The Final Word On Replacing Bike Tires
Regularly replacing your bike tires is key to staying safe on the road, preventing accidents, and having a smooth, enjoyable ride. There are a few signs that it is time to change your tire. The most obvious is a puncture, but if you notice any deformities, cracks, or worn-out treads, change your tires immediately. Tires are built to withstand a certain mileage, and after that period passes, their reliability and durability decreases.
Replacing your tires is usually easy and affordable. Regularly inspecting and changing your tires as necessary is an easy way to improve your safety and maintain excellent performance while on your bike.
How Many Miles Do You Get On Road Bike Tires
The conventional wisdom is that road bike tires can sustain between a thousand to three thousand miles overall, depending on the road conditions that the bike is used in and how much load theyre under on a daily basis. Here are some general guidelines for how many miles youll get on road bike tires:
- Good quality road bike tires are known to last roughly 2,500 miles.
- Speed and high-powered racing tires may need to be replaced after 1,000 miles.
- Rugged touring tires have lasted as long as 4,000 miles.
The lifespan of a roadtire is dictated by the type of cycling it is made to perform. Since touringtires are meant for long distance cycling, they are designed with extradurability in mind. For speed tires, durability is less important thanlightweight speed. Durability is sacrificed in design, and these tires do notlast as long in strenuous racing conditions.
What Are The Signs You Need To Replace Your Mtb Tires
Aside from the tires not having the same traction and handling as usual, there are some signs of what to look for to know you will have to get new tires in the near future.
Generally speaking, these are the signs that your bike tires are worn and need to be replaced:
- The knobs on the tire are rounded and not as tall as they were when new. This is normally noticed on treads in the center of the tire. Note in the picture they are more rounded so they dig into the dirt less and dont have the traction of new tires.
- You can see the threads beneath the rubber in places
- The tire has bulges in some spots
- The tire wont hold pressure. This is common on road tires.
- Excessive cracking of the tread separating from the rest of the tire
Any one of these is caused to get new tires. Its just not worth the risk if youre not 100% sure theyre safe after examining them. Replace tires when its time to avoid an accident.
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When To Change Your Road Bikes Tires
Ive had more tires get flats than Ive had wear out. That may say more about my riding style than it does about my tires, but that means that I can go years before I need to change them. Which makes me wonder if Ive gone too long. When should I replace them if they dont pop?
You should change your tires when the tread wears out. That is typically after about 1,500 to 2,500 miles. However, different factors will wear out your tires faster, so you also need to know what to look for.
Mountain Bike Wheel Faq’s
Is the process any different for changing mountain, road, or other types of bike tires?
The process is the same for any tire. Generally, the larger the tire, the easier the process. Road bike tires can be challenging and might need a little more attention. For more information on types of tires, check out these pages Link to dirt mountain bike tires, road bike tires, gravel bike tires, and cyclocross bike tires.
How much does it cost to get a bike tire replaced?
Firstly you have the cost of the inner tube, sealant, and tires. If you get a tire replaced at a bike shop, they will charge anywhere from roughly $10 to $20 for labor on a tire with an inner tube. For tubeless, it could be $20 to $30 as the process is much more complicated and takes longer.
How often should Tires be changed?
If they look worn and have a lot of small slices or are giving you a lot of punctures, they will need changing. Depending on the tire, they might give you 5000 miles or 500 miles depending on the discipline and quality of the tire.
How much do bike tires cost?
They can be as cheap as $20 or as expensive as $100. It depends on puncture protection, the tire’s weight, and performance.
What are the best tire brands?
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Where To Buy Newroad Bike Tires
Road bike tires can bepurchased from several different locations, depending on what kind of tires youwant, how much selection you require, and what your price range is.
If your old road biketires need to be replaced, new tires can be purchased from one of the followingsources:
- Sporting goods stores: These large sport goods department stores, such as Dicks Sporting Goods, tend to stock a decent selection of mid-range bike tires depending on the stores location and how common cycling is in the area. Chances are though, if you check out a sporting goods store, youll find bike tires that will suit your purposes.
- Specialty bike shops: Small shops geared directly towards cyclists are a good place to find more uncommon or higher quality road bike tires, but these tires may be more expensive than the ones youd find at a sporting goods store.
- Online: Online markets such as Amazon or eBay have a wide selection of road bike tires available for purchase. The only major downsides of buying your tires from an online market is that returns can usually be more of a hassle if theyre required, and you may have to pay shipping fees you otherwise wouldnt have to if you bought tires locally.
Things That Can Damage Road Bike Tires
While road bike tires mayneed to be replaced just after general wear and tear or regular use, there arealso things in the road that can damage tires and cause them to have to bereplaced more often. Here are some of the things that might cause damage to aroad bike tire:
- Rocks/debris in the road
- Uneven lanes
- Nails or broken glass
Encountering road hazardswhile cycling is sometimes unavoidable, but to prevent a surprise flat,cyclists should get into the habit of doing a brief inspection on their bikeeach time they take it out for a ride. This way, any minor issues can be caughtand fixed before they become a more serious problem.
To prevent problems with road hazards, cyclists should follow their common sense and avoid obstacles such as curbs and potholes. A pothole doesnt just have the ability to blow out your road bike tire, it can also cause you to be flung over the handlebars of your bike.
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What Do You Do Withold Road Bike Tires
After deciding that itstime to replace your road bike tires with a new upgraded set, make sure torecycle the old tires. Many bicycle shops offer to recycle your bike tires foryou as a value-added or discounted service.
This will help you avoid you having a bunch of worn-out bike tires from lying around your garage and can also give your old tires a new life. These old tires go on to provide resources for projects like rubber flooring in childrens playgrounds.
If youre not sure whereyou can recycle your road bike tires, check with your local municipality orrecycling plant.
How Long Do Bike Tires Last
There is a common notion, Nothing Lasts Forever that is true. The good things in life dont come that easy and when they finally come, they dont last forever. From the bikes to the bicycle tires, they are going to wear out quickly, and then you would have to repair/replace them.
The feeling of riding a bike is phenomenal, you feel like flying on a road and that is pretty awesome. The Bicycle tires are what make us feel like that, and if we dont take care of them properly, that feeling ends. I would even go for and say that on the road, your life actually depends on the quality and condition of these tires.
A road bike tire is extremely fast and also vulnerable at the same time, they last longer if you take care of them properly. On the other hand, racing bike tires have to be replaced every now and then, since they can get damaged easily and at a very short period of time too!
Why should you have a nice pair of bicycle tires? We shall discuss this very soon!
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Check After An Accident
Even if you changed your tires recently, a large impact could cause damage that requires you to replace them again. After an accident or an impact, such as going over a large pothole or a bump, pull over and double-check your tires for damage. Pay special attention to the casing, as sometimes damage there is less noticeable than a puncture to the inner tube.
Your tire may be fine even after going through a pothole the size of a small child, but it is better to be safe than sorry. You should also check the wheel for any damage, as sometimes an accident leaves the tires intact but dents the rim or spokes.
Seven Signs That Road Bike Tires Should Be Replaced
Any time youre going on a bike ride, its important to inspect your tires and make sure that you dont see anything that could possibly lead to a flat or other tire troubles while youre out on the road. When tires are getting old or gradually damaged and need to be replaced, there will be obvious physical signs. Here are seven of the signs you should look for:
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Other Helpful Tips To Follow
Apart from the above-mentioned tips and tricks, there are other procedures too that you can follow.
- Keep The Tires Properly Inflated: Your bikes tires should be inflated properly, neither more nor lesser than the requirement. This will keep them in good form and you can enjoy the best possible performance.
- Overloading Is Not Recommended: People make the common mistake of overloading their bikes, this reduces the lifespan of the tires drastically.
- Use The Tires Often: Your Bikes tires are not for show, they are to be used. If you let them sit for too long then that reduces their lifespan.
- Store Them Properly: The Bikes tires need to be stored in a cool and dry place, the quality of storage also affects the lifespan of the tires.
We cant stress this enough, always have a tire protectant with you, it repairs the condition of the tires while also enhancing them. One of the really good examples of a protectant is the Orange Seal.
Mountain Bikes have the best tires, they give you a mileage of more than 7,000 miles if you take care of them properly, they also require the most needed care though!
The Cost Of Replacing A Bike Tire
This is another common question that we get asked frequently. How much is the cost of replacing a bike tire? Different tire types cost you varying amounts of money.
- Road Bike Tires: $20-$40
- Mountain Bike Tires: $20-$60
Some brands will offer for less, while some would offer for more, keep that in mind!
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When To Replace Bike Tires
There are a few signs that can tell you when to replace bike tires, the most obvious being when you have a puncture that leads to a flat or deflated tire. Its also important to replace your tires after they wear out due to long distance to prevent damage and injury.
Here are some signs that will alert you to when your tires or wheels need attention, as well as why regularly changing your tires is important:
The Advantages Of Replacing Bike Tires
If you replace your bikes tires on time, then you get to enjoy the following benefits:
- Enhanced Safety: New tires will offer smooth performance and they will also make sure that the rider never loses control and stability.
- An amazing riding experience: Fresh tires mean amazing performance, you wont have to deal with the problems that you faced with your worn-out tires.
- Buttery-Smooth Control: New bike tires give you buttery-smooth control and that is very addictive. You will get to experience amazing comfort on all kinds of terrain when the tires are new.
- Mental Relaxation: A rider feels no stress when their bike is in perfect condition, including the tires. Damaged tires only ruin the riders peace of mind when they are out riding.
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Mountain Bike Tire Widths
Mountain bike tires have a large range of widths. Cross-country riders generally use narrower tires, while downhill mountain bikers tend to go for wider ones.
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XC riders often opt for tire widths between 2in. and 2.35in.
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Trail, all-mountain and enduro bikes benefit from added volume to increase traction and comfort. A good place to start is in the 2.252.4in. range.
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Plus-sizes bikes offer more clearance to accommodate tires in the 2.63.0in. range. These provide amazing traction and comfort in all trail conditions.
Your Choices In Tire Widths
While tire diameter should be an exact match, you do have the option of putting on a tire with a slight variation in width. Some riders opt for wider tires, for example, to give them more traction and a somewhat cushier ride. Things like rim size, fork size and frame tolerances make things tricky here, though, so talk to a bike shop before trying this.
Fat tires and plus tires: Fat-tire bikes are the ones you see with obviously gigantic tires. They work well on snow or sand, and offer a cushy, grippy ride wherever they go. The same rule on size applies, though: Match whats on the sidewall of your current tires in both diameter and width, which might be 4″ or more on a fat-tire bike. Plus-size tires, a tweener option between standard and fat, might be 3″ or more.
Typical tire sizes: The example sizes below give you a rough guide for tire sizes on different types of bikes today.
- Mountain bike tires: Outer tire diameters can be 26″, 27.5″ or 29″ widths range from 1.9″ to nearly 5″. Some examples:
- Cross-country bikes: 1.9″ to 2.3″ wide.
- Trail and all-mountain bikes: 2.3″ to 2.5″ wide.
- Downhill bikes: up to 2.5″ wide.
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The Tire Has Deteriorated
The frequency of bike tires exposure to corrosive chemicals like gasoline or cleaner may cause them to rot. If you put your bike tire in this situation, you will probably experience a tire failure and get into a potentially dangerous position. Hence, it is imperative to have your tires checked to avoid any dry rot by immediately changing the tire and tube.
The Best Place To Get New Bike Tires
There are many places you can get new bike tires. Your local bike shop is a good place. Most Walmart type stores carry replacement bike tires as well. A few good places to shop online are Jenson and Chain Reaction.
Jenson is based in the US and has cheap prices. Chain Reaction is in the UK but frequently has much lower prices. I recently bought a pair of Maxxis Rekon tires, to put on my new wheels. I purchased them from Chain Reaction and saved about $50 over the cheapest place I could find in the US. You can always shop Amazon as well.
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How Long Do Bike Tires Last On Average
The lifespan of a bike tire is highly dependent on the rider. If you are riding more than once a week, your tires will last about 1-2 years before they need to be replaced. However, if you ride less than once a week, it can last up to 4 years before needing replacement.
This is mainly due to how much you use the bike and how well it is maintained.