Mountain Bike Tyres - Which Are The Best Kind?

The kind of tyres you use on your bike is determined by what you are using your bike for. Mountain bikes can be used for a number of different terrains and disciplines that require different skill sets as much as different tyres. Get the right mountain bike tyres and they will improve your riding and increase your safety.

Tyres 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 tyres have a thick side-wall that locks into a specific sealed-bed rim. These tyres can take a beating over rough terrain so they are ideal for downhill, but the downside is that they are more expensive.

The advantages of an airtight seal and a stable, puncture-resistant, low-pressure performance are balanced out by the high price. You also need a clean rim and tyre to fit them, along with a big pump to inflate them.

Clean conditions are not often available if the tyre needs to be changed out on a trail. And even with a CO2 cartridge pump you will most likely have to use an inner tube until you can get home and fix it. Even though small holes might be repairable a big hole can mean the tyre is even written off as well.

Tubeless tyres are also heavier, so if fast start times and riding speeds are required, pick a lighter tyre. Tyres with inner tubes are usually lighter and offer greater flexibility. They are available in more designs and tread styles, so finding the right one for your riding style might be easier as well.

You can get kits to convert tyres from an inner tube to tubeless. These work by combining a latex-based filler liquid with a rubber rim strip that seals the inside of the tyre and rim. You might have to top up the filler occasionally but it still costs less than buying a tubeless tyre.

You will still get most of the benefits of a tubeless tyre 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.

Whatever tyre you go for it is vital to replace them regularly. A blow out can cause injury and cost competitions. With the right selection and maintenance your tyres will make a huge difference to your riding.