MTB Tire FAQs – Your Wheel Dimension Questions Answered
Bike wheel dimensions can be a complicated topic, even for experienced riders. And not just for folks looking into getting a new bike. It doesn’t help that different names can mean the same thing. But not to stop there. Manufacturers regularly drop new standards and tire technology that change the bicycle industry every year.
This is why I try to quickly and concisely answer the most common questions surrounding the topic of bike wheel dimensions. Follow the links to get to the dedicated articles on the specific topic for extensive information.
How do I choose a mountain bike tire?
When deciding on an MTB tire, tire dimensions that fit the bike’s rims are the overall determining factor. While the diameter needs to match exactly, the tire width can vary slightly. Tread patterns, tire casings, and rubber compounds are tire characteristics that depend on the intended use, for which they can be optimized.
Should mountain bike tires be the same size?
The front and rear tires of a mountain bike are often the same sizes, although they do not have to be. It is more common to install tires in different widths rather than different diameters. Although the geometry of a bike frame dictates the wheel dimensions, there are many tire and rim combinations to play around with.
What are plus MTB tires?
Plus size on mountain bike tires refers to wider than usual tires between a 2.8″ to a 3.5″ tire width. These widths sit between the ranges for Trail / Enduro and Fat Bike tires, combining traction and comfort with higher rolling resistance. Since most bike frames don’t fit tires this wide, they are quite uncommon.
Can you change tire size on an MTB?
The front and rear tires of a mountain bike are often the same sizes, although they do not have to be. It is more common to install tires in different widths rather than different diameters. Although the geometry of a bike frame dictates the wheel dimensions, there are many viable tire and rim combinations.
What size is a 584 tire?
The number 584 on a bicycle tire refers to the inside diameter in millimeters of the tire, also called the bead seat diameter. This is the required outside diameter for a rim the tire can be mounted to. The standard wheel size for tires with a 584 mm inner diameter is usually 27.5 inches.
What size is a 622 tire?
The number 622 on a bicycle tire refers to the tire’s inside diameter in millimeters, also called the bead seat diameter. This is in turn the required outside diameter for a rim the tire can be mounted to. The standard wheel size for tires with a 584 mm inner diameter is usually 29 inches.
What size wheel is 650B?
650B is a standard wheel size for mountain bikes declared in french tire sizing. It’s the same as the more common 27.5-inch name. In this case, 650 in Millimeters describes the approximate outer diameter of the wheel, while the letter “B” indicates the tire’s width in a less accurate manner by a range from A to C.
Is 622 the same as 700C?
The sizes 622 (ISO size in millimeters) and 700C (french sizing) both refer to a 29-inch wheel. 622 describes a tire’s inner bead seat diameter, but not tire width. 700 designates to the overall wheel diameter while the letter “C” indicates the tire’s narrow width. This is why only narrow-width 622 road tires are the same as a 700C one.
What size wheel is 700C?
700C is a standardized bicycle tire dimension for a 29-inch wheel. 700C tires are mounted onto a rim with an outer diameter of 622 mm (ISO 622). 700 designates to the overall wheel diameter while the letter “C” indicates a narrow width usually found on road bikes.
Can I put 29er tires on 700C rims?
Both 29-inch and 700C describe the approximate outer diameter of a bicycle wheel, while the letter “C” stands for narrow-width tires. So, only narrow 29er road tires will fit a 700C rim, but not wider ones usually used on mountain bikes. A more accurate measurement is the inner tire or outer rim diameter at the ISO standardized 622 millimeters.
Are 700C tires the same as 29 inches?
The french sizing 700C is a more specified description of a 29-inch bike wheel. They are not the same because the letter “C” in 700C stands for narrow with, while 29″ doesn’t refer to any specific width. Both use the same rim diameter of ISO size 622 mm though, also known as bead seat diameter.
Is a 28 inch wheel the same as 700C?
The standard wheel sizes 28″, 29″ and 700C all refer to the exact same rim diameter of 622 mm. All three sizes describe the approximate outer diameter of a bicycle wheel, while only 700C stands for a narrow width by the letter “C”. Because 700C tires are low in volume, the outer diameter is closer to a 28″ wheel than a 29″.
Is a 27-inch wheel the same as 700C?
700C and 27.5-inch bicycle wheels are not the same. While 27.5 inches are in fact close to 700 millimeters, these wheel standard sizes refer to different rim diameters at 584 mm and 622 mm respectively. This is why you cannot use a 700C tire on a 27.5-inch wheel, and vice-versa.
Are 700C wheels the same as 26 inches?
700C and 26-inch bicycle wheels are not the same. Because they are not interchangeable, there is no way to use a 700C tire on a 26-inch wheel, and vice-versa. These standard wheel sizes refer to different rim diameters at 559 mm for 26″ and 622 mm for 700C.
What does 700x35C mean on a bike tire?
700x35C is a specific bicycle tire dimension designated French sizing using Millimeters. The equivalent in English sizing is 27.5×1.4 measured in inches. 700 mm is the approximate outside diameter of the wheel and 35 mm is the tire width. The letter “C” is a less accurate description of the narrow width used in the shorter name 700C.
What does 700x23C mean?
700x23C is a specific bicycle tire dimension designated French sizing using Millimeters. The equivalent in English sizing is 27.5×0.9 measured in inches. 700 mm is the approximate outside diameter of the wheel and 23 mm is the tire width. The letter “C” is a less accurate description of the narrow width used in the shorter name 700C.
