Bicycle tires and tubes come in various sizes, treads, and thicknesses to suit different riding styles and conditions. The most common sizes are 26 inches for mountain bikes and 700c for road bikes. Tubes come in Presta and Schrader valve types, and tires can have steel or Kevlar beads.
Bicycle tires and tubes come in a wide variety of sizes, treads, thicknesses, and styles to suit different riding styles and different trail and road conditions. Most bikes require both tires and tubes to function properly, while others just need a working tire that is tubeless. Another type of tire is also the tube itself; This tire is known as a tubular tire and must be glued to a specially designed rim in order to function properly. Narrowing down your search for tires and tubes starts with determining what type of bike the tires and tubes will be using, and what type of riding they will be doing.
The two most common sizes of bicycle tires and tubes are 26 inches for mountain bikes and many cruisers, and 700c for road bikes, cruisers, cyclocross bikes, and many others. 26-inch tires and tubes are smaller in diameter than 700c bike tires and tubes, and are generally wider to accommodate the impacts a mountain bike can take. The tubes can be thicker than 700c tubes, but this is not necessarily always the case. The tread on 26-inch tires can be knobby for off-road use or smooth for highway use, and some 26-inch tires are semi-slick, meaning they are smooth in the center of the tire and knobbed on the sides for better corners
Tubes generally come in two styles, dictated by valve type: Presta and Schrader. Schrader valves are the type of valves used in automobile tires, and are common on some mountain bikes, cruisers, and other models. Presta valves are much thinner to reduce the size of the hole that needs to be drilled in the bike’s rim; the smaller the hole, the stronger the edge. Presta valves are common on high-end mountain bikes, road bikes, cyclocross bikes, and a variety of other bikes.
Bicycle tires and tubes are almost always made of some type of rubber, although other materials are available. Tires can have a steel or Kevlar bead; The bead is the part of the tire that comes into contact with the rim to hold the tire in place. The Kevlar beads are much lighter and more flexible so the tire is collapsible for storage. Steel beads are heavier and more rigid, and they are also less expensive.
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