Information is given here in good faith, but no one should carry out any work on any bicycle unless they are competent to judge for themselves that the action proposed is safe, nor should they attempt such work unless they have sufficient experience and the necessary equipment to complete the work safely. The compilers of this information, the UK User Group, the UK distributors, and Green Gear cannot be held responsible for the actions of those who read these pages, or any results of those actions.
We would like to hear your experience with tyres, so that we can expand and improve this section. Please send us any additional information you have on tyres on Bike Fridays. You will find the email address at the end of the page.
The tyres you fit to a bicycle can make a huge difference to how well it performs. Different tyres suit different uses of a bicycle, so it is not appropriate to try to recommend one 'best' tyre for everyone. Generally those who are primarily interested in fast riding on the road will want a light tyre with low rolling resistance (which is generally related to the construction of the tyre, the type of rubber, and the pressure it can be, and is, inflated to), and will accept that the tyre will not perform as well off road, and may be rather more prone to punctures than a heavier tyre. Those who ride off-road extensively will want a more robust tyre, wider and with plenty of tread, and general touring riders will look for a tyre design somewhere between these two types.
Bike Friday bicycles are fitted with two different wheel sizes - the 406 fitted to the majority of models (eg New World Tourist, Pocket Llama, Airglide) and the 451 fitted to the more sporting models (eg the Pocket Rocket and Air Friday). Although both sizes are commonly referred to as 20 inch wheels, the 406 is smaller than the 451, and different sizes of tyres are required. More details can be found on the Wheels page.
As the two wheel sizes are different, the range of tyres available for each is different - not all tyres available in one size are available in the other. It is also quite possible that a particular model of tyre, with a particular pattern and rubber composition, in one size will perform slightly differently in the other size.
At the time of writing, the range of tyres available in the 406 size is greater than in the 451 size. We will look first at the 406 size, which is used on most models of Bike Friday.
The range of tyres of this size is very large, partly because this is the size used for BMX bikes. Many of the tyres of this size are therefore not particularly suitable for on-road and MTB-type off-road use. New tyre designs of this size are being launched on the market fairly regularly, so the information we give here may not be up to date, and the range is so wide that we can consider only some of those available.
Generally speaking, light, narrow, high pressure tyres are best for faster riding on the road, but give a rather harsher ride, and may be more prone to punctures. Heavier, wider, lower pressure tyres, with a pronounced tread, will be better for use off-road, particularly in mud or sand, but will give more rolling resistance on the road, and hence make it harder work to ride longer distances on road. Most road tyres will perform quite happily on canal towpaths and bridleways unless they are exceptionally rough or muddy, so don't fall into the trap of feeling you must have 'mountain bike tyres' to use these sort of tracks - if most of your riding will be on-road, the better rolling resistance of road tyres will make for a more enjoyable ride.
Correct inflation pressure of tyres is important, especially for efficient operation on the road. If you haven't got a pressure gauge, you should get one. Make sure you get one which suits the tubes fitted to your bike - there are two types, the Shraeder and the Presta. A proper track pump makes pumping up the tyres much easier, and without one it may not be possible to attain the pressure required for best performance on the road. Most mini pumps, and even frame pumps, available for bicycles are best regarded as only suitable for emergency inflation after a puncture during a ride. Tubes with Presta valves, rather than Schraeder valves, are greatly to be preferred in my view - they are easier to inflate to high pressures, and seem to hold pressure better. Shraeder valves are like those fitted on car tyres, while the Presta type are thinner and have a projecting stalk and lock nut under the plastic cover, the lock nut being unscrewed before inflating, and then tightened after inflating.
A particularly useful review, by cycling journalist Hilary Stone, of the 406 size tyres available appeared in issue 51 (dated march/April 1998) of The Moultoneer, the newsletter of The Moulton Bicycle Club. The text of this article (but not the pictures of the tyres) can be found on their web site. The tyres are described in the context of the Moulton APB, which uses the same sized 406 rims as are used on many Bike Friday models.
Another useful listing of small sized tyres, referring to ones available in the USA, not all of which will be available in the UK, has been produced by Mark Stonich [View it]
The tyres considered in the review in The Moultoneer included:
Hilary Stone's verdict in the report in The Moultoneer was that the Nokian X-Trak, at about £9, is a good choice for off road, and the City Jet and Primo are good for mixed commuting, day touring and occasional heavier tour.
Personally, I have not had the opportunity to try out different tyres, but I was very pleased with Schwalbe City Jets on a Moulton APB (nearly 2000 miles so far) and I have now fitted a set to my New World Tourist. They are good for commuting, light touring and some heavier touring, and they perform quite well on canal towpaths and bridleways, as well as on the road. I have a spare pair in stock, but if they were not available my next choice, for my sort of riding, would be the Primos, which have received good reviews, and with in 16 inch form are excellent on my Brompton.
Bike Friday listed 4 types in the Spring 1997 issue of Foldable Flyer:
Mark Stonich's article also contains information on 451 tyres available in the USA.
We would like to hear your experience with tyres, so that we can expand and improve this section. Please send us any additional information you have on tyres on Bike Fridays.
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Last updated: 1 July 1998
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