Folding Bike Tires Vs Wire Bead

Well folding bead tires can be folded.

Folding bike tires vs wire bead.

Now a bead isn t like what you d see on a necklace or bracelet at least in biking. Many cyclists will find that the premium features of folding tires are commensurate to their high cost. Wire bead tires require tire levers to change. 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.

Speaking of traditional bike tires have you ever considered what they re made of. Folding bike tires are easier to change and can be changed without the aid of tire levers. Wire beads not so much. The bead is where the tire contacts the rim.

The bead includes a steel wire that goes between your bike s rim and the tire itself. Most of the time it s wire bead. Folding bike tires are more expensive than wire bead tires. If you have been shopping for new bicycle tires you have likely encountered tires of the folding variety which generally sell for 6 to 30 dollars more per tire than regular tires as of late 2013.

Wire beads formed by a thin steel wire are old school. The cost difference is attributed to tire construction.