| The kind of tyres you use on your bike is | | | | can mean the tyre is completely written off as well. |
| determined by what you are using your bike for. | | | | Tubeless tyres are also heavier, so if fast start times |
| Getting the right tyres is really important for safety | | | | and riding speeds are required, pick a lighter tyre. |
| and performance. Mountain bike tyres are basically | | | | Tyres with inner tubes are usually lighter and offer |
| different to road bike tyres but there is still a vast | | | | greater flexibility. They are available in more designs |
| range of tyres to choose from for a mountain bike. | | | | and tread styles, so finding the right one for your |
| Mountain bikes can be used for a number of different | | | | riding style might be easier as well. |
| terrains and disciplines that require different skill sets | | | | You can get kits to convert a conventional tyre with |
| as much as different tyres. Get the right tyres and | | | | an inner tube to a tubeless tyre, such as Stan's No |
| they will improve your riding and increase your | | | | Tubes kits. These combine a latex-based filling liquid |
| safety. | | | | and a rubber rim strip to seal the inside of the tyre |
| Tyres either come with a standard inner tube to | | | | and rim. You will probably have to top off the filler |
| keep them inflated or they are tubeless, so the | | | | now and then, but the cost is still much less than a |
| question to answer is which one do you go for? | | | | standard thick wall tubeless tyre. |
| Most tubeless tyres now use Michelin and Mavic's | | | | You still get most of the low pressure advantages of |
| UST (Universal System Tubeless) with a thick | | | | a UST tubeless tyre but with a much bigger choice |
| side-walled tyre that locks into a specific sealed-bed | | | | of rims and treads, and with only the initial kit cost |
| UST rim. These tyres can take a beating over rough | | | | and latex top-ups to pay for. They are also lighter |
| terrain so they are ideal for downhill, but the | | | | than UST set-ups. The same repair problems on the |
| downside is that they are expensive. | | | | trail apply though unfortunately, and the tyres are |
| The advantages of an airtight seal and a stable, | | | | less stable than actual UST models. |
| puncture-resistant, low-pressure performance are | | | | Whichever kind of tyre you choose, it is essential to |
| balanced out by the high price and the need for a | | | | replace your tyres regularly. A blow out on a trail can |
| clean rim and tyre to fit them, along with a big pump | | | | cause injury to you or other riders or even cost you |
| to inflate them. | | | | a competition. Replacing your mountain bike tyres mid |
| Clean conditions are usually unavailable if the tyre has | | | | trail is often a possibility, so make sure you always |
| to be replaced on the trail. And even with a C02 | | | | carry at least one spare with you. With proper |
| cartridge pump you'll usually have to use an inner | | | | maintenance and careful selection, your tyres will |
| tube to get you home and then repair the tyre later. | | | | make a massive difference to your riding. |
| Also while small holes might be repairable, a big hole | | | | |