Tyre Sizes

Max_Man

A real beginner question here....

Looking for new tyres, went to LBS but have no idea what size tyres to buy, there were so many different sizes, I ended up getting the same size but still no wiser on what sizes are better for what conditions etc..... :?:

Any help?

xtreem

What tires do you have curently? 2.1 :?:
If you put a lot larger tires compared to the first ones,
you may not have enough clearance on the frame and fork to put them.

BlackSpur

In general, a larger tyre offers more grip and cushioning, providing a smoother ride. A larger tyre will also be heavier and have greater rolling resistance than the smaller tyre. In deep mud, a smaller tyre is often better as it allows you to cut through the mud to reach the harder stuff underneath (assuming there is some!).

Anonymous

also, there is no standard width betwen different manufacturers so a continental tyre might be narrower as a 2.2 than a specialized at 2.1

BlackSpur

^ Well said that man! There can even be massive difference within one manufacturer. The 1.95 Tioga Factory XCc on my bike dwarf the Tiogo Psycho IIIs on my dad's. Mine come up bigger than many 2.1s, but his more like most other 1.8s.

rhext

Had this pointed out to me recently (was actually on bikeradar). Seems to tell you pretty much anything you might ever need to know about tires!

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html

xtreem

sheepsteeth wrote:

also, there is no standard width betwen different manufacturers so a continental tyre might be narrower as a 2.2 than a specialized at 2.1

You are right about that, I forgot to mention that. For example:
My 26" Kenda are 1.95", and my neighbour on his small bike 10+" wheels or so,
has also Kenda but his are 2.125". But in real my tires are way wider than
those on the small bike.

Well at the end you can't compare 2.1" with 2.5" or 2.7" tire.

Max_Man

Thanks for the replies, the reason I was mainly asking has cropped up . I was using Tioga DH 2.1 tyres (came with the bike) but was having trouble with the tyre rubbing the front mech when in the lowest front cog.

Now I have swapped to another brand rear tyre and the problem has gone, a lot bigger gap is left for tyre clearance.

stumpyjon

I think I'm right in saying that 2.1, 2.35 refers to the distance from the rim to the tread on the tyre, not the width (if anyone knows diferent please correct me). So whilst it's true to say a 2.35 tyre is likely to be wider than a 1.9 tyre it isn't necessarily the case.

Different tyres will have a different cross section dependant on what they are intended for. For example my 2.1 Panaracer Trailraker is quite narrow, but as a mud specific tyre that's an advantage. The 2.1 Specialised resolution pro is wider as it is intended as a more all round tyre.