| Do you like mountain biking? Do you bike regularly? Do | | | | the tube are compressed in such a way that the tube |
| you want to improve your bike? If yes, read on this | | | | doubles up on itself and pinches, creating a hole in the |
| article which will give you a few useful tips about the | | | | tube and consequently a flat tire. This point is where |
| tires. | | | | the tubeless tire comes in: A tubeless tire allows you |
| After having chosen what they feel is the perfect tire, | | | | to ride with less air and therefore gives more traction |
| riders often use the same tire for all conditions. This | | | | without the worry about getting a flat. |
| may not be a bad idea if you are continuously riding on | | | | Terrain that involves wet roots is the most challenging |
| the same terrain. However, once you begin to ride | | | | to ride on. The best tires to run in this situation have |
| different conditions, you need different tread. The best | | | | short lugs with little space between them. You can |
| way to discover what works best for your riding or | | | | lower the air pressure to allow for better contact with |
| racing conditions is to actually experience riding with | | | | the terrain. You can pinch flat on the roots so don't |
| different tires. If you get the chance, ride a section of a | | | | take out too much air. So, tubeless tires are always a |
| trail on one type of tire and then switch tires and ride | | | | good alternative. In rocky conditions, such as in an |
| that same section. Try a different tire on the front than | | | | endless field of rocks ranging from fist size to the size |
| on the rear; it may be your best selection. | | | | of a baby's head, it is best to pump up the volume. |
| In general, muddy conditions require tread that has | | | | Here again, the best tire is one with small lugs with a |
| small lugs, spaced far apart. Wide spacing allows for | | | | moderate amount of space between them. You need |
| the mud to clear through the tread without building up, | | | | more air pressure to eliminate the possibility of a pinch |
| while still getting some traction. (Lugs, for those of you | | | | flat when hitting the rocks. The tubeless tire should |
| who are not familiar with the jargon, are the knobs on | | | | come in handy in this situation as well, because being |
| the tires.) Hard-pack conditions, when the dirt is a little | | | | able to decrease the air pressure will allow for a |
| wet or tacky, are best for high-speed riding. In these | | | | smoother ride. |
| conditions, a semi-slick tire is best. These tires have | | | | Riding on sand is similar to riding on loose dirt. It requires |
| small lugs on the outer portion with little if any tread on | | | | higher-profile lugs with less space between them. You |
| the middle portion, allowing for less rolling resistance | | | | may have ridden on tires with paddle-shaped lugs that |
| and therefore higher speeds. Although the rear tire is | | | | span the entire tire width. This configuration gives you |
| best as a semi-slick tire, you may want to put a little | | | | the ability to paddle through the sand as a paddleboat |
| beefier tire on the front. The front is the control tire, so | | | | in water. Again, low pressure is best. |
| you should make sure it has more traction. For | | | | Most trails and racecourses have mixed conditions. |
| example, the racecourse may contain hard-packed | | | | They can go from loose dirt to rocky and even wet |
| climbs that require less pronounced lugs to get good | | | | and root covered terrain. The best tire is one that |
| traction. The downhill section may have become loose | | | | allows for good traction in every condition. When |
| and dusty from riders braking. A semi-slick front tire will | | | | deciding what section of the course to focus on for |
| most likely wash out or slide out on the front. Washing | | | | tire selection, look at the length of each section and |
| out on the front tire has more potential to launch you | | | | determine where you could lose the most time. For |
| off your bike than washing out on the rear tire. | | | | example, if the course is a 5-mile loop that has three |
| Loose-dirt or dusty conditions require both a front and | | | | or four loose, dusty downhill sections ranging from 25 |
| a rear tire with good traction, meaning it's taller and has | | | | feet to a quarter mile long, with the remainder of the |
| a more profuse number of lugs. Also, lowering the air | | | | course being hard packed, focus on the hard pack. |
| pressure can help with traction. (Lowering the air | | | | You probably won't lose time on the loose sections, |
| pressure flattens the tire, giving it more contact with | | | | but you can definitely make up time on the hard pack. |
| the ground, lessening the chance that it will slide out.) | | | | Once again, try different tires so you can get a feel |
| However, any time you deflate your tires, you run the | | | | for what works best in various conditions. |
| risk of a pinch. A pinch flat occurs when the tire and | | | | |