| Mountain bike tires and their characteristics can be a | | | | having to get a tire off of the wheel in order to get at |
| good thing to know when finally deciding to take the | | | | the inner tube and then fix the puncture that led to a |
| plunge and spend a few dollars on a nice quality | | | | flat. |
| mountain bike. After all, not knowing anything about the | | | | It is this kind of tire -- which is held to the bike wheel by |
| tires and wheels that go on a bike could lead to | | | | means of a wire bead that runs along the rim of the |
| problems down the road, especially when it comes | | | | tire itself -- that people will find on a mountain bike. This |
| time to fix a flat or buy a new tire or wheel. | | | | is for good reason, as a bike of this sort will generally |
| In contrast to road bike tires -- which are usually thin, | | | | be handling duties related to off road or mountain trail |
| light in weight and generally more susceptible to flats -- | | | | riding and must be extremely durable and highly |
| mountain bike tires are built more like tank treads in | | | | resistant to flats due to punctures or pinches. |
| that the outside treads are knobby in appearance and | | | | It is in these regards that it becomes important to |
| the tire itself is much wider and has several more | | | | know something about mountain bike tires. Keep them |
| cords or plies to protect the innertube that will be sitting | | | | properly inflated in order to avoid pinch flats which |
| inside the tire. | | | | arise when a tire compresses an inner tube up against |
| For mountain bikes and their wheels, the setup when it | | | | the bicycle wheel it is sitting on, for one thing. Always |
| comes to tires is what those in the know about bikes | | | | keep in mind that treating the tires on a bike with |
| call "clinchers." Though most people do not know this | | | | respect will lead to more enjoyable riding and greater |
| technical name, just about anybody who has ever | | | | levels of safety. |
| owned a road or mountain bike has a memory of | | | | |