Tires

Tires

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Tires

211 products

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What Tire Should You Choose for Your Bike?

Tires are an essential component of your bike. A good tire choice will guarantee all your rides are comfortable and safe from start to finish.

There are many kinds of tires available to choose from, thus knowing which one you’re looking for and whether it’s compatible with your rim is crucial.

Tire kinds according to their use

Depending on how you will use your bike, you can find a wide range of offers with many different features, such as size, thread depth, width, etc.

The area where you cycle will also affect your tire choice: if you want to feel less resistance, go for smoother tires; if you cycle in a muddy or dirty terrain, pressure should be higher than usual.

On the other hand, if you’re cycling on uneven ground, it’s better to reduce the pressure in order that the tire can better absorb irregularities.

No matter what kind of bike you ride or where you do so, we have a wide range of different tires for you.

  • Fixie/singlespeed tires: They are almost totally smooth tires. Some models feature a slight tread that helps drain water and improves grip.

  • Track/velodrome tires: Completely smooth, they are suited for high-pressure inflation and reduce friction, thus wheeling better.

  • Gravel tires: They feature many tiny cleats and there are different kinds: some more similar to road tires with a threadless central strip; some feature a mid-depth thread in order to roll quickly on asphalt, but also have side cleats to increase traction on gravel, and others are mostly designed to be used on gravel or dirt with cleats all over the tire surface.

  • City bike tires: They are adherent and durable. Normally they tend to be wider than road tires, which makes them more comfortable.

  • Cyclocross tires: Formed by a series of cleats with some space in between, in order to ensure good traction on all kinds of terrain, especially on muddy roads or wet asphalt.

  • Road tires: Designed to be used on smooth or irregular asphalt roads. Most of them are threadless or feature a very hollow thread in order to evacuate dirt and water present on asphalt.

  • Home trainer tires: They are designed to be used only when cycling on rollers, indoors. They are totally smooth and very resistant to tear and wear.

Rigid and folding tires

Tires in the market can be classified into two main categories – folding tires and rigid tires. Rigid tires are less and less common in the market. They feature an internal steel thread that keeps its circular shape well defined.

Folding tires, on the other hand, are built with kevlar thread, a material lighter than steel. This is why folding tires are lighter and more expensive than regular rigid tires.

Puncture-proof tires

Nowadays, there are also solid puncture-proof tires. They need no inner tube and, if you get a puncture, you will be able to ride easily. You won’t even notice the puncture, as the element that caused the puncture will either fall off or get stuck there. In this case, you will only need to extract it and keep going.

There exist also anti-puncture liquid sealants that go directly into the tire. Their aim is to automatically repair punctures, if they are small. The liquid will dry quickly once it comes into contact with air and will create a thin layer that prevents air from escaping the tire, thus keeping the tire’s air pressure.

Tire sizes

Depending on what bicycle you ride, and on your personal choice, you shall choose tires that are both adapted and comfortable to you.

At Santafixie you’ll find very versatile tires, mostly aimed to urban cycling. However, many can also be used for other cycling modalities such as road, track or fixed-gear cycling.

Road and city tires are normally 28" in diameter (700c), and can be wider or narrower. Classic and old bikes can also feature 26-inch wheels. Choosing one size or the other will be a personal and mostly aesthetic matter.

Tools for tires

Tools are something we mustn’t forget about, as they are essential to practice cycling.

The most basic tools for tires are tire levers. An accessory manufactured in order to install and remove tires with ease. It’s important to carry a pair with you wherever you cycle, in case you get a puncture and need to change your tire in the middle of a route.

Another important tool for tires are air pumps. WIthout one, you wouldn’t be able to inflate your tires and cycling would become impossible.

In order to repair and use your punctured inner tube again, you will need a patch kit that will help seal punctures and will spare you from changing your inner tube while en route.

In case you’re using tires with sealing liquid, it’s important to inspect them every once in a while and change or re-fill the sealant often.