the slick, it is necessary to change much more often than ordinary tires. About a couple of races and tire is on write-off. It's a shame of course, but this competition is not to have to save here.
Also, when using racing tires of slicks, fuel consumption increases due to the larger contact spack with the track.
Now all the manufacturers of tires are actually presenting new tire models for everyday use, do focus on this, the economic component of approximately 150-200 grams of fuel per 100 km, compared with previous models, as well as environmental: less fuel consumption - less harmful emissions in atmosphere.
Try the "effect of slicks" by using winter rubber in summer time, because Rubber for winter in its properties is softer, the contact spot is more, etc. As well as wear, consumption and condition of the chassis ... If the machine is not prepared for competitions, it is better not to experiment. IMHO
As in the post about about here there is a nuance, and how usually the Russian manufacturers were distinguished. Taking advantage of a loud word on tuners, registered SLIK and started stamping alloy wheels.
Yes, yes, it is written in different ways, but it is pronounced equally.
I can't say anything bad about the discs, because I have never come across them, but beware of confusion ...
Edited: 04/03/2019
Today we will talk about such an important piece of bike as a tire. Its correct choice in many respects determines how your bike will ride well.
To date, there are hundreds of various options designed to drive like a smooth urban asphalt, so on dirt, mountain trails, ice and snow.
Each type of tires was developed and should be applied to its roads. Therefore, the main selection depends on the type of bicycle selected and what roads are you going to ride.
In the figure on the right with the transverse section of the wheel, it is the outlines: 4 - onboard ring (boring cable), 6 - Tire and 7 - protector
So in order.
Consider first the structure bicycle Tires.
It consists of several main parts:
- coupling with expensive;
- noise tire when driving;
- row;
- wear resistance;
- bicycle handling.
Tires are usually made from:
- Natural rubber is the best option, but very expensive.
- Synthetic rubber is much cheaper in the manufacture, but it has sufficiently low wear resistance.
- Compound. This is a mixture of various mono- and polymers. Quite sufficient is cheaply resistant, in many ways exceeds synthetic rubber, although natural is still inferior.
Compounds may have different stiffness and, as a result, adhesion with expensive and wear resistance. More details about the stiffness of the compounds can be read in a separate article.
How to check the quality of the material from which the tire is made.
There are simple and reliable methods.
It is necessary to spend your finger or nail on board - if there is a noticeable mark on the topboard, it means that it will quickly wear out when driving on the road.
There is always a mustache on the new rubber. If they pull for them, and you will see that they stretched at least 2 times (and even better, if in 3-4) and only then broke away - it means this is a good tire.
Well, we received general concepts about the covers. Now consider what they happen to how to choose and what it affects when traveling.
Types of tires
You need to understand one simple truth - each type is designed to drive along the surface intended for it. And they are divided by the type of tread.
Slicks
The name comes from the English Slick that translated is smooth, slippery. They do not have a tread pattern at all or it is minimal. Designed for trips to smooth urban, highway and well-rolled dry Smart roads. On such roads is not worth the principal question about the adhesion with the surface - it is always there. But the advantage will be that slicks
- Silent;
- Have a good risk;
- When driving there is no vibration.
No spikes slow down the tire when rolling, the additional energy of the cyclist is not spent on overcoming the resistance to friction of thorns on the surface of the road, as on other types of tires. The drawing on them is designed to remove water. Sometimes the manufacturer add a dye and get multi-colored products, which gives such bicycles an additional highlight.
Please note that the slicks will be very bad to ride soft soil and dirt.
Such tires, for example, are installed on bicycles and.
Poluslicks
As can be seen from the name on these tires, only half is a slick. Have a low and "even" protector, and on the sides of small spikes. The protector, evenly speaking over the cord along the entire surface of the tires in contact with the road, provides a good risk, and the side spikes grip with a soft soil and do not give the bus to fall into it. Designed for both driving on dry and wet asphalt, highway, rolled primer and loose, viscous soil. For most cyclists, the polusters is an ideal solution that allows you to ride almost everywhere. Have a good rolling and adhesion on dry and wet soils and asphalt. This happens due to the fact that the water is squeezed out of the contact area in the voids of the tread, which makes the contact area itself with a dry and chain.
When driving, we need to take into account that with sharp turns, the surface area of \u200b\u200bthe wheel is reduced, in contact with the soil (the wheel as it is lifted on the side spikes) and the adhesion decreases, increasing the risk of falling. Typically, novice cyclists are quite quickly starting to "feel the turn."
For these tires, it is important correctly selected pressure. With low pressure, all advantages are lost. Properly pumped half-color should ride a smooth part of the tread on a solid surface and only lateral grooves begin to work on soft soil. At low pressure, the tire will be flattened and cling to the solid surface of the lateral primer, creating additional resistance and faster wear. In general, about the pressure should be in the tires you can read in.
Mud
Tires with a high protector. This usually combines all tires with a height of rubber spikes on the tread up to 10 mm. Groundotozharain solid and tightly located. They have a bad risk, especially on asphalt, but the grip with the soil is much better than half-sleeves.
Designed for travel by:
- not very big dirt;
- loose soil;
- sand;
- sleep snow.
The journey along asphalt on such wheels is possible, but not very convenient. They are noisy, the speed does not speculate, the handling is weak.
Winter or tires with a high mud tread
From can be divided into
1. Tires with high tread teeth, but without metal spikes.
These are tires with spikes height more than 10 mm.
At the same time, the spikes themselves are located not as often as on the previous ones, which does not allow strong dirt and snow stuck between spikes. Ideal for trips in big dirt, deep snow, passable swamps. According to asphalt and ordinary roads, it is not a trip, but a continuous mockery of the organism. No risk, speed and clutch. Due to the high spikes, the contact area decreases sharply, the bike manageability is also worsening. By the way, it is not necessary to ride on them on the ice, for this we need studded tires. Often, just semizers will feel better on the ice, since they have more contact surface. In general, these are tires for "gourmets".
2. Protectors with metal spikes.
Such a protector is the best option for travel on ice, a very dense snowy imaging on the rigged roads and with constant temperature fluctuations in the zero area. That "plus", then "minus." With this temperature, rain or falling snow constantly lifts and frozen, forming an ice crust on the road. In some regions of our country, it is even enough long period during the year.
The spikes themselves make mainly from winning alloys and they are pointed or stupid. Spikes with a pointed top have a good clutch with ice, and with a flat top - to ride in dirt.
When traveling on asphalt and flat and pointed spikes over time, semicircular are becoming.
The spikes themselves put on rubber in 2, 3 and more rows.
To optimally use all the advantages of studded rubber, it is necessary to pick up the pressure in the wheels.
Size and width of the tire
As for the size of the tire - then everything is clear. It takes the size of the rim. But on the width we will stop in more detail.
It depends on it, the coupling with the road and control on turns. 
The larger the width - the better the clutch with the road and the controls on the turns, but worse than the roll. Usually, the polusters are produced with a width of 1.95 inches, and to the tooths - the width begins most often from 2.1 inches. Manufacturers produce tires of different sizes, and you ourselves must be determined, which is more important - rolls or handling.
Consider the same as the wider the tire, the more stable, but also slowly.
If you are going to mainly ride more or less smooth roads to use bus width up to 2 inches. If you are going to drive off off-road - it is better to take wider tires, more than 2 inches wide.
On the highway models put narrow tires: 18-27 mm or 1 inch and already.
The width of the tire is indicated by the manufacturer on the side of the cord, usually there is where the diameter. For example: 26 "x2.1" - a diameter of 26 inches, and the width is 2.1 inches.
Marking can also be indicated in millimeters. For example: 700x23 - diameter 700 mm, and width 23 mm.
More details about the types of marking, sizes and table of interchangeability of tires of different sizes and manufacturers are described in the article ". On the principles of the selection of the width of rubber, depending on the rim width, is described)
I want to stop at a few points
Is it possible to put different tires on different wheels? 
In fact, the front wheel when managing the bicycle plays a big role than the rear. If the rear wheel drive can be compensated, at least fast support on the leg, then when driving the front - it will definitely fall. The front wheel is worse gripped with an expensive - there is less than the pressure of the cyclist weight.
Based on the foregoing, it is possible to put more weave rubber on the front wheel than the rear. But it makes sense only when driving on the ground.
If you have an urban bike or your trips are limited to ordinary roads, it does not make any sense at all.
This question is reviewed in more detail in a separate article:
Symmetric and asymmetrical protectors.
The drawings on the tread are most often symmetrical. But sometimes meet and specially designed under a certain direction of movement. At the same time, the direction of movement of the wheel will surely be indicated on the tire. If such a tire is incorrectly installed, then instead of the rowing effect - it turns out sliding.
For example, in the photo below shows such a tire with an arrow of the wheel rotation arrow after installing on a bike.
About how on the tire indicates the direction of movement of the wheel, which still writes on cyclocks, as well as indicate other numbers on it there is on our website.
Wear tires
If the drawing on the tread is worn to 60%, then such a tire can be rearranged from the front wheel to the rear. Note that it can be done only for asphalt and dirt roads. And if there are 10-20% left - then you will do a new one anybody.
For driving on dirt and off-road, the tires cannot be rearranged. Worn to throw out and buy new tires - more for me.
What camera to choose.
They differ: 
- Dimensions;
- type of nipel;
- wall thickness;
- the material from which is made.
The chamber is unambiguously under the size of the tire and the diameter of the hole in the rim for Nipel. In more detail, questions regarding are covered in a separate article on our website.
Pressure in tires.
If it is very short - then we can say the following:
When driving on a mountain bike in the city and rolled primer, it is 3-3.5 atmospheres, when driving on the ground - 2.5-3 atmosphere.
At the same time, if your weight is more than 80-100 kg, boldly add another 0.5 atmosphere into the wheels, watching not to exit the maximum pressure indicated on the tire.
On the road bike - boldly pump the 3.5-4 atmosphere, again, looking at the limit values.
Remember, the optimal pressure for yourself can be chosen, just riding a bike for a while. Each cyclist has its own weight and ride style. In this case, the same pressure for one will be optimal, and for someone too low or high.
Conclusion
Based on the above description of the types of protector, it becomes clear that the main type of tires used by most cyclists to ride through urban and dirt roads is half-and-smoking. They are on all types of bicycles sold in our
