Wheel size tends to go with the type of bike. Road bikes tend to standardise on 622mm rims (aka "700c" - don't ask) Mountain bikes tend to have 584mm rims (aka "650B" - no, really, don't ask). I think these are roughly 29" and 26" but don't quote me. Folding bikes and shopper bikes have smaller wheels, for example the Brompton has 349mm rims (16")
Why the different sizes? The wheel size tends to go with the design of the bike and its frame.
The small wheels on a folder like a Brompton are necessitated by the bikes design. They don't cope well with particularly rough surfaces but they need to be small for the bike to fold up small.
I don't know anything about Mountain Bikes but I do know they can come in both 29 and 26 inch and people like to argue/discuss about them.
Road bikes are pretty much universally 700c (622mm) although with the advent of disk brakes there are some gravel bikes that can run both 700c and 650b wheels. With rim brakes you were stuck with one wheel size. Also, smaller riders may prefer smaller wheels as a small frame with big wheels can be unweildy. But this can be a problem for small pro riders as they need access to standard spares during races. Emma Pooley (a small but nonetheless very successful pro rider) talked about this.
That's wheel size, which is one aspect of the size of a tyre
Then there's tyre size, which is how fat the it is. Typically the fatter the tyre, the rougher surfaces it can deal with, and the lower the pressure it can take, and fatter tyres tend to be more comfortable. In an ideal world skinny high pressure tyres are faster - and that's what they use on the almost ideal surface of the velodrome. But on the un-ideal surfaces of real roads this isn't true. The question of tyre size, rolling resistance and pressure gets debated endlessly. Frame design comes into it too. Some frames limit the maximum tyre size because they don't have room ("clearance") for fatter tyres.
Tyres with grippy patterns (eg Mountain bike "knobblies") are for when the surface is softer than the tyre itself (eg grass or mud). Where the surface is harder (eg tarmac) slicks are generally used. There are also half-way tyres for use on tarmac that have grip patterns - about which there are often arguments (they provide grip/no they don't they are purely cosmetic).
Then there's the question of tubed versus tubeless, and you have fuel for endless arguments.
Oh, I have to ask. Do you end up peddling more with smaller tires to go the same distance and speed?
Oh, I have to ask. Do you end up peddling more with smaller tires to go the same distance and speed?
Wider tyres allow more volume and lower pressures for a given wheel size. This allows a comfier ride with much of a roughness of a road filtered out, barring big holes.
Hey guys Dustin here, CEO of sixthreezero, and today we're going to answer the question what size tire should you get on an e-bike? Stick around.
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Alright. So today we're going to answer the question around what size tire should you get for an e-bike, but before we jump in, don't forget, hit subscribe on our channel, stay in touch about everything we're doing here at sixthreezero, including our weekly, monthly giveaways. You're going to want to stay in the know for that. So hit subscribe so you can figure out what's going on at sixthreezero.
All right, so let's answer the question. What size tires should you get on an e-bike? Now, there are lots and lots of e-bikes out there, different brands, different models, different tire sizes, so it's becoming more and more challenging to understand what model is right for you. So most commonly, what I'm seeing is either a 20-inch tire, 26-inch tire, and you're also seeing some 700c tires as well, but I would say more commonly is 26-inch and 20-inch tires. And it's hard to decipher you know the 20-inch tire what's it good for, 26-inch tire what's it good for.
The advantage to something like this is easier on and off, easier maneuverability, just more nimble. Now the disadvantage is it's not going to peddle like a 26-inch or a full-size tire. When you're just doing it pedaling under your own power, you're not going to be able to go nearly as fast on a 20-inch bike versus a 26, 700c wheel. And I'm just going to say 26-inch wheel at this point but there are lots of full-size wheels in the same size range of a 26-inch and 700c.
Again, easy on and off. With a 20-inch, you're lowering the bar, you're lowering the seat height, and you're also lowering the step-over height of the frame because the tires are getting lower to the ground. So if step-over is an issue for you, mounting and dismounting is an issue for you, considering a 26-inch is a really good idea. But again, if you're planning to use it as a bicycle, more than you're going to use it, the electricity of it, you're not going to be able to get the kind of leg extension on a 20-inch electric bike that you'd be able to get on a full-size 26-inch wheeled bike.
So that's a big difference. It really comes down to the use and how you're going to use it and what do you want out of it? You know, longer rides, shorter rides, quick commuting, are you going to put into your car, things of that nature.
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The other thing I'll say now is you're seeing a lot of 20-inch with four-inch tires or three-inch tires, or you're seeing e-bikes across the whole range for that matter with thicker tires. So the four-inch tires are the really thick, fat-tire monsters, then there's one step down, which is a three-inch, then there are cruiser tires, which are 2.125 inches, and then there are thinner tires that you'll see like a road bike tire, 700c tires. I'm seeing a lot of e-bikes using three-inch and four-inch tires. Now the question is why, and is that good for you, do you need it?
Well, again, comes down to the type of riding you're doing. The benefit to the three- and four-inch tires is they're really going to offer you the ability to go on-road and off-road. So if you want to cruise straight onto a trail and have that thicker tire that's going to be durable, the three-inch and four-inch tire is great. They're also going to provide a very soft ride. So they're going to absorb a lot of the vibrations going over bumps. You're not going to feel it as a rider as much, and also stability and balance.
A thicker tire obviously is going to be better to balance the bike, give more stability to the bike, things like that. It's just like a motorcycle. Traditionally, you know, you see motorcycles with a wider tire help keep the bike upright. And I think that's what's inspired a lot of these e-bikes to have the thicker, wider tire. It's really, you know, a replica of a motorcycle. So you're seeing some e-bikes kind of position themselves to sort of take after motorcycles. And you're seeing some e-bikes more, you know, stay in line with bicycle design.
If you're going to be going full electric with a throttle or full pedal assist, and you're not worried about the drag of the fat tire, then that could be a good option for you. It's going to provide a really soft, cushy ride. But if you still plan to use your bike as a traditional bike and do a lot of low-level pedal-assist or even pedal the bike without any sort of motor assistance, then I would recommend a thinner tire, something 2.125 or below.
So I hope that helps, if you have any additional questions please comment below. I know there are many tire sizes out there. We'd be happy to answer your questions surrounding it. You can also shoot us an or call us at (310) 982-. And don't forget, visit our website sixthreezero.com and check out our e-bike selection on the top of the site. We've got tons of models, tons of colors, and also you can take our body fit quiz. Answer some questions about your body, your life, and our proprietary algorithm will suggest the perfect bike for you. And the bonus, we have a 365-day return policy. If you don't love your bike within 365 days, send it back. Zero questions asked no money out of your pocket. And lastly, we have an app. So download the app, join our community, track your rides, and also be eligible to compete on our leaderboard for weekly giveaways for the top riding spots. We'd love to have you it's a ton of fun. All right, so thanks for sticking around, and don't forget it's your journey, your experience, enjoy the ride.
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