Folding Bike Tires Vs Wire Bead

Speaking of traditional bike tires have you ever considered what they re made of.

Folding bike tires vs wire bead.

Generally folding bead tires are likely to cost somewhere between 6 to 30 more than wire bead tires. Wire bead road bike tires. Most of the time it s wire bead. Folding bike tires are easier to change and can be changed without the aid of tire levers.

Many cyclists will find that the premium features of folding tires are commensurate to their high cost. The bead is where the tire contacts the rim. Wire bead tires require tire levers to change. I could be wrong about this but i m assuming a wire bead tire is also stiffer as a result of the different construction meaning slightly higher rolling resistance and slightly less comfort vibration damping.

Wire beads not so much. Wire beads formed by a thin steel wire are old school. Wire bead tires are heavier than folding ones and they are also substantially harder to re mount should you need to take one off to change a flat. Folding bike tires are more expensive than wire bead tires.

The bead includes a steel wire that goes between your bike s rim and the tire itself. Now a bead isn t like what you d see on a necklace or bracelet at least in biking.