Most cyclists know how important tyres are when it comes to their cycling. However, not so many people really appreciate the huge difference your wheels can make to your riding experience. In fact, many pro cyclists state that getting the best tyres is the most important thing to get right when purchasing bike accessories.




There are a number of tyres for bikes available to buy on the market; and it can get rather bewildering when it comes to making a selection. Here’s a handy guide to help you.




A guide to finding the best tyres to suit your needs:



1. Think about the weight. Tyres differ in weight by a significant degree. Heavier ones tend to be the reliable all-round performers; providing you with optimum balance and resilience to puncture. However, they’re not as fast as lighter tyres. The lighter types offer improved performance when it comes to speed and cornering, but they’re much more prone to damage.



1. Know your bead. When you purchase tyres, you’ll have a choice of two types of bead (a term which refers to how the tyre is held in place on the wheel). Wire bead tyres are highly durable, but are also a lot heavier, not to mention sometimes harder to fit in place. Folding bead tyres, which can literally be folded, as the name suggests; are easier to fit, but can stretch out of shape with use.



1. Get the tread right. The tread of your tyre is also very important in terms of performance. There are four principle types of tread:


Combination tread: Combination treads are faster on hard ground and offer good grip on soft ground; but do not accelerate well. They’re also heavier than most tyres.


Inverted tread: Inverted treads offer great speed on roads, and a smoother ride. However, they don’t have much traction, and perform less effectively on loose terrain.


Knobbed tread: Knobbed treads tyres are really versatile, and adapt to both on-road and off-road use. However, they can become clogged up with mud.


Treadless: By far the fastest option, treadless tyres offer optimum speeds on roads. However, the lack of grip makes them tricky to handle in wet conditions.

Picking the right tread depends upon where you’ll mostly be using your bike. Although treadless tyres are appealing, thanks to their speed, they’re also rather unsuited to the British climate, where rain is a fairly regular occurrence. If you’re unsure which ones to select, choose knobbed tread, which offer the best all-round performance.


Talk to the bike accessories experts…

If you’re really unsure as to which tyres to choose, remember that help is at hand; that’s what the experts are for! For guidance and advice on buying high-quality bike tyres, or indeed any other bike accessories, simply get in touch with the Good Bike Gear team today by calling 02890 834056.