People always have plenty of questions about bike tires and what is best for what.
One question often asked is if narrow tires translate to a better cycling experience. Wondering if there is a correlation between the tire width and the surface drip.
Generally speaking, the ultimate truth is that unless you perform a real road test with different sized tires, finding a true answer to this question will be very hard for you, as everyone has their own opinion.
But, can you put skinny/ narrow tires on a mountain bike? Of course, you can, you can definitely put narrow tires on a mountain bike, however, there is a minimum size for your rim.
You should also be aware that skinny tires do have their drawbacks too, they are not as good at shock absorption as other tires, so you will certainly feel it much more if you hit a rock or another obstacle. Mountain bikes traditionally have thicker tires, for shock absorption and climbing ability, however, it is your bike, and you can put any wheel on it, as long as it fits the rim.
Just remember that it may not give you the shock absorption you would otherwise want, and you may be in for a fairly bumpy ride. Typically, narrow tires are used on road bikes, or for racing, they fare better on flat terrain than mountainous terrain, but this is not to say that you cannot use them if you want to.
Can I put hybrid tires on a mountain bike?
Once more, we say, you can put any tire you want onto a mountain bike, you must be aware of the rim size though and ensure that the tire you are purchasing will fit properly.
Also, you need to be aware of the ways in which the tire will affect your ride. Different tires are made for different conditions.
Narrow tires are typically best used for the road, or flat surfaces, fat tires are used for unruly terrain such as mountains, mud, and even snow, hybrid tires are a happy combo of the two, but they too have pros and cons that you should consider before buying. Hybrid tires have similarities to road bike tires and traditional mountain bike tires.
But, you are probably wondering if this will even make a difference? Well, if you enjoy cycling on more even terrain, then traditional mountain bike tires will generally hold you back.
This is because mountain bike tires are big, burly, and are covered in knobs for traction, which are great for trails in dry or wet weather, but on a street they will add more fiction. If you want to put hybrid tires on your bike to gain a little more ease on streets and on trails then you can do so, but you must ensure that whatever tire you put on your bike fits the rim size with the same diameter.
The essential thing isn’t to use a tire that is so thin that you may run into issues with the fitting. The fit is the most important part.
Can I put knobby tires on my road bike?
Knobby tires are traditionally more useful for offloading, such as cycling on trails and the like.
On a road, knobby tires might slow you down due to increased friction.
However, if you want to do more cycling on dirt or gravel tracks, or other off-road locations, then you can definitely get knobby tires for a road bike.
Similar to any other tire type, you will want to ensure that the tires that you get are able to fit and be equal in size to the diameter of your wheel rims. Aside from the fit of the tires you should also keep in mind conditions.
If you wish to go off-roading for your cycling then these types of tires are suitable as they will have better compatibility with rough terrains that road tires would not deal with so well.
However, using these tires on the roads may be rather unpleasant.
If you enjoy doing a mixture of off-roading and road cycling then it is possible that you could get a hybrid tire, or if you are even more specific and ambitious you could change your tires to suit the location you wish to cycle in. It is recommended that knobby tires are used for off-roading purposes only, simply due to the difficulty, friction, and discomfort they will cause when using them on flat surfaces such as roads.
Does bike tire width matter?
When it comes to tire width, it does matter when you are looking at where you are cycling and the type of terrain you will encounter.
However, it does not always play a lot of significance. Diameter is the most important consideration.
While you can have narrow, or fat, or hybrid tires on a big rim, replacements do not have to be the same as the original fittings.
The only disadvantage that will come with changing the tire type i.e.e mountain bike tires- narrow tires, is that they will have a weight difference, and will affect your aerodynamic drag. You should choose a tire size that befits your needs for a bike. For example, modern mountain bikes will work well with a tire sizing of around 25 mm, which is a 2 mm improvement over conventional bikes.
In contrast, the ideal size for tour and city bikes can be from 32 mm to 38 mm, and it will only increase with hillside bikes.
Typical tire sizes for mountain bikes are often around 2 inches to 2.4 inches. Obviously, if you are looking to cycle on hardy terrain then you will want fatter tires, and if you are looking to practice cycling at more of a professional level you will probably go for more narrow wheels.
But the most important thing to consider if not width but the diameter, s you can really put any wheel onto your bike, but it must fit.