Which tires are the best for you and your bike?

Tires can be fairly easy to choose, depending on what surface you are planning on biking on.
Now the thing to remember is that you need to keep with the same tire size.  Say you have 26" x 2.125'' tires, well you can't use 1.95"'s or 1.50"'s either, they just won't fit as well, if you have tires that are too big, they might slip and pop your tires, but if you have tires that are too small, than obviously you won't be able to get them onto the rims at all.

Surfaces:

• Paved surfaces: 
• For paved surfaces, you will want something that is smoother and not all nobby, that will only slow you down. If you have tires that look like this:

• there are different types of road tires, they can be completely smooth, or they can have some tread like  in the picture to the left.  Most road bike will have road tires on them, look and see what company they were from, and see if one of the local bike shops will order them for you at a low price, and if not see what other company is cheaper to order from but with good quality tires.

• Off Road:
•  If you are planning on hitting the local dirt spot, you'll wanna have some nobs on those tires, because the nobs give you that needed traction in the dirt and sand.  
• Also your going to want them to be wide tires, because if you try to go into dirt, sand, or gravel, with skinny road tires, your most likely going to sink in the dirt. it will be like riding in quicksand, you aren't going to go very far at all. 
• They do make tires that are wide for going off road in the dirt, and they are also good for going on the road as well, they do have nobs on them, but the nobs are smooth for being on the road too.  i have some on my Panasonic ATB and i love them.  
• Studded Tires:
• they have tires that are studded, for off winter time, if your a winter cyclist.  They have little studs sticking out of the nobs in the tires to give you more grip in the snow and ice. they make them in almost every size, i know them make them for 26", 27", 28", and 700c sizes, but before you go buy a pair, check you local or state bicycle laws about studded tires.  here in Minnesota you can only have them from November to the end of March. 

For more info about different types of tires check them out at your local bike shop, and see whats right for you and your bike. 

My next post will be about what type of winter bike might be right for you.

Keep on Biking....