Mountain Bike Tire Sizes Front Back

Sticking with only a wide front tire is a good compromise.

Mountain bike tire sizes front back. As tires continue to trend wider so too are the tires in our test. We selected tires in the 2 3 to 2 6 inch width range. Measurements like 26 1 which is the 27 5 size and 28x two fractions which is the 29 size are fractional inch markings. Once you ve identified your tire diameter 29 27 5 or 26 you ll want to dial in your width.

Trail and all mountain bikes will have tires in the 2 25 to 2 4 width range. On the typical cross country mountain bike you won t get bigger than a 2 1 tire back there. Tread profile is also important. It s important to note that you cannot mix fractional markings with decimals.

Previously the tire was only available in a 2 3 inch width and the brand released the new version in june 2018 in 2 5 and 2 6 inch widths. We now have several models in the 2 5 and 2 6 widths that are becoming much more common in the current mountain bike tire market. In general the desired tire width for the most common biking styles are as follows. 2 2 and 27 5 indicate a tire that has a width of 2 2 and an outer diameter of 27 5.

It s lighter requiring less energy to rotate. When wtb redesigned the vigilante last year they went all out on a modern front tire for aggressive mountain biking. Tubeless tires are recommended when you want lower tire pressures. With mountain bikes you re mostly safe from fractional sizes but it s worth mentioning them for completeness.

This is also why a narrow tire goes on the rear wheel. By necessity those run very different tires front and rear. 26 inches 27 5 inches and 29 inches. At the extreme end there are 69er and 96er mountain bikes that mix and match 29 622 and 26 559 wheels on the same bike as well as terry women s bikes with 24 520 front wheels and 700c 622 rear.

Tires are also measured in width. Fat bikes have tire width over 3 7. Mountain bike tire size and width. A cross country bike will have tires in the 1 9 to 2 25 width range.

We mounted tires to 30 mm internal diameter wheels. Typical mountain bike tire. Tires come in three diameters. All mountain and trial bikes have tire width in the range of 2 25 to 2 4.

This varies from 1 6 to 2 5 inches. Alongside the tire size you have the option of running tubeless or tubed tires. Frame limitations while there is generally quite a bit of room in the front suspension fork a 2 3 2 5 tire can probably fit the frame can only accommodate a certain size tire. Share a link to this answer.

Read our review on the michelin wild rock r2 all mountain tire. Downhill bikes which are meant to withstand the abuse of drops and rock gardens are typically equipped with tires up to 2 5 wide. Check your tire s sidewall the numbers there indicate your tire size roughly its outer diameter and its width but not always in that order. Some special tires can even be wider up to 3 inches with some models.

Cross country bikes have tire width between 1 9 and 2 25.