Tire Terms and Concepts
Tubular Tire
- Tire casing encloses the tube
- Glue, tape or both to affix tire
- Special tubular rim, less weight
- Higher performance, fewer pinch flats
Clincher Tire
- Open casing
- "Bead" embedded at edge
- Seats into rim's inner seam
- Rigid (wire) or foldable (nylon)
Puncture Protection
- Many tires employ puncture protection, which often is made of a harder nylon-type layer that is more resistant to puncture than rubber and tire casings. Puncture protection layers can span the entire tire casing or be just under the key contact areas.
TPI
- Stands for threads per inch. Often the higher the TPI the more expensive the tire. However, a fine balance must be reached considering all other tire factors - meaning a higher TPI does not always mean a "better tire." But a TPI of more than 100 is always found in higher-end racing tires.
Tire Pressure
- Confusion exists regarding tire pressure. Simply put, higher is not always better or faster. Terrain and road surface must be taken into consideration. Most high-end clincher tires will perform well at a pressure of around 120 psi (pounds per square inch). However, certain tires can accommodate much higher pressures up to 175 psi. Again, this depends upon road surface conditions and other factors including rim specifications.
Sizing
- Sizing can also be confusing, but basically the metric system rules in bike tires. So 700c refers to the diameter of the tire and is equivalent to a 27-inch tire. Widths are also metric, with the most popular width being 23 centimeters (almost 1 inch); 25 centimeters is also popular. There is some controversy about whether wider tires and rims provide better aerodynamics and control.
Rubber Durometer
- This is a measure of a rubber's hardness. Generally, the harder the rubber, the more wear-resistant the tire is, but it will also have less grip in a corner or in wet conditions.
Tire/Tube Types
- Tube-Type Tire: presta valve, conventional rim, butyl inner tube, conventional tire
- UST (Universal System Tubeless): presta valve, UST tubeless rim, tubeless bead contour, butyl inner liner, UST tubeless tire
- Tubeless-Ready Tire: presta valve, UST tubeless rim, tubeless bead contour, tire sealant, tubeless-ready tire