Mountain Bike Tire Sizes

While 26 inch wheels are still considered the standard for mountain bikes 29 inch wheels are fast on their heels.

Mountain bike tire sizes. Nowadays bike tires are typically marked according to iso standard a system originally developed by etrto european tire and rim technical organization but older english and french tire size dimensions are still used as well use the data from the following tables to determine interchangeability and convert between iso etrto english. The sizes you commonly see for mountain bike wheels like 26in 27 5in and 29in all refer to the outside diameter of the wheel with the tire fully inflated. A hybrid of road and mountain tires cyclocross tires are labeled as 700c and have widths indicated in millimeters like road bikes yet are knobbie like mountain bike tires. A third type of tire size might appear on either a mountain or a road tire.

Whether you are mountain biking on dry trails in utah or through the waterfalls of iceland having the right tires is crucial for the best riding experience. Once you ve identified your tire diameter 29 27 5 or 26 you ll want to dial in your width. There are multiple tires to consider and it s important to understand tire size. The 29er another popular size for mountain bike wheels and tires.

Making a comeback in mountain biking is the 650b. A tire size you might see on a road bike. These sizes can be thought of as a sort of shorthand for decimal sizes each with a corresponding iso measurement. These widely used measurements refer to the tire s diameter and are typically paired with a tire width in inches when written out i e.

And right behind those big 29ers are wheels of yet another size. Conversion tables for common bicycle tire sizes. 700x25c indicates a tire with a 700mm outer diameter and a 25mm width. A tire size you might see on a mountain bike.

Sometimes referred to as 650b the 27 5 inch wheel fits right in between the 26 and 29 inch offerings. 29 x 2 3 indicates a tire with a 29 outer diameter and a 2 3 width. Most mountain bikes today are offered in one of two wheel sizes. A cross country bike will have tires in the 1 9 to 2 25 width range.

Mountain bike tire size and width. Modern mountain bike tires using this size may be labeled 650b or 27 5. It s actually the same bead seat diameter as 700c tires but most 29 tires are simply too wide and tall to fit 700c wheels. 29 x 2 0.

Trail and all mountain bikes will have tires in the 2 25 to 2 4 width range. Sizes written as decimals such as 2 75 are different than sizes expressed as fractions such as 2 3 4.