How To Size A Mountain Bike Tire

Stand the bike up using a kickstand or just lean it against a wall.
How to size a mountain bike tire. Step 3 find the tire size that corresponds to your rim size on the sidewall of a selected tire. And right behind those big 29ers are wheels of yet another size. A tire size you might see on a road bike. Even if the inner diameter remained unchanged and the tires fitted the wheels not all of the tires were actually the same size as declared for instance in many cases 26 inch mountain bike tires didn t really have a 26 inch outer diameter.
There are french sizes for variants of the 26 wheel. Sometimes referred to as 650b the 27 5 inch wheel fits right in between the 26 and 29 inch offerings. There are multiple tires to consider and it s important to understand tire size. With french measurements and mountain bike tires all you really need to know is that 650b 27 5 and 700c 29.
So make sure you look at a tire size chart and try a full suspension mountain bike for size before buying. 700x25c indicates a tire with a 700mm outer diameter and a 25mm width. A tire size you might see on a mountain bike. 29 x 2 3 indicates a tire with a 29 outer diameter and a 2 3 width.
Mountain bike size chart. While 26 inch wheels are still considered the standard for mountain bikes 29 inch wheels are fast on their heels. Tires are essential to mountain biking the type of terrain you ride and they can have a big impact on your riding experience. Mountain bike tires are usually measured in inches whereas road and hybrid bikes are measured in millimeters.
A third type of tire size might appear on either a mountain or a road tire. Read the size carefully sizes written as decimals such as 2 75 are different than sizes expressed as fractions such as 2 3 4. Place a tape measure against the center of the bicycle wheel and then extend the tape in a straight line towards the tire s outer edge. It all boils down to the type of mountain bike you use traditional mountain bikes no suspension have 26 tires hardtail front suspension 26 or 29 tires and full suspension both rear and front suspension 26 tires.
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. Mountain bike sizing can be affected by suspension and your tire choices.