How to Buy The Right Bicycle Tire and Tubes For Your Bike

One of the most common things to replace on a bicycle is the bicycle tires or the bicycle tubes. Generally the bicycle tubes will be replaced much more often than the bicycle tires, as bicycle tubes tend to be more fragile than the bicycle tire itself. No matter if it’s your road bike or mountain bike tire or tube that needs replacement below are a few guidelines that you should always follow when making a bicycle tire or tube purchase.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Know Your Dimensions And Measurements
   
   Every tire is stamped with a dimension or a diameter, generally mountain bikes and hybrids will have any where between a 26” and 27” inch bicycle rim diameter. Where as road bicycles will have stamps on the bicycle tire that say 650c to 700c. If you have a BMX bike they generally fall under the category of about a 20-inch rim. Don’t let the diameter measurements get you. The smaller the diameters of the bicycle rim the smaller the units of measurements.
   
   If your buying bicycle tubes it’s always important to remember that a smaller tube will not work in a wide tire. The tube needs the tires sidewall to maintain pressure, so when you are buying a tube make sure to just look for the width of the tube in mm and then compare it to the width of the bicycle tire.

2. Know Your Tread Type
   
   Depending on how you use your bicycle will determine what kind of bicycle tire you will need. Smooth surfaces require a smoother tire and rough surfaces require a more aggressive bicycle tire with more tread. There are occasions where you need a mixture of both and there are plenty of tires out there that are made for hybrid bikes that are a mixture of road bike and mountain bike tire.

3. Know your materials
   
   Bicycle tires and tubes are made from an array of materials that, some companies are even making Kevlar bicycle tires that truly stand the test of even the harshest road or mountain conditions. Which ever tire or tube that you decide to purchase know that buying a quality tire or tube is totally worth it especially when you are far off the beaten path and don’t want to walk the rest of the way home.