The kind of tyres you use on your bike is specified by what you are going to use your bike for. Getting the right tyres is indeed important for safety and performance. Mountain bike tyres differ from road bike tyres but there is still spacious range of tyres to choose from for a mountain bike.

Mountain bikes can be used for a number of different terrains and disciplines that require different skill sets as much as different tyres. Get the right tyres and they will make better your riding and increase your safety.

Tyres either go with a standard inner tube to hold them inflated or they are tubeless, so the question to answer is which one do you go for?

A great amount of tubeless tyres now use Michelin and Mavic’s UST (Universal System Tubeless) with a thick side-walled tyre that locks into a specific sealed-bed UST rim. This kind of tyres can take a beating over rugged terrain so they are ideal for slope , but the downside is that they are expensive.

The advantages of an airtight seal and a firm, puncture-resistant, low-pressure performance are balanced out by the high price and the need for a clean rim and tyre to fit them, along with a big pump to inflate them.

Clean conditions are often unavailable if the tyre has to be replaced on the trail. And even with a C02 cartridge pump you’ll usually must use an inner tube to get you home and then repair the tyre later. Also while small holes might be repairable, a big hole can mean the tyre is absolutely written off as well.

Tubeless tyres are also heavier, so if fast start times and riding speeds are required, pick a lighter tyre. Tyres with inner tubes are usually lighter and offer greater flexibility. They are obtainable in more designs and tread styles, so finding the right one for your riding style might be easier as well.

You can get equipment to convert a conventional mountain bike tire with an inner tube to a tubeless tyre, such as Stan’s No Tubes kits. These combine a latex-based filling liquid and a rubber rim strip to seal the inside of the tyre and rim. The same repair problems on the trail apply though unfortunately, and the tyres are less stable than actual UST models.

No matter what kind of tyre you choose, it is inherent to replace your tyres regularly. A blow out on a trail can cause harm to you or other riders or even cost you a competition. Replacing your mountain bike tyre mid trail is often a possibility, so make sure you always carry at least one spare with you. With proper maintenance and careful selection, your tyres will make a massive difference to your riding.

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